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COMMAND CENTER WATCHSTANDER

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Portsmouth, VA

Employer:  US Coast Guard
Job Type:  Full Time

Description

Duties

You will serve as a/an COMMAND CENTER WATCHSTANDER and be responsible for the operational focal point for the Coast Guard's mission execution within the Sector Virginia Area of Responsibility (AOR). The position requires the incumbent to maintain real-time situational awareness, execute command and control, and oversee operations across multiple Coast Guard mission areas, including Search and Rescue (SAR), Law Enforcement, Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security (PWCS), Marine Environmental Response (MER), Living Marine Resources (LMR), and Marine Safety. The incumbent coordinates responses to critical incidents, manages resources, and directs tactical operations while maintaining effective communication with internal and external stakeholders. As a senior watchstander, the incumbent also provides training and mentorship to junior personnel and presents findings and recommendations to the Sector Commander and senior leadership..

Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team. Typical work assignments include:
  • Partners with various operational teams to coordinate and monitor multiple mission types (SAR, LE, PWCS, MER, LMR) to ensure mission success. Effectively allocates resources such as personnel, assets, and equipment to maximize mission efficiency, and adjusts resources in real time as needed to meet evolving operational demands. Maintains a situational awareness of all ongoing operations, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the current state of all missions.
  • Gathers and analyzes real-time operational data, including weather, tide conditions, and vessel tracking data, to provide actionable insights for mission success. Supports senior decision-makers by ensuring accurate data collection, analysis, and communication to enhance mission effectiveness. Maintains a continuous flow of real-time situational awareness to aid in mission-critical decision-making and risk assessment.
  • Acts as the primary point of contact for both internal stakeholders and external agencies, providing updates on the status of ongoing operations. Maintains clear communication channels with local, state, and federal agencies to ensure cohesive efforts across the broader mission landscape. Additionally, provides operational updates and communicates effectively with the public as needed, ensuring transparency and accountability in operations.
  • Develops and delivers targeted training programs to new or less experienced watchstanders, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in a high-stress, dynamic operational environment. Provides mentorship and feedback to foster growth and ensure readiness. Assesses and supports the development of watchstanders, ensuring they are prepared for independent and effective duty in the Command Center.
  • Prepares and presents comprehensive reports to senior leadership regarding mission status, operational issues, and performance improvements. Offers strategic recommendations based on analysis of data and mission outcomes to improve future operations and enhance efficiency. Articulates complex operational details and strategic goals in a clear, concise, and actionable format.


Requirements

Conditions of Employment

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Key Requirements:
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Must be registered or exempt from the Selective Service. See www.sss.gov
  • A one-year probationary period may be required.
  • Suitable for Federal employment determined by background investigation.
  • This position requires a Secret clearance.
  • This is a Bargaining Unit position.
  • Selectee subject to successful completion of pre-employment medical exam.
  • Time in Grade requirement must be met by the closing date of the vacancy.


  • Qualifications

    To qualify at the GS-11 grade level, applicants must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the federal sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

    NOTE: All experience statements (i.e., duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire) copied from this announcement and pasted into your resume will not be considered as a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

    Specialized experience must include the following:
    • Experience in an operational command center (e.g., maritime, search and rescue, or law enforcement operations).
    • Proficiency with Coast Guard mission systems, such as Rescue 21, SAROPS, or other relevant operational tools.
    • Knowledge of search and rescue operations, asset management, incident coordination, and emergency response procedures.
    • Ability to make real-time decisions based on situational awareness and operational data.
    • Strong communication skills to coordinate with units, external agencies, and senior leadership.
    OR

    At least one of the following if using education to qualify at this grade level:

    (A) a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

    OR

    (B) 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related

    OR

    (C) A combination of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in or related to the work of this position AND education graduate level education that provides the specific knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position and experience. Experience and education combination are computed by first determining the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the total of qualifying education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at that grade level.

    NOTE: Education can be substituted for experience at this grade level.

    National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.

    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.

    Education

    This position does not have a positive education requirement. If you are including education on your resume, report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Required Documents section for detail.

    College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.

    Transcripts --If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide all unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) by the closing date of this announcement or you will be disqualified from further consideration. Please ensure that all documentation is legible.

    FOREIGN EDUCATION: 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. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications click here

    Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

    Additional information

    Any Offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Personnel Management guidance and U.S. Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

    Due Weight
    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). Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards as an indicator of quality of prior experience; no points will be assigned.

    E-Verify
    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.

    Fair Chance Act
    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 irma.m.morales@uscg.mil.

    Suitability Statement
    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.

    Shared Certificates Statement
    Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

    Special Employment Consideration
    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.

    Recruitment incentives may be authorized.

    If you need a reasonable accommodation for the application and hiring process, please contact irma.m.morales@uscg.mil. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Visit Reasonable Accommodation

    Benefits

    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 window Learn more about federal 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.
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