Telecommunications Specialist (Radio Tech) (Title 32) (Permanent) Job in Richmond, VA

Vacancy No. VA-12693690-AR-25-168 Department Army National Guard Units
Salary $77,236.00 to $100,402.00 Grade 11 to 11
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 2/18/2025 Close Date 3/19/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Richmond, VA


Summary

THIS IS A NATIONAL GUARD TITLE 32 EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION.

This National Guard position is for a Telecommunications Specialist (Radio Tech) (Title 32) (Permanent), Position Description Number D2582000 and is part of the VA G6, National Guard.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

In order to be eligible for this position you must currently be an Enlisted Member (E1/PVT - E9/SGM) or a Warrant Officer (W1/WO1 - W3/CW3) in the Virginia Army National Guard or an Enlisted Member (E1/AB - E9/CMSgt) in the Virginia Air National Guard.

Duties

As a Telecommunications Specialist (Radio Tech) (Title 32) (Permanent), GS-0391-11, you will perform the below duties:

  1. Runs the preventative maintenance program for all tactical and commercial off the shelf radio equipment assigned to the Joint Forces Headquarters. This includes HF radios assigned to the state headquarters that participate in the National Guard Bureau Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) net, Disaster Incident Response Emergency Communications Team (DIRECT) equipment, or Joint Incident Site Communications Capability (JISCC) equipment or future equivalent systems. Maintains emergency communications response equipment assigned to the J6/G6 such as communications trailers and command vehicles. Performs routine maintenance on commercial off the shelf radio equipment installed at armories across the state or territory for the purpose of emergency communications. Monitors national preventative maintenance bulletins and works with state level electronics maintenance shops to identify common maintenance issues and disseminates findings to units. Maintains appropriate documentation in accordance with military regulations and publications regarding performed maintenance. Assists the DSCA Communications Planner with maintaining emergency communications cached equipment. Lead maintainer for National Guard owned communications towers and commercial off the shelf (COTS) repeater systems. Responsible for building and maintaining Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) load sets, SINCGARS load sets and hop sets, Land Mobile Radio code plugs, and Mission Critical Push to Talk (MCPTT) configurations. Ensures armory radio-based emergency communications systems are maintained and regularly tested. This includes but is not limited to High Frequency (HF), Single Channel Ground Airborne Radio Systems (SINCGARS), Land Mobile Radio (LMR), satellite (military and civilian), Mission Critical Push to Talk (MCPTT), and microwave systems. Ensures unit communications personnel are trained and proficient in radio operations and maintenance. Maintains keys to state and regional government trunked systems and programs National Guard radios for operation on those systems.
  2. Ensures the quality of unit radio training programs remains high by leading train the trainer classes and by producing written and video-based training materials for units to utilize. Identifies quality training materials from vendors and other states and ensures their dissemination to units. Helps plan communications exercises and routine armory communications checks to ensure unit readiness for tactical and emergency employment of assigned systems.
  3. Manages statewide National Guard radio nets, to include those on High Frequency (HF), Very High Frequency (VHF), and trunked systems. Provides guidance and assistance to subordinate and interagency activities operating radio nets, to include civil government and Military Auxiliary Radio Service (MARS) nets. Manages unit callsign registrations with the Department of Homeland Security's Shared Resources (SHARES) HF program. Deconflicts callsigns with and between units in the state and territory.
  4. During a Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) event involving National Guard forces, serves as a Communications Technician (COMT) under the Incident Commander's Communications Leader (COML) to ensure the successful application of the COML's communications plan as it applies to the assigned National Guard forces. May serve as a member of a Disaster Incident Emergency Response Team (DIRECT) or Joint Incident Site Communications Capability (JISCC). Serves as a subject matter expert for radio crossbanding involving National Guard owned systems. Advises the command on procurement issues involving COTS radios. Ensures compliance with Department of Defense Instruction (DODI 4650.10) as well as compatibility with NORTHCOM and NGB programs. Coordinates with installation directorates and tenant organizations to ensure that radio dependent equipment (example: mass notification alert systems, handheld radios, and paging systems) being developed or procured for use on the installation are fully supportable and interoperable.
  5. Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED. If you are not sure you are eligible for military membership, please contact a National Guard recruiter prior to applying for this position.
  • This is an excepted service position that requires membership in a compatible military assignment in the employing state's National Guard, required prior to the effective date of placement.
  • Selectee will be required to wear the military uniform.
  • Acceptance of an excepted service position constitutes concurrence with these requirements as a condition of employment.
  • Applicants who are not currently a member of the National Guard must be eligible for immediate membership and employment in the National Guard in the military grade listed in this announcement.
  • Males born after 31 December 1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation.
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
  • Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.
  • This position is not located in a bargaining unit.
  • This position is open to Army and Air applicants.

Qualifications

NOTE: Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/DD/YY to MM/DD/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume.

WHO CAN APPLY:
GROUP I -
All qualified Male/Female Enlisted Personnel (E1/PVT - E9/SGM) or Warrant Officers (W1/WO1 - W3/CW3) currently employed (permanent) in the Virginia Army National Guard Military Technician Program. All qualified Male/Female Enlisted Personnel (E1/AB - E9/CMSgt) currently employed (permanent) in the Virginia Air National Guard Military Technician Program.
GROUP II - All qualified Virginia Army National Guard Male/Female Enlisted Personnel Enlisted Personnel (E1/PVT - E9/SGM) or Warrant Officers (W1/WO1 - W3/CW3), regardless of employment status (Traditional, Military Technician or AGR). All qualified Virginia Air National Guard Male/Female Enlisted Member (E1/AB - E9/CMSgt) regardless of employment status (Traditional, Military Technician or AGR). To be considered as a Group II applicant, proof of appointment/enlistment in the Virginia National Guard must be attached if the appointment/enlistment occurred within 60 days prior to, or during, the advertisement period.

Military Grades: Enlisted Member (E1/PVT - E9/SGM) or Warrant Officer (W1/WO1 - W3/CW3) in the Virginia Army National Guard or an Enlisted Member (E1/AB - E9/CMSgt) in the Virginia Air National Guard.


GENERAL EXPERIENCE: Applicant must have experience, education, or training in supporting tactical and emergency communications for the State and territory National Guard.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicant must have at least 12 months experience of specialized experience, education, and training, equivalent to at least the GS-10 level, or equivalent pay band in other pay systems in the Federal government. This experience may also have been obtained in the private sector but must demonstrate that it is comparable to the GS grade indicated. This experience must include activities such as:

  1. Runing the preventative maintenance program for all tactical and commercial off the shelf radio equipment assigned to the Joint Forces Headquarters.
  2. Ensuring the quality of unit radio training programs remains high by leading train the trainer classes.
  3. Managing statewide National Guard radio nets, to include those on High Frequency (HF), Very High Frequency (VHF), and trunked systems.
  4. Serving as a Communications Technician (COMT) under the Incident Commander's Communications Leader (COML) to ensure the successful application of the COML's communications plan as it applies to the assigned National Guard forces.

Education

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- electrical or electronic engineering, mathematics, physics, public utilities, statistics, computer science, telecommunications management, information systems management, business administration, industrial management, or other fields related to the position to be filled.

Other Education: Communications/electronics or automatic data processing training in technical institutes or business schools above the high school level or in Armed Forces schools that included advanced instruction in addition to basic courses, may be substituted for general experience on a month-for-month basis.


You must provide transcripts or other documentation to support your Educational claims. To receive credit for Education, you must provide documentation of proof that you meet the Education requirements for this position.

Additional information

If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency (Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov)).

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates (including Month and Year, e.g., 02/2017, Feb 2017, etc.) of employment and duties performed.

2. Other supporting documents: Most recent SF50 for current federal employees.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application/Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To view the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12693690

A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.

To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.

Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.

You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.


To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Agency contact information

VaARNG Tech Jobs HRO
Address
VA G6
Bldg 313
Blackstone, VA 23824
US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.