Telecommunications Specialist (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)

Summary

This role in MARAD’s Division of Sealift Operations supports the MARITIME Administration (MARAD) maritime operations by managing secure and non-secure communications for the Military Sealift Command (MSC), ensuring readiness for National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF)/Ready Reserve Force (RRF) missions, emergencies, and Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) events.

Duties

• As a Telecommunication Specialist, you will: Manage daily operations, security, maintenance, and readiness of the MARAD Coordination Center (MCC), including oversight of classified and unclassified telecommunications systems supporting MARAD afloat and ashore operations.
• Serve as alternate COMSEC Manager responsible for accountability, distribution, lifecycle management, policy compliance, and operational support of COMSEC equipment and material across MARAD and the NDRF/RRF fleet.
• Coordinate secure communications capabilities, SIPRNet/HSDN access, C2OIX administration, and issuance of DoD access credentials and secure tokens for MARAD personnel and stakeholders.
• Represent MARAD in communications and security coordination with NSA, DOD, DOT, DON, NATO, DISA, commercial shipping entities, and other government agencies to support contingency operations and strategic sealift missions.
• Develop operational procedures, training programs, mobilization plans, and emergency communications support for MCC operations, while supporting MARAD Duty Officer functions, exercises, and continuity of operations requirements.
• The ideal candidate has an extensive and expert-level background in marine transportation, underscored by professional experience as a USCG Licensed Deck Officer.
• The ideal candidate possesses experience engaging with the DOW and other federal agencies to advance cross-organizational priorities.
• The candidate will demonstrate exceptional experience in cross-functional transportation operations, the discipline of standing watch in demanding operational environments, and the ability to synthesize complex data into clear briefings and evaluations.
• Proficiency in standardized operations and a commitment to continuous process improvement are essential.

Requirements

• CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the
• Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the
• Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
• GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel.
• A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
• BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals.
• Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of the security investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Failure to meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
• TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
• DRUG TEST: This position has been determined to be a critical safety/security position as defined in the
• Order, DOT 3910.ID entitled "Drug and
• Workplace." Therefore, is selected for this position you will be required to submit to a pre-employment / pre-appointment drug test. you will also be subject to
• DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).

Required Documents

• RESUME: In accordance with the OPM memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, resumes with a maximum of two (2) pages in length will be accepted as part of your application.
• These should be legible and in a readable font size.
• A determination of your eligibility and/or qualifications will be based only on those two (2) pages.
• Your resume MUST contain specific information that can be used to make a qualification determination, including employment beginning and ending dates for each position, whether employment is
• Part-time, or average number of hours worked per week, and position titles.
• If the position is/was in the Federal government, you will need to provide the position series and grade level.
• The resume should show relevant experience and education, as well as support the required specialized experience.
• PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS/INCENTIVE AWARDS: If applicable, performance appraisals and/or Incentive award documentation may be submitted and forwarded to the selecting official in consideration of your application.
• To receive credit, submit a recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (do not submit a performance plan) and/or incentive
• Award documentation dated within the last 18 months (i.e. performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increases, etc.).
• VETERANS: Your last DD214 (member 4 copy), Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, that shows the type of discharge and all dates of active duty is required to verify your eligibility.
• If applying to a vacancy opened to all US Citizens under category rating and wish to be considered as a preference eligible, you need to submit a copy of your DD214 (member-4 copy).
• If claiming preference eligibility as a disabled veteran, you must submit proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally a valid letter from the Department of
• Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability.
• An SF-15 is desired, but not required.
• If applying to a vacancy opened Status and you are requesting consideration under Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) (https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/shav/#veoa), you need to provide a copy of your last DD214 (member-4 copy), which verifies your military service dates, reason
• For separation, OR certification of separation that shows a discharge date within 120 days of the closing of this announcement, and eligibility for consideration under the
• Veterans Employment Opportunity Act.
• FEDERAL APPLICANTS: You must submit SF-50(s) that verify your highest competitive grade, full performance level, and eligibility as a federal applicant.
• DO NOT submit an award SF-50 as these often do not verify grade or eligibility.
• For consideration for a promotion, Box 4 of the SF-50 must show a date that is at least 52 weeks prior to the job announcement closing.
• We recommend submitting your last promotion SF-50 or within-grade increase SF-50.
• Pay adjustment raise SF-50s for the current year will not support the 52 weeks' time-in-grade requirements. https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/service/sf-50 NON COMPETITIVE APPLICANTS: If requesting concurrent consideration for
• Non-competitive (NC) appointment eligibility, you must provide the appropriate SPECIAL APPOINTING AUTHORITY DOCUMENTS, such as PCS orders (military spouse) describing move & marriage certificate; letter from VA or DD214 describing 100% disability of spouse; letter from
• Office certifying disability (schedule A), etc.
• For more information, visit military spouse NC appointments or Persons with Disabilities NC appointments.
• DISPLACED EMPLOYEES: If requesting consideration under the
• Program (CTAP) or
• Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 80) and provide all of the following documents: your most recent performance appraisal, the proof of eligibility letter from the
• Agency, and your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.
• Displaced employees may be eligible for ICTAP or CTAP priority consideration.
• For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition.
• Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position.
• Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents.
• Uploading documents to USAJobs does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system.
• You must verify that the documents are in the system with your application prior to final submission.