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Communications Operations Specialist (Watch Officer)
Federal Communications Commission · Posted 10 days ago
Hybrid Full-time Washington, DC $102K – $158K Apply by Jul 15, 2026 Miscellaneous Administration And Program ENTJESFJESTJISTJ MarketingOperations
Apply for this job → About the Role
This position is in Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Operations and Emergency Management Division, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) located in Washington, DC. RELOCATION EXPENSES MAY BE PAID. SHIFT WORK REQUIRED. THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS.
What You'll Do
- →This position is a Communications Operations Specialist (Watch Officer) at the Federal Communications Commission Operations Center (FCCOC) located at Headquarters in Washington, DC.
- →The Watch Officer functions as an initial point of contact for Homeland Security and National Security/Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) matters that concern the FCC.
- →Watch functions are performed on an around-the-clock basis on a rotating shift with other Specialists in order to maintain situational awareness of communications issues, provide immediate analysis, and assist with response efforts.
- →The Watch Officer must investigate and analyze a variety of unusual conditions, problems, data, or questions involving the FCC.
- →The incumbent must be capable of exercising sound judgment with minimum oversight and direction from supervisory staff.
- →The incumbent must be capable of professionally representing the Commission to public safety stakeholder and the general public.
- →The incumbent will field requests for assistance from a variety of stakeholders and must be highly organized and have the ability to handle multiple tasks at once.
- →The incumbent must also have the ability to develop and document new processes that will become standard operating procedures for Specialists.
- →The incumbent must be capable of activating and operating the FCC's alternate FCCOC site in situations involving any emergency and/or continuation of operations relocation.
- →The position also includes operation of the FCC's High Frequency Direction Finding (HFDF) system, and other local and remote operated radio signal finding equipment to support public safety organizations as well as FCC operations.
- →The incumbent performs research and investigative analysis on areas covering the entirety of the FCC regulatory purview.
- →The incumbent analyzes and investigates public safety interference, complaints to land mobile, marine, and aviation licenses, and reports antenna problems that may affect aviation.
- →S/he will write situation reports on emergencies, report infractions of Commission rules, and other policy matters for presentation to Commission staff.
- →This includes research and analysis on critical and potentially unprecedented national communications or cyber-related issues.
Requirements
- ✓See "Qualifications".
- ✓How You Will Be Evaluated-DEU Hiring Procedures The FCC determines the BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES based on the major job related competencies and evaluation of your knowledge, skills, and abilities reflected in your application and supporting documents using the CATEGORY RATING PROCESS.
- ✓Time in grade restrictions do not apply to DEU hiring procedures.
- ✓All eligible applicants under Delegated Examining (DEU) will be placed in one of the following three categories: 1.
- ✓Highly Qualified (Score 90-100) - the applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a superior level of major job related competencies and possession of all evaluation criteria; 2.
- ✓Fully Qualified (Score 80-89) - the applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a satisfactory level of major job related competencies and possession of the evaluation criteria; and 3.
- ✓Minimally Qualified (Score of 70-79)- the applicants possessing only the specialized experience described in the vacancy announcement.
- ✓An automated score is administered based on the on-line application process used.
- ✓Eligible applicants will receive a numerical rating based on their responses to the job specific questions for this position.
- ✓Application of Veterans Preference: The category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category.
- ✓Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have compensable service-connected disability at least 10 percent MUST be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher.
- ✓A selecting official may make selection from the highest quality category ("HIGHLY QUALIFIED") provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in the same category.
- ✓Qualified disabled veterans (30% disabled veterans and at least 10% disabled veterans) who meet the qualification criteria float to the top of the Highly Qualified category and by law must be referred over non-veterans.
- ✓Non-veterans are strictly prohibited from being referred or selected over qualified disabled veterans.
Benefits
- ★The FCC offers a wide range of employee benefits, including: Health Insurance Life Insurance Dental & Vision Insurance Flexible Spending Accounts Long-Term Care Insurance Holidays and Leave Retirement Thrift Savings Plan Transit Benefit Alternative Work Schedule Telecommuting
Personality Fit
Job ID: 944a62c1-9c96-4aa8-ad58-bd176b96ea8d
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