Summary This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the Chief Information Officer, Information Technology Service Office. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a Telecommunications Specialist/IT Specialist and is an expert in planning, developing, testing, operating, maintaining and deploying IT and telecommunications systems for the Office of the Secretary, Homeland Security. Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position. Responsibilities As a Telecommunications Specialist, GS-0391-14, your typical work assignments may include: Planning, organizing and directing studies to develop long-range studies and forecasts and advising top level agency telecommunications and subject-matter managers on applying new developments and advances in telecommunications techniques in the specialty area. Evaluating and making recommendations concerning overall plans and proposals for major agency and interagency telecommunications programs. Providing telecommunications expertise in estimating the installation, modification, maintenance, operation, and support of both existing and new telecommunications systems. Providing telecommunications input into computing system operational design and proposal review. Evaluating, testing and eventually purchasing telecommunications and computer equipment to ensure present and future state-of-the-art support for the Secretary. All DHS-HQ announcements have a 5-business day open period due to the number of applications received. This announcement will be open for 5 business days OR until the first 100 applications have been received, whichever happens first. View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement that must be met prior to meeting the specialized experience. Education. Undergraduate and Graduate Education Degree: 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. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts for review. OR Experience. Specialized Experience: Experience in evaluating, analyzing, developing, managing, or improving communications systems, procedures, and requirements that demonstrated knowledge of current developments and trends in communications concepts and technology. NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in Federal Service or equivalent private sector experience. For this position, specialized experience is defined as: Supporting the total communications needs of senior leadership, such as the Secretary of Homeland Security, in a variety of domestic and international environments. Planning, coordinating, and integrating complex IT and telecommunications solutions to meet operational requirements. Developing innovative approaches for new policies, procedures, and evolving mission needs; and analyzing and evaluating complex and uncertain IT and telecommunications issues to formulate recommendations and solutions that address long-term program performance. Implementing strategies to resolve conflicting requirements and technological challenges; maintaining effective working relationships with high-level officials across federal agencies, the White House, and foreign governments in unstructured and high-stakes environments; and communicating complex technical information and recommendations to senior leadership and diverse audiences. Providing technical guidance on IT and telecommunications systems, supporting the deployment and operation of advanced communications equipment, and ensuring the security and reliability of communications for senior leadership. Note: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level. All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Time-in-grade: Current General Schedule (GS) federal employees, and those that have served in GS positions within the last 52 weeks, must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade, or a combination of the next lower grade level and an equivalent band in the federal service by the closing of this announcement. Note: Current or former Federal employees MUST submit a copy of their SF-50 Form which shows competitive service appointment ("position occupied" block 34 on the SF-50 should show a "1"), tenure group (block 24 should show a 1 or 2), grade, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 Form which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, With-in Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s dated a year apart within the same grade/job). If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof. IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CONSIDERATION AS A STATUS CANDIDATE. National Service Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Pre-employment Medical Requirements: Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties. Also successfully pass a pre-employment medical examination (which includes, but is not limited to vision, hearing, cardiovascular and mobility of extremities) given by an authorized government physician. This position may be subject to periodic incumbent examinations in the future. Essential Personnel Position - This position may be designated as essential personnel. Essential personnel must be able to serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of liberal leave or government closures due to weather, protests, and acts of terrorism or lack of funding. Failure to report for or remain in this position may result in disciplinary or adverse action in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations. (5 U.S.C. 7501-7533 and 5 CFR, Part 752, as applicable). Education 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; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications. Additional Information The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement. Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result. If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration of Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment. Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation for Top Secret as a condition of placement in this Special Sensitive position. This review may include financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
