Watch Officer/Operations Specialist (Day Shift)

Ardent Eagle Solutions•Washington, DC

3d•$104,998 - $113,776•Onsite

About The Position

This contractor position supports the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commerce Information and Operations Center (CIOC), helping the Department prepare for, respond to, and recover from unexpected events. The Operations Watch Officer maintains situational awareness, coordinates emergency management information, and communicates with government, nongovernmental, and private-sector partners. The role requires sound judgment, reliability, clear communication, strong writing and editing skills, and the ability to remain calm and decisive under pressure while following standard operating procedures (SOPs). Work is performed on site in an office environment at the Department of Commerce Headquarters in Washington, DC, including work in spaces ranging from unclassified areas through a SCIF. Teleworking is not allowed. The position primarily works 12-hour day shifts, with occasional night-shift assignments possible. The work schedule follows a repeating two-week rotation totaling 85.75 hours per pay period. After orientation and side-by-side training, the employee will generally work day shifts independently. The role may require deployment to a Commerce continuity facility less than 1½ hours from headquarters. The position supports continuous CIOC operations, including monitoring communications and information feeds; preparing and distributing reports, alerts, and briefings; coordinating notifications; testing communications systems; and supporting continuity and emergency-management policies, procedures, and readiness activities. Compensation is listed as $104,998–$113,776 annually. The employer offers medical, dental, and vision coverage, a matching 401(k) plan, continuing education assistance, and paid time off.

Requirements

Approximately four years of experience as an Operations Watch Officer/Stander or Operations Specialist; at least two years of experience at a national operations center in one or more Executive Departments is desired.
Experience in all-hazards operations and incident management, including natural disasters, National Special Security Events, and human-caused or technological incidents.
Active Top Secret security clearance and SCI crossover eligibility; the description specifies that candidates must be currently SCI-indoc’d or have been debriefed from SCI less than 23 months ago, and that SCI eligibility alone is insufficient.
Solid Microsoft Office skills, especially Word.
Ability to communicate clearly and succinctly in person and over the phone with professionalism, tact, and diplomacy.
Experience preparing situational-awareness reports.
Experience conducting research and analysis and writing and editing emails and documents.
Understanding of emergency-management coordination and ability to connect developments in fast-moving incidents, assess risk, remain calm, and make decisions under pressure.
Experience providing communication and coordination support to executives across unclassified and classified platforms.
Ability to arrive at the duty location on time and perform duties independently on 12-hour day shifts.
Reliable means of transportation to and from Commerce Headquarters and dependable transportation for travel to an alternate site when required.
Willingness to learn and ability to make informed decisions and take actions based on SOPs, templates, evolving situations, and risk.
Good judgment and ability to assess complex situations and determine whether and when potential hazards threaten Commerce interests.
Bachelor of Science degree or four additional years of relevant experience.
Ability to move throughout large federal buildings, including walking moderate to long distances as needed.
Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 10 pounds; work may involve standing, walking, and moving between floors or work areas.

Nice To Haves

Experience using SIPRNet and JWICS in daily duties.
Experience using geospatial tools to assess which Commerce locations an incident may affect.
Understanding of Primary Mission Essential Functions (PMEFs) and how to assess an incident’s impact on them.

Responsibilities

Serve as a day-shift CIOC Operations Watch Officer on a 365-day, 24/7 operation using 12-hour rotational shifts, including occasional night assignments as required.
Support schedule development, backfill shifts when needed, and assist with activation or relocation to an alternate operating site during high-risk periods or when headquarters is unavailable.
Monitor and analyze emergency, incident-related, and routine information from communications systems, media, and operational data feeds to maintain situational awareness and identify significant developments.
Use emergency notification systems and geospatial mapping tools to support operational tracking and visualization.
Prepare, research, analyze, edit, proofread, and distribute briefs, narrative reports, operational summaries, alerts, notifications, and situational-awareness products in accordance with CIOC SOPs.
Coordinate, prioritize, process, and disseminate time-sensitive information to senior leadership, Operating Units, and interagency partners, handling classified and unclassified communications in accordance with federal security requirements.
Attend and support internal, Department-wide, and interagency working groups and contribute to information sharing, continuity, and emergency-management efforts.
Support development and implementation of Operations Center policies, procedures, standards, and program activities, including documentation, reports, and templates for Operating Units.
Conduct routine, scheduled, and ad hoc communications testing to ensure operational readiness and system functionality.
Follow SOPs and obtain supervisory or federal staff approval when required before critical operational decisions are executed.
Support assigned projects during periods without active incidents at a level commensurate with Watch Officer responsibilities.
Maintain and communicate awareness of all-hazards events, including natural disasters, National Special Security Events, and human-caused or technological incidents.
Communicate and coordinate in person, by phone, and in writing to support timely emergency-management awareness and incident response.
Create and distribute alert and notification messages through the Commerce Emergency Notification System (Everbridge) based on SOPs.
Monitor and respond to email received by CIOC accounts on classified networks and calls received on CIOC Watch Officer phone lines.
Collect, compile, and analyze SIPRNet and JWICS message traffic and alert appropriate leadership and organizations to significant incidents that could affect Commerce missions, personnel, or infrastructure.
Test voice, audio, and data communications systems, including SIPRNet, JWICS, vIPEr, internet, phone, and SVTC.
Develop or revise templates and tailored reports for CIOC incident management and continuity-of-operations responses as requested.
Assist with drafting, reviewing, and implementing new or revised CIOC policies and SOPs as requested.
Deploy to the Commerce continuity facility to perform CIOC Watch Officer duties when required.