Housing Officer (GS-09) with the Army National Guard: A Rewarding Career in Facility Management

The Army National Guard offers a unique and fulfilling career path for individuals seeking to serve their country while utilizing their skills in facility management. If you have a background in housing operations, personnel supervision, and budget administration, the Housing Officer position (GS-1173-09) in Kingwood, West Virginia, presents an excellent opportunity. This role is crucial for maintaining the readiness and well-being of service members by ensuring the effective management of training area facilities. This article will delve into the specifics of this exciting position, covering its responsibilities, qualifications, benefits, and how to apply.

About the Army National Guard

The National Guard is the oldest component of the U.S. Armed Forces, with a proud history dating back to colonial times. It serves a dual role, acting as both a state militia under the command of the governor and a federal reserve force under the command of the President. The Army National Guard specifically provides combat and support capabilities to the U.S. Army and operates in both domestic and overseas environments. The organization is committed to serving the nation, its states, and its communities, offering a stable and dynamic career for its members.

Job Responsibilities: Leading Facility Operations

The Housing Officer position is central to the operational success of a major Army National Guard training area. Located within the Housing Division of the Directorate of Logistics, the incumbent is responsible for the comprehensive management of housing facilities, including barracks, Bachelor Officers' Quarters (BOQs), Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQs), VIP housing, and other troop buildings such as administrative facilities and dining halls. This role demands strong leadership and organizational skills.

Key responsibilities include:

• Directing Housing Assignments: Overseeing the assignment of troop buildings, furnishings, and equipment to maximize space utilization while maintaining unit integrity. This involves resolving disputes and ensuring efficient allocation based on unit size, sex, and serviceability of space.
• Managing Billeting Programs: Administering the billeting program for VIPs, bachelors, and transient personnel. This includes managing certificates of non-availability and handling records for services like laundry and maid services.
• Formulating Tenant Directives: Developing and implementing tenant directives and instructions covering assignments, terminations, inspections, maintenance, cleanliness, and utility conservation.
• Developing Local Policies: Creating local instructions and directives for the normal and priority assignment of quarters, maintenance reporting, and facility requirements.
• Budget and Fund Management: Determining annual requirements, formulating budget estimates for operating supplies, services, and personnel costs. This also involves managing special housing funds, such as Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) and Billeting Funds.
• Facility Improvement Participation: Serving on installation-level facility improvement boards, Billeting Fund Councils, and MWR Committees. Developing recommendations for improving living conditions and justifying funding requests for major housing activities.
• Inspection and Turn-in Oversight: Scheduling and supervising pre-occupancy and termination inspections, including joint tenant-management inspections to assess habitability, cleanliness, and inventory.
• Inter-organizational Coordination: Collaborating with other organizations on site to ensure efficient and timely housing services, maintenance, alterations, and repairs.
• Warehouse Supervision: Overseeing a warehousing operation responsible for receiving, storing, issuing, and maintaining accountability of furnishings and equipment for troop buildings.
• Personnel Management: Directly or through subordinate supervisors, assigning work, reviewing performance, interviewing and selecting personnel, ensuring training needs are met, establishing performance standards, managing leave schedules, and initiating personnel actions. This includes counseling, grievance adjustment, and initiating disciplinary actions.

Requirements: Military and Civilian Qualifications

To be considered for this position, applicants must meet specific military grade requirements and possess both general and specialized experience. It's crucial to substantiate all qualifications with detailed examples in your own words, avoiding direct copying from the announcement or position description.

Military Requirements:

• Minimum Military Grade: E1
• Maximum Military Grade: E7
• Your current rank must be clearly stated on your resume.
• For applicants below the minimum grade: A signed memorandum from your Military Personnel Office is required, proving eligibility to obtain the necessary grade upon acceptance.
• For applicants exceeding the maximum grade: A memorandum must be submitted, stating your willingness to accept a voluntary reduction in rank if selected.

General Experience:

This includes any experience, education, or training that provided a foundational knowledge of housing management principles, practices, and operational techniques. It also requires experience in verbal and written communication and the ability to effectively interact with diverse groups of people.

Specialized Experience:

This involves practical experience in coordinating the movement and accountability of equipment, conducting audits, and preparing comprehensive reports. Furthermore, it requires demonstrated knowledge of the basic principles, techniques, and methodologies for planning, scheduling, coordinating, and efficiently utilizing government-owned housing facilities. Experience in developing and implementing directives and instructions related to billeting activities for residents and lower-level housing personnel is also essential.

Education:

If qualifying based on education, official or unofficial college transcripts or proof of degree must be submitted with the application. Failure to provide this documentation will result in an ineligible rating.

Salary Overview

The salary for this position ranges from $61,722 to $80,243 per year, depending on the applicant's qualifications and experience.

Benefits

As a Title 32 Dual Status Technician, you will enjoy a unique benefits package that combines military and civilian employment advantages. While specific details are often provided during the hiring process, potential benefits include:

• Healthcare: Access to Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program for eligible civilian employees.
• Retirement: Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or the military retirement system, depending on service length and status.
• Leave: Generous annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays.
• Life Insurance: Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI).
• Professional Development: Opportunities for training and career advancement within the National Guard.
• Incentives: Relocation and recruitment incentives may be authorized for this position, subject to availability of funds.

Application Steps

Applying for this position involves several key steps to ensure your application is complete and considered:

1. USAJOBS Account: Create or log in to your account on USAJOBS.gov.
2. Complete Application: Fill out the online application and the detailed Occupational Questionnaire accurately.
3. Gather Documents: Collect all necessary supporting documents, including:
   • Resume (must include military rank/pay grade)
   • SF-50, AGR Orders, or ADOS Orders (if applicable, for full-time National Guard employees)
   • Transcripts or proof of degree (if qualifying by education)
   • Required Memorandums (if applicable, for military grade requirements)
4. Submit Electronically: Upload all documents and submit your complete application package through the USAJOBS portal before the closing date.

Important: Mailed, e-mailed, hand-delivered, or faxed applications will NOT be accepted. Ensure all documents are submitted electronically and before midnight EST on the announcement closing date.

Application Tips

To maximize your chances of success, consider these tips:

• Be Specific: Provide detailed, narrative explanations of your experience in your own words, using concrete examples to illustrate your qualifications for both general and specialized experience.
• Follow Instructions: Adhere strictly to all instructions regarding rank, memorandums, and document submission. Any deviation can lead to disqualification.
• Proofread: Carefully review your resume and all supporting documents for errors in grammar, spelling, and factual accuracy.
• Understand Areas of Consideration: Be aware of the different applicant areas and how your application fits within them. This information is crucial for eligibility.
• Timeliness: Submit your application well before the deadline to avoid any last-minute technical issues.

The Housing Officer position with the Army National Guard in Kingwood, West Virginia, offers a challenging and rewarding career for qualified individuals. By managing essential training area facilities and leading a team, you will play a vital role in supporting the mission of the National Guard. Ensure you meet all requirements, meticulously prepare your application, and submit it accurately and on time to be considered for this impactful opportunity.