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Duties
Operates as an emergency call taker and law enforcement dispatcher at the Shenandoah Regional Communication Center. The Shenandoah Regional Communication Center handles all emergency and law enforcement traffic for Shenandoah National Park, Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historic Park, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, George Washington's Birthplace National Monument and Thomas Stone National Historic Site. The center operates 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, even during emergencies such as major storms and wildfires. The operator must work weekends, nights, holidays overtime, and overnight shifts. Shifts and days off are subject to change.

• Works as an emergency call taker, handling a high volume of telephone calls while recording information, determining priority, perform caller interrogation and relaying information to the proper personnel.
• Coordinates rescue, ambulance, helicopter operations of various agencies with National Park Service personnel.
• Accesses multiple law enforcement databases and programs, providing technical advice, assistance, support and information to law enforcement staff.
• Operates a multi-channel/multi-resource radio communications system; Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system; and an interstate/local teletype system.
• Makes decisions under stressful conditions without time to reflect on possible alternatives.
• Queries and enters records in the Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN).
• Prepares and compiles basic reports and memorandums relating to communication center's activities as needed for field operators and supervisors. Properly documents and records reports that establish proof and relevancy of facts.
• Monitors NPS staff and researchers field plans, locations, etc..
• Operates as a wildland fire dispatcher, providing flight following services, resource ordering, placing resources on assignments, notifying appropriate staff and record keeping.

These positions may be filled at either the GS-05 level or the GS-06 level.
GS-05 salary range is $39,576 - $51,446.
GS-06 salary range is $44,117 - $57,354.
Full performance level of these positions is GS-08. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. Promotion to the GS-07 level and the GS-08 full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.
POSITION LOCATION: The Shenandoah Regional Communication Center is located at Shenandoah National Park Headquarters, about 15 minutes from the small rural community, Luray, VA. Luray is approximately one hour from Harrisonburg, VA and Front Royal, VA. Both locations offer advanced medical facilities, shopping and recreational activities. Luray is also about 90 minutes from the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area, which has a major airport, advanced medical care, and recreational and shopping areas. In Luray, the summers are warm and humid, the winters are cold. The temperature typically varies from 26°F to 86°F and is rarely below 12°F or above 94°F. There is no public transport to or from the park.
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RequirementsConditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
• Direct Deposit: Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• Drug Testing: You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
• You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. You may be required to submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license.
• Government housing is not available.
• You will be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
• If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
• You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
• Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

QualificationsAll qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-07/15/2024.
Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40 hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.
To Qualify For This Position At The GS-05 Grade Level, You Must Possess At Least One Of The Following Minimum Qualifications By Close Of The Announcement:EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to at least the GS-4 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the private or public service) that includes providing communications support using radios, telephones, frequency monitors, computer networks, etc. to coordinate emergency units such as law enforcement, fire, etc. during routine and emergency operations. You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 4 years of education above high school leading to a bachelor's degree in an accredited institution. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. (Note: Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study {30 semester hours} beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience.) For example, 6 months of specialized experience as described above (50% of the experience requirement), and 3 years of college study as described above (50% of the education requirement). Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts.
To Qualify For This Position At The GS-06 Grade Level, You Must Possess At Least One Of The Following Minimum Qualifications By Close Of The Announcement:
EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the ???????GS-5 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the private or public service) that includes performing the following duties: working as an emergency public safety dispatcher; relaying public safety emergency information to responders on a radio or telephone system; and coordinating emergency response efforts or relaying information on a radio or telephone system; working as a switchboard operator; dispatching information on a fire or at a construction site; producing criminal reports through a computer system; working with technology and software used in dispatch operations. 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.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) or Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP or CTAP eligible see http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85 or above on the rating criteria for this position.
Education
To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
There is no substitution of education for experience at the gs-06 grade level of this announcement.
Additional information
A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR

• 575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.

A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the National Park Service (NPS) either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and, as such, may be granted in conjunction with one another.
Physical Demands: Incumbent must function efficiently in a confined space for extended periods with no breaks and no opportunity to leave the confines of the Communications Center. The dispatcher is considered an "essential employee," meaning he/she is required to work most holidays, report for duty during adverse weather conditions, and be expected to work for long hours exceeding normally scheduled shifts in case of emergencies. Position is sedentary with high amounts of stress. Incumbent is subject to shift work, rotating shift work, and uncommon tours of duty. Work requires use of the voice in vocal communications for periods of hours at a time. Voice must be clear, audible, and tone effective with words plainly spoken and understandable. Incumbent must be able to hear clearly and discern a variety of audible communications and signals simultaneously. Incumbent must be able to read critical information from multiple sources, including computer screen, fax, and written log quickly and accurately. The work is of an emergency nature and is emotionally stressful. Incumbent must possess manual dexterity sufficient to operate computer terminals/keyboards and related equipment and to maintain written logs. Work involves occasional lifting of boxes and supplies up to weights of 50 pounds.
Working Conditions: The work is normally performed in a well-lighted and temperature-controlled room. Noise levels are routinely high due to electronic equipment, telephones, radios, and other discussions ongoing in the performance of duties. The setting is typically confined and secure, and entrance and egress is controlled. During the training period and/or on other occasions, the incumbent will be assigned to accompany field law enforcement personnel in patrol vehicles to learn or gain a more detailed familiarization with agency field operating procedures and jurisdictional boundaries. Incumbent may not leave the center unless relieved by another qualified dispatcher.
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How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.
Candidates Will Be Rated And Ranked Using Category Rating Procedures. These Procedures Place Candidates With Veteran's Preference Above Non-preference Eligibles Within Each Category. Veterans With a Service Connected Disability Of At Least 10 Percent Are Listed In The Highest Quality Category, Except When The Position Being Filled Is Scientific Or Professional At The GS-09 Grade Level Or Higher. Under Category Rating, Candidates Will Be Rated And Ranked Into One Of Three Categories:

• Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
• Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.

You will be evaluated on the following competencies:

• Data Management
• Operating Systems
• Public Safety and Security

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessments, including a Subject Matter Expert panel resume review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.