Summary

This position is located within the Department of the Interior (DOI), Office of the Secretary (OS), Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Continuity Programs Division (CPD) in Washington, D.C. The Office of Emergency Management provides policy direction and coordination for nationwide emergency management activities across the Department of the Interior and its bureaus and offices.

Duties

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Leads the preparation of classified/sensitive national security communications briefing memos for the Assistant Secretary (AS), Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS), OEM Director, or other leadership in preparedness, response, national security, continuity, and other meetings. Drafts memos and directives for the OEM Director for Department-wide dissemination.

Accomplishes emergency management and national security special projects in support of the office's strategic goals and initiatives related to classified national security operations and information flow.

Reviews incoming preparedness, response, and other sensitive emergency management and national security communications:- Logs communications into tracking system- Connects DOI stakeholders to the communications requestor or originator- Adds select documents to SharePoint library, as appropriate- Monitors and follows up on response deadlines- Collaborates with appropriate DOI stakeholders to ensure request is appropriately fielded

Leads establishment of, and provides Departmental guidance over, interagency co-use agreements with other Federal Departments and Agencies. Identifies an inventory of secure communications spaces for senior leaders while they are on travel.

Collaborates and maintains close coordination with OEM Divisions on secure national security communications requirements, roles, and responsibilities. Develops and updates training and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for secure communications coordination with Watch Officers during off-hours coverage.

Support other OEM Divisions during preparedness, response, and recovery. Perform duties common to all Department of the Interior emergency management personnel, including but not limited to the following:

Preparing emergency management policies, plans, and procedures;

Understanding, complying with, providing guidance, and interpreting National and Departmental emergency management-related directives, regulations, policies, standards and guidance;

Evaluating and inspecting emergency management and continuity activities;

Planning, evaluating, controlling and participating in exercises in accordance with an established Departmental design and planning framework, providing or coordinating emergency response and preparedness training and exercises;

Performing reporting and coordination activities to support operations center activities during emergencies.

May serve on response teams (i.e., incident management teams, occupant emergency teams, continuity of operations teams).

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 09/01/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.

To qualify for this position at the GS-14 grade level:

Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:

1. Independently develop, implement, and evaluate operational requirements, policies, and procedures for the secure flow of classified information across multiple offices or organizations. Lead the preparation and dissemination of classified/sensitive national security communications, briefing memos, and directives for senior leadership, ensuring compliance with national continuity policy and interagency guidance.

2. Direct and coordinate emergency management activities, including preparedness, response, recovery, and operational coordination for disasters and emergencies (natural disasters, wildland fires, technological emergencies, oil spills, hazardous materials, etc.). Plan, evaluate, and participate in exercises, training, and operational deployments; manage secure communications systems and resources; and serve as a recognized authority on interagency committees and councils relevant to continuity, emergency management, and national security.

3. Demonstrate mastery in developing, interpreting, and implementing emergency management and national security policies, plans, and procedures. Evaluate and inspect continuity activities, analyze operational reports and after-action reviews, and formulate accurate summaries, conclusions, and recommendations.

4. Prepare and present briefings, reports, and recommendations to senior management and Department leadership on emergency management program activities, operational readiness, and national security issues. Provide expert advice and guidance to managers and executives, influencing and motivating senior officials to implement plans and coordinate the secure flow of classified information.

You must include hours per week worked.

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.

Education

This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

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. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/[redacted]5-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive. A continued service agreement may be required if it is determined you are eligible for a permanent change in duty station (PCS), recruitment, or relocation incentive.

All DOI employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, DOI Ethics Prohibitions | U.S. Department of the Interior.

Physical Demands/Work Environment: Duties involve office type work with periodic field activity characterized by moderate physical exertion requiring basic good health. Activities may include climbing stairs, standing, and long hours of work, as well as some bending, stooping, or light lifting. Individuals must be able to assist others during evacuations. Individuals must be able to operate in austere and operationally challenging environments during activations or deployments. Demanding travel and/or work schedules may be required during emergencies. The incumbent must be prepared to work extended hours during emergency operations with little or no notice. The position may also require the incumbent to don respiratory or other personal protective equipment.

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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.

Benefits

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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.

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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.