TELECOMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST (TACTICAL COMMUNICATOR), GS-0391-13, CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE GROUP, HUNTSVILLE, AL (FBI EMPLOYEES ONLY)

Job Opening: 56448
Open to current, permanent FBI employees in all locations
Opening Date: October 15, 2024
Closing Date: November 14, 2024 11:59 p.m. (EST)
Questions regarding this opening should be directed to HRS Jarmaine S. Blake at 202-324-7058 or jsblake@fbi.gov
Job Summary
Position: TELECOMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST (TACTICAL COMMUNICATOR), GS-0391-13
Division: CIRG
Unit: Hazardous Devices School
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Selectee may be offered a 25% Relocation Incentive if eligible, to be eligible for a Relocation Incentive, proof of change in residency will be required. Prior to receiving a Relocation Incentive, an employee must sign a written agreement to complete a specific period of employment with the FBI at the new duty station.
Working Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Salary: GS-13 $107,534.00 - $139,798.00
Full Performance Level: GS-13
Number of Positions Available: 1
Duration: Full Time/Permanent
Additional selections may be made from this announcement to fill positions within the same division when the position includes substantially the same duties, responsibilities, and qualifications.
Key Requirements

• Must be a current, permanent FBI employee
• Must be able to obtain an SCI clearance
• Must be able to pass a US Government physical exam
• Must be able to pass a HAZMAT exam
• Selectee will be required to complete form FD-887, Request for Access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)

Major Duties

• HDS Level 3 Stabilization Program Communicators will assist the Render Safe Communications Program with managing communications equipment associated with the Level 3 Stabilization Program.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative relationships with management, telecommunications managers, other telecommunications specialists, network engineers and information technology specialists involved in related activities. Ensures coordination of efforts and sharing of information and resources where possible.
• Travels to various locations providing training and technical oversight of deployable communications systems during operations and/or exercises. Develops training curricula, reference documents, and system checklists. Maintains associated documentation of training activities.
• Monitors deployed systems to ensure that they are operating according to specifications and meet requirements. Fine tunes operating characteristics as determined to be necessary. Oversees preventive maintenance, storage and repairs as needed.
• Diagnoses and troubleshoots problems involving all aspects of systems operations.
• Identifies and assesses the telecommunications and networking needs of organizations participating in special task forces or major ongoing law enforcement initiatives that require networked communications support. Modifies specifications as necessary to respond to new and changing requirements. Initiates modifications and upgrades to deployed systems as needed.
• Assist the Render Safe Communications Program with future development of communication equipment, consistent standard operating procedures and guidelines when operating communication equipment in support of the CIEDS mission.
• Exercises responsibility for telecommunications/network security to ensure protection against possible compromise at the physical and transport levels. Implements and oversees the rigorous enforcement of information security policies and procedures.

Physical Demands

• Work may be performed in remote or inherently hazardous locations with little or no lighting, heating or ventilation.
• Work often requires extensive physical exertion while transporting, installing, testing, monitoring or inspecting communication networks in potentially extreme environmental conditions with temperatures ranging from desert to arctic and to a maritime environment.
• Work may require kneeling for extended periods of time while operating equipment.
• May require operating at extreme heights, lifting objects in excess of 50 pounds.
• Must be physically capable of loading and unloading communications equipment into various mobile platforms.
• Must be capable of identifying speech and tones with both ears and have color vision.

Work Environment

• Respond to crises or disasters as directed by organizational executive leadership, with the potential to disrupt the normal functions of government and communities raising the risk to public safety or leading to the potential loss of income and property.
• May be exposed to explosive material, fire, lethal electrical sources, noxious gases or CBRN material.
• May be exposed to hazardous conditions in field deployment areas far beyond those typically encountered by federal employees.

Qualifications and Evaluations
Please make sure your specialized experience/requirement(s) can be identified in your resume. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Your application will be evaluated and rated under the FBI's Candidate Rating Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement and will be compared to your responses to the online assessment questionnaire. High self-assessment in the vacancy questions that is not supported by information in your resume, and/or supporting documents may eliminate you from Most Competitive status.
If you are deemed Most Competitive, you will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.
All applicants will be rated on the following Competencies:

• Collaboration
• Technology Awareness
• Telecommunications
• Organizing and Planning
• Communication
• Problem Solving/Judgment
• Interpersonal Ability

Specialized Experience (SE):
GS-13: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Experience effectively expressing concepts orally and interact with non-technical personnel regarding deployable communications.
• Experience preparing writing course curricula, references, and other documentation as required.
  Experience understanding the Render Safe mission's communications equipment, capabilities and concept of operations.
  Experience with the FBI's Information Technology (IT) operational policies, procedures, methods, and programs and specifications, capabilities, as well as operational and functional characteristics of the FBI's IT systems.
• Experience with local and wide area networking in the fundamentals and architecture, i.e. physical connectivity, Internet Protocol (IP) schemes, network services.
• Experience with electronic tactical and technical communications systems utilized within the FBI, other law enforcement organizations, tactical military organizations and other elements of the US intelligence community.

Desired Skills
Desired skills are NOT mandatory and will NOT be utilized to minimally qualify applicants.
Desired Skills are:

• Preferred qualified/experience as an FBI Instructor

How to Apply
For detailed instructions related to applying, uploading documents, withdrawing an application or updating your application, please review instructions on How to Apply . If applying online is a hardship, please use the contact information listed in the vacancy announcement prior to the closing date for assistance.
Required Documents
To apply to this position, interested applicants must provide a complete application package by the closing date which includes:

1. Your resume, specifically noting relevant work experience and associated start and end dates
2. A complete assessment questionnaire
3. Other supporting documents (if applicable) :
   • College transcripts, if qualifying based on education or if there is a positive education requirement
   • Memorandum for Record (MFR), Please see Additional Information

Documents that were uploaded one or more years ago will need to be uploaded again. Although an applicant may see these documents within their current profile, the HR Specialists may not have access to view them. All applicants are being asked to upload another copy (if applicable) to ensure the staffing units can review the complete application.
You must complete this application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. If applying online is a hardship, please contact the HR Specialist listed in the vacancy announcement prior to the closing date for assistance.
What to Expect Next
Once your complete application is received we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The Most Competitive candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of your status throughout the process.
Additional Information

• Failure to provide necessary and relevant information required by this vacancy announcement may disqualify you from consideration. Additional information will not be requested if your application is incomplete. Your application will be evaluated solely on the basis of information you have submitted.
• As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
• Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing the other workplace safety protocols. Positions with fitness for duty requirements or those that require international travel may require proof of certain vaccinations.
• Limited Movement: Policy has been implemented wherein support employees entering a position through a competitive OR non-competitive action may be precluded from moving to another position within the Bureau by means of reassignment or change to lower grade for a minimum of 12 months. HRD will waive this limited movement policy for qualified employees, who have received an official notification letter that their current position is being relocated to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama by 2024, so those employees can compete for a position elsewhere.
• Probationary employees are precluded from being considered for all job opportunities until 12-months of their 24-month probationary period has concluded. Probationary employees may be considered for competitive vacancies that are advertised within their respective division or field office after serving 90 days within the FBI.
• Candidates will not be considered if currently on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP); a Letter of Requirement (LOR); or have failed a PIP or LOR and are currently awaiting the final action by HRD.

a. A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is a 90-day written developmental plan for an employee whose performance on one or more critical elements is rated "Inconsistent."
b. A Letter of Requirement (LOR) is issued when a supervisor identifies leave abuse and/or when frequent absences negatively impact operations of an office.

• Selectee may be offered a 25% relocation incentive if eligible, to be eligible for a relocation incentive, proof of change in residency will be required. Prior to receiving a relocation incentive, an employee must sign a written agreement to complete a specific period of employment with the FBI at the new duty station.
• Relocation expenses will be borne by the FBI employees returning from LEGAT assignment. Employees returning from LEGAT assignments must advise the Staffing and Administrative Unit / International Operations Division of their application for this position.
• Candidates receiving a transfer of physical location, whether at the expense of the FBI or not, will be required to complete a one-year commitment to the assignment, prior to moving to a new position at the FBI. The 12-month waiting period begins the day an employee reports for duty at the new location.
• Current tax law impacts your transfer by making your moving expense reimbursements taxable. Please contact Transfer_Issues for information regarding taxable expenses. For additional insight on the personal impact of the IRS tax rules, you may wish to contact the IRS or a tax professional. Federal Travel Regulation provides that the Withholding Tax Allowance (WTA) plus the Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) are designed to "substantially reimburse" an employee for the additional Federal, State, and Local taxes associated with a change of duty station and the FBI has the authority to compensate employees through the WTA and RITA.
• Candidates receiving a transfer of physical location, whether at the expense of the FBI or not, will be required to complete a one year commitment to the assignment, prior to moving to a new position at the FBI. The 12-month waiting period begins the day an employee reports for duty at the new location.
• Employees selected for promotions at the GS-12 level or higher, as well as employees selected for positions where a transfer of location is required, will be processed through the name check program prior to being notified of their selection.
• Memorandum for Record: Work performed outside assigned duties (that would not normally be documented on a SF-50, i. e., back-up duties), has to be documented in detail by an immediate supervisor in order to receive full credit for amount of time worked in that position. If no documentation is furnished no credit will be given for time worked in that position. The following notations must be specified in the documentation (Memorandum for Record):

a. Percent of time worked in the particular position (cannot conflict with main duties)
b. The month/year work began
c. Frequency worked (i.e., daily, monthly, etc.)
d. Specific duties performed
Attach the Memorandum for Record to your application in the "Cover Letters and Attachments" section of My Career Tools on the Careers Home page. Please upload the attachment as type "Other."
Nepotism
Nepotism is the act of favoring relatives in the hiring process, and is prohibited by law. Public officials are prohibited from hiring or promoting relatives or relatives of officials in their chain of command, as well as actively or indirectly endorse a relative's appointment or promotion.
During the hiring process, all selected candidates and FBI hiring managers will be required to certify they are not related to anyone involved in the hiring process.
Reasonable Accommodation Request
The FBI provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation pursuant to a sincerely held religious belief or medical disability for any part of the application and/or hiring process, please notify the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Affairs (OEEOA) Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Program by either e-mail at REASONABLE_ACCOMMODA@fbi.gov , telephone at 202-324-2158, or FAX at 202-324-3976. Your request will receive an individualized assessment.
This e-mail address is only for reasonable accommodation requests. Please do not submit your application and/or any questions unrelated to reasonable accommodations. Should any applications be received, they will not be forwarded for consideration during the hiring process.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The FBI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for this vacancy. Unless explicitly authorized by law, selection will be made without regard to, and there will be no discrimination because of, color, race, religion, national origin, marital status, parental status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, age (40 or over), sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, gender identity, and sexual orientation), or on the basis of personal favoritism, or any other non-merit factors.

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