Telecommunication Specialist (Mobile Comms Office Veh Operator (MBOP))

In this position, you will be responsible for the operation, set-up, and support of Mobile Communications Operations Vehicles. The ideal candidate will have IT troubleshooting experience, knowledge of RF communications, and be capable of safely operating large commercial sized vehicles (e.g. RVs, F-550s)., The Reservist Program is an appointment type granted under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Section 306 (b), which authorizes FEMA to appoint such temporary employees as necessary to accomplish work authorized under the Act.

Duties

What will I do in this position if hired?

In this Telecommunication Specialist (Mobile Comms Office Veh Operator (MBOP)) position, you will be a member of the Disaster Emergency Communication Cadre and will be responsible for the operation, set-up, and support of Mobile Communications Operations Vehicles (MCOV), including movement planning, motor vehicle maintenance and operation, communications equipment set-up and maintenance, and IT and Administrative support and training of Site Personnel.

Typical assignments include:

• Driving and operating an MCOV in accordance with Federal and State regulations. The MCOV fleet includes Class A recreational vehicles and Class 1 Emergency Vehicle chassis;
• Conducting a chassis pre-trip inspection and routine vehicle operating maintenance, including identifying engine and drive-train issues, checking the oil, checking the tires, and climbing on top of the MCOV for satellite antenna troubleshooting;
• Establishing satellite connectivity, local area networks, and entire office communications with limited support; including configuring radios, radio repeaters, telephones, computers, wired and wireless local area networks, and Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) satellite network communications;
• Maintaining MCOV operational capabilities and providing IT and logistical training and field support on-site at a disaster, by evaluating performance of communications systems, performing corrective maintenance checks and services for vehicle and generator, and considering cost/benefit factors;
• Providing information through verbal briefings and well-organized daily/weekly reports and logbooks, using Microsoft Office Suite programs, to report to both leadership and the public at mission sites.

What else do I need to know?

At FEMA, our mission to help people before, during and after disasters; so, every employee at FEMA has a role in emergency management. Every FEMA employee has regular and recurring emergency management responsibilities, though not every position requires routine deployment to disaster sites. All positions are subject to recall around the clock for emergency management operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee’s official position description. Travel requirements in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically austere and operationally challenging conditions.

As a Reservist Employee, your role is to support response or recovery efforts. Reservists are intermittent, on-call employees. Please note that this is not a full-time position, and you only are paid when deployed. Deployment frequency and length varies based on disaster response need. Due to the irregular nature of disasters, Reservist employees are not guaranteed regular recurring hours, deployments, or renewal of employment., * If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for 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.

• The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant’s criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to FEMA-Misconduct@fema.dhs.gov.
• DHS uses E-verify, an internet based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
• Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
• During the application process you will have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
• All candidates must be able to deploy with little or no advance notice to anywhere in the United States and its territories for an extended period of time. Deployments may include working in excess of eight hours a day, or in excess of 40 hours in a given week, including weekends and holidays, and under stressful, physically demanding, and austere conditions. When activated and deployed, you serve in a federal travel status and are entitled to lodging, transportation and per diem reimbursements for authorized expenses in accordance with federal travel regulations.
• All candidates must be available to deploy at all times during the term of this appointment unless pre-approved through authorized Reservist leave. Reservists may take up to 90 days of unpaid Reservist Leave per year.
• FEMA Reservist employees must maintain an address of primary residency (which will serve as the official duty station of the employee), in a Stafford Act “State”, as defined by Section 102(4) of the Stafford Act.
• If selected for this position, you will be required to complete FEMA’s onboarding program and a subsequent orientation program. Additional orientation information will be provided post selection.
• The salary range indicated in this announcement reflects the minimum locality pay up to maximum locality pay for the Rest of U.S. locality pay area. The salary range will be adjusted for the selected duty location and associated OPM locality pay area. General Schedule locality pay tables and locality adjustment information may be found under the OPM Salaries & Wages website.

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., Work site options Telework eligible No Remote job No Relocation expenses reimbursed No

Do you have experience in Vehicle systems?, Do you have a High school diploma or GED?, 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, successfully pass, and maintain a background investigation for Public Trust/High Risk as a condition of placement into this position. This may include a credit check after initial job qualifications are determined, a review of 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 (please visit: Mythbuster on Federal Hiring Policies for additional information). For more information on background investigations for Federal jobs please visit OPM Investigations. Conditions of Employment:

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• Selective Service registration required.
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a Government credit card., To qualify for the Telecommunication Specialist (Mobile Comms Office Veh Operator (MBOP)), you must possess experience in each of the following areas:
• Providing telecommunications equipment set-up and maintenance support; which may include transmission media, data transfer, ground to ground radio, switching systems, digital and analog communications requirements (sometimes including video), local and wide area networks (LAN/WAN), and satellite linkages; AND
• Responding to problems or questions involving communications systems or communications requirements for internal and/or external stakeholders/customers; AND
• Inspecting operating communications systems for adequacy, efficiency, and/or need for improvement., * Master’s or equivalent graduate degree; or
• 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or
• LL.B or J.D, if related.

In addition:

• Minimum age of eighteen years of age is required.

• All candidates must be a high school graduate or possess a GED., Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. Visit the Department of Education’s Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information., 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., Position sensitivity and risk High Risk (HR) Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job. Background check type

• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure required No Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Pulled from the full job description

• Vision insurance
• Dental insurance
• Paid sick time, This position is temporary and intermittent, and you may be deployed to work during disaster declarations.
• You will be paid only during times of deployment or when attending critical trainings.
• You will be paid sick leave and earn one hour of sick leave for every 20 hours in a pay status, up to four hours each pay period.
• You will be eligible to enroll in Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) within 60 days of check-in to support a disaster. Enrollment in FEHB is terminated after 365 cumulative days in non-pay status.
• You will be eligible for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), when you are deployed to support a disaster and expected to work 130 hours or more per month for at least 90 consecutive days., 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., $29.27 - $55.76 per hour Pay scale & grade IM 1 Promotion potential None Learn more about pay scale and grade Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job. Work schedule Full-time Travel Required 76% or greater - You may be expected to travel for this position. “ In addition to frequent travel related to deployments, occassional non-emergency travel may be required.” Appointment type Intermittent Occupations and job series

• 0391 Telecommunications

Supervisory status No Federal service type This job is in the Excepted Service Represented by a union No Drug test Yes Security clearance