NOC Desk Officer

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Situational Awareness. The primary purpose of this position is to provide support to the Senior Watch Officer and overall National Operations Center operations by providing operational expertise on a wide variety of mission areas and ensures the quality of operational reporting from various DHS entities, programs, and interagency organizations. Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Duties

As a NOC Desk Officer, GS-0301-9/11/12, your typical work assignments may include: Recognizing critical, time sensitive information, and take immediate action to alert appropriate NOC Watch personnel of breaking events impacting Homeland Security. Thinking quickly to convey critical information as a moderator and manage unclassified and classified voice and video conferences and update video and data display feeds to reflect the most current information. Quickly scanning, selecting, validating, de-conflict and collate disparate event and incident information to write a succinct executive-level summary, and using dashboards, common situational awareness tools, and geospatial software to create geospatial graphics and products. Collecting, cataloging, analyzing, and disseminating information to various data and information sharing tools, portals, and sites. Supporting the daily administrative tasks to maintain the primary and alternate sites to include all facility, technology, and personnel issues. 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 150 applications have been received, whichever happens first. View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions. Qualifications

GS-9 Level: You may qualify at this grade level by meeting one (1) of the following below: Specialized Experience You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in federal service (GS-7) or public or private sector equivalent. For this position, specialized experience is defined as: Working in an operations center Providing support on a wide variety of mission areas and ensuring quality of operational reporting from various entities and organizations. Collecting and analyzing information, coordinating action, and reporting on day-to-day activities. NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. -OR- Substitution of Education for Experience You may substitute education for experience at this grade level by possessing one of following: Master's or equivalent graduate degree 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree LL.B. or J.D., if related -OR- Combination of Education and Experience You may qualify at this grade level if you have a combination of education and experience (i.e. 6 months specialized experience and over 18 graduate level credits). NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify for the next grade level. You must submit a copy of your transcripts for review. GS-11 Level: You may qualify at this grade level by meeting one (1) of the following below: Specialized Experience You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in federal service (GS-9) or public or private sector equivalent. For this position, specialized experience is defined as: Working in an operations center or other front-line government or equivalent position providing support on a wide variety of homeland security mission areas or other equivalent support (such as state or local law enforcement). Ensuring quality of operational reporting from various entities and organizations. Collecting and analyzing information, coordinating action, and reporting on day-to-day activities. NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. -OR- Substitution of Education for Experience You may substitute education for experience at this grade level by possessing one of following: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree LL.M., if related -OR- Combination of Education and Experience You may qualify at this grade level if you have a combination of education and experience (i.e. 6 months specialized experience and over 36 graduate level credits). NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify for the next grade level. You must submit a copy of your transcripts for review. Specialized Experience GS-12 You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in federal service (GS-11) or public or private sector equivalent. For this position, specialized experience is defined as: Researching, analyzing, and executing classified and unclassified queries within a wide variety of government databases for the purpose of obtaining background information related to suspicious activities or incidents Providing expertise on a wide variety of mission areas. Ensuring the quality of operational reporting to and from various organizational entities, programs, and state and local partners. 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. Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent appointment. IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CONSIDERATION AS A STATUS CANDIDATE. 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. 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). 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.

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. How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Incident Management, Information Management, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Oral Communication, Reading Comprehension, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, Teamwork, and Writing To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. If you are the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. To preview the application questionnaire, click: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13080744 Interviews are required for this position. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration. Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veteran must be 1) be a preference eligible; or 2) be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement. (Note: Veteran's preference does not apply under Merit Promotion procedures. View VEOA information on Feds Hire Vets.) Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement. Due weight will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3). Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. After DHS Headquarters completes its hiring, the resumes of the remaining candidates referred for selection consideration may be shared with other DHS Components. During the application process, you may choose to opt-in if you would like your name, application material, and assessment results to be shared. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements. Other Information

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire 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. This position may be filled at the GS-9, GS-11 or GS-12 level. If selection is made at the GS-9 or GS-11 level, promotion to the next level may occur without further competition. 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 our mission, 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/Sensitive Compartmented Information 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.