Transition Assistance Program and Employment Readiness Specialist Job in Patuxent River, MD

Vacancy No. 26-12898714 Department Commander, Navy Installations Command
Salary $85,447.00 to $96,843.00 Grade 4 to 4
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 3/3/2026 Close Date 3/10/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Patuxent River, MD


Summary

This position is assigned to Commander Navy Installation Command (CNIC), Fleet and Family Readiness Department (N9), Family Readiness Division (N91), Work and Family Life Branch (N911). Incumbent serves as the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and Employment Readiness Specialist. The position is to facilitate the TAP and employment supportive programs and provide support to installations, regional TAP and employment initiatives, and promote family readiness.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

Please see the "Who may apply" section under the qualification section.

Duties

In order to qualify for this position, resumes must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of the position. Applicant resumes are the key means for evaluating skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position therefore, applicants are encouraged to be clear and specific when describing experience.

Duties include but are not limited to:

  • Facilitate and provide the full scope of operational management and oversight of TAP services for transitioning military members and/or family members, retirees, reservists, and Department of Defense (DOD) civilian members.
  • Coordinate with counterparts from the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Small Business Administration (SBA) to plan and schedule various training events for service members and their families to prepare them for success in civilian life.
  • Coordinate with counterparts on providing separating service members and their families access to an array of workshops, programs, services and support to meet their needs on various topics (i.e., relocation assistance, personal financial management, career coaching and planning, resume writing, interview preparedness, job hiring fairs and job search strategies, military and civilian social service resources; and non-medical individual and family counseling).
  • Assist clients with creating and maintaining their Individual Transition Plan (IDP) and identifying personal and vocational needs to help them outline milestones to achieve their goals.
  • Work with separating service and family members, individually and in groups, on their career, occupational, volunteer, and educational goals to equip customers with career/job search skills, resume development, and interview techniques to assist in obtaining employment.
  • Provide personalized guidance and advise on resume development, interview techniques, salary negotiation, military spouse employment and licensure reimbursement, etc.
  • Facilitate classes for customers on applying professional analytical skills and negotiation techniques to identify job opportunities and develop an automated inventory to list such job opportunities.
  • Develop a volunteer recognition system to acknowledge volunteer milestones during the All-Hands meetings, installation volunteer recognition event, upon completion of short-term projects, etc.
  • Provide staff training on volunteer-related topics such as: utilizing, motivating, and recognizing volunteers; procedures for recruiting, interviewing, and placing volunteers; making accommodations, when necessary; and providing diverse volunteer opportunities to assist
    individuals with disabilities to become involved. Brief organizations on the FFSC Volunteer Program, and encourage staff to promote volunteerism in programs, presentations, and briefings.
  • Monitor and network with local installation and community organizations seeking volunteers.
  • Launch and support volunteer programs to grow services offered by the FFSC, installation, state, and local community.
  • Collect and process volunteer data for reports and disseminate quarterly reports reflecting pertinent statistical information.
  • Manage the overall implementation of group volunteer events.
  • Oversee major volunteer projects and assignments, including installation-wide, state/local family events and outreach activities.
  • Manage Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) and contracts with significant partner organizations, including large local colleges and universities.
  • Represent the organization during communications between the FFSC and partner agencies, including corporate, educational, and faith-based supporters.
  • Maintain and update TAP and FERP records and statistics, and complete required reports timely and accurately, utilizing the Fleet and Family Support Management Information System (FFSMIS), Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) and applicable databases.
  • Maintain certification standards for the local TAP and FERP per CNIC FFSP certification standards.
  • Disseminate pertinent transition and employment information to various individuals and stakeholders within the local area (e.g., commands, command ombudsman, family members, enrollees) via newsletters, emails, and/or social media.
  • Serve as an active participant on DoD and CNIC TAP/FERP working groups and in transition/employment seminars, carrying out various tasks such as updating curricula, facilitating aspects of programs, and hiring fairs, etc.
  • Develop, maintain, and update marketing materials and maintain up-to-date inventories on available transition and employment services and providers.
  • Research and write articles and prepare and deliver briefings to market TAP and FERP and inform target population of programs
    and services.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • Must pass all applicable records and background check.
  • Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of employment.
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen to obtain and maintain a Secret Security clearance.
  • Must have or be able to obtain and maintain a valid state driver’s license.
  • Must be willing to relocate to reside within the local commuting area (50-mile radius) of Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

Qualifications

Resumes must include information which demonstrates experience and knowledge, skills, and ability (KSAs) as they relate to this position. Applicants are encouraged to be clear and specific when describing their experience level and KSAs.

A qualified candidate possesses the following:

  • A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position (General Human Resources, business administration and management, operations management, etc.); OR Possess at least three (3) years of specialized experience with employment policies and transition assistance programs in support of the Department of Defense (DoD). OR Possess anequivalent combination of education and specialized experience.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of Navy and DoD TAP and employment policies, the 2011 Vow to Hire Heroes Act, National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), DoD Skillbridge Program, Military Spouse Employment Partnership, Spouse Education and Career Opportunities, Military Spouse Career Advancement Account and related spouse education and career opportunities to
    provide separating military members and/or family members transition assistance and career support.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of veterans' benefits, to include Federal and state laws, regulations and policies related to medical, educational, employment and finances to advise separating service members and their families on benefits available to them.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of the TAP processes and requirements for military members to help them successfully meet Career Readiness Standards (CRS).
  • Comprehensive knowledge of medical, dental, mental, financial, employment and other similar resources available to separating service members and their families to provide transition assistance and career support to separating military members and/or family members.
  • Skill in facilitating training courses based on a standardized curriculum and explaining course materials and their relevance and applicability to service members and families.
  • Skill in developing, planning, organizing, conducting, and/or facilitating formal educational instruction (e.g., workshops, briefings, trainings, etc.) for large groups on a wide range of TAP, FERP, and transition/employment-related topics.
  • Skill in coordinating with TAP interagency partners (i.e., VA, DOL, SBA) and vetted nonfederal entities on TAP and employment related events, seminars, and webinars, and to help military members and civilian employees resolve issues.
  • Skill in applying verbal communication methods and techniques to clearly, concisely and logically present facts and recommendations; to effectively advise service members and family members on TAP and employment services; and to collaborate with various organizations.
  • Skill in applying written communication methods and techniques and in using various computer software databases, spreadsheets, word processing, and network programs such as Internet, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other FFSC databases to develop and maintain reports and inventories, develop and organize facts and recommendations, and to disseminate information.

Education

A qualified candidate possesses one of the following:

A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree
OR
Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position (General Human Resources, business administration and management, operations management, etc.)
OR
At least three (3) years of specialized experience with employment policies and transition assistance programs in support of the Department of Defense (DoD)
OR
A combination of education and experience that provided knowledge equivalent to a subject-matter field appropriate to the position

Note: Your degree must be from an accredited college recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If qualifying all or in-part based on education, official college transcripts must be submitted at time of application in order to be considered.

Additional information

This position is located on Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Patuxent River, MD. If selected, relocation to the local commuting area (50-mile radius) is required.

Salary is dependent on experience and/or education.

Some positions have special requirements. Selectee may be required to complete a one (1) year probationary period. Participation in Direct Deposit/Electronic Fund Transfer within the first 30 days of employment is required. We utilize E-Verify to confirm selectee's eligibility to work in the United States. Salary is dependent on experience and/or education.

This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies within 60 days of issuance of selection certificate. For positions requiring travel more than twice per year, selectee may be required to obtain and maintain in good standing a Government-issued Travel Card for official government travel purposes.

Executive Order 12564 requires a Federal workplace free of illegal drugs. According to the Executive Order, all Federal employees are required to remain drug free throughout their employment. Commander, Navy Installations Command is a Drug-Free Federal Workplace. The use of illegal drugs will not be tolerated, and use of or intoxication by illegal drugs will result in penalties up to and including removal from Federal Service.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

All resumes will be reviewed to determine if they meet the hiring eligibility and qualification requirements listed in this announcement and will be rated based on the information provided in the resume to determine the level of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) related to the job requirements. Using the qualifications of the position, a predetermined rating criterion of KSAs will be used for each resume. Best qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager. The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews.

Required Documents

The following documents are required at the time of application:

  • Resume: Two-page limit, learn more here - Resume Requirements
  • Proof of education/training: If qualifying all or in-part based on education,provide a copy of your official college transcript(s). Diplomas and degree audits cannot be accepted. Failure to provide official transcripts will result in an ineligibility rating.
  • If claiming Department of Defense (DOD) Non-appropriated Fund (NAF) Business Based Action (BBA) priority consideration: Provide a copy of the notice of separation
  • If claiming Veteran's Preference: Provide a copy of your DD-214, Member-4 page and any supporting documentation (SF-15, V.A. disability letter, proof of service, etc.)
  • If a current or former Federal Employee: Provide a copy of your most recent Personnel Action Report (PAR) or SF-50
Note:
Failure to provide the required documents may impact eligibility, qualifications determination.

All transcripts MUST show student's name, the name of the awarding university or educational institution, degree type, awarded/conferred date, and the field of study (major).

Transcripts from foreign colleges must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency in order to be considered. Applicants are responsible to obtain and submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency which is a private U.S. organization. Credential evaluations are not free and applicants are responsible for the cost of the selected service.

How to Apply

To be considered for this vacancy you must apply and complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. When building or uploading your resume, please note there is a two-page limit. The system will restrict any attempts to submit a longer document.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/10/2026 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.

To preview the Application Questionnaire, please click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12898714

It is your responsibility to ensure your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date.

Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Applicant

To verify or check the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account. Once logged in, the Welcome screen lists your applications, your application status and the date it was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status

DON is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, reprisal, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or any other non-merit factor. The DON provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applicants with disabilities who believe they may require reasonable accommodation(s) should email their request to MILL_HQ_NAF_HR.FCT@navy.mil to ensure proper consideration is given.

Agency contact information

NDW NAF HR
Email
ndwnafhr@us.navy.mil
Address
Naval Air Station Patuxent River
47402 Buse Rd
Bldg 467
Patuxent River, MD 20670
US

Next steps

Using the required qualifications of the position, a standardized rating and ranking criteria of knowledge, skills, and abilities will be used to screen and assess each application.

If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application. Times may vary during the hiring process, as your application status updates/changes you will be notified with a notification.

Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., Spam Blocker, etc.), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position. letter via email.