Watch Officer

WATCH OFFICER – DC/MD/VA

(contract pending)

Position Summary

The Watch Officer supports continuous 24/7/365 operations within a fast-paced monitoring and response environment. This position is responsible for maintaining situational awareness of incidents, hazards, threats, and emerging events that could affect personnel, facilities, operations, or mission-critical activities.

The Watch Officer evaluates incoming information, provides timely reporting and notifications, and supports coordination among leadership, emergency management personnel, internal stakeholders, and external partners. The successful candidate must be comfortable working independently, making sound decisions under time-sensitive conditions, and handling sensitive information appropriately.

Primary Responsibilities

• Monitor multiple information sources for incidents, hazards, threats, and developing events.
• Identify, verify, assess, and communicate significant or potentially actionable information.
• Maintain situational awareness of events that could affect personnel, facilities, operations, or mission activities.
• Track incidents from initial notification through resolution and document significant developments.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and detailed watch logs and operational records.
• Prepare operational summaries, situation reports, and other incident-related documentation.
• Prepare and disseminate alerts, notifications, and updates to appropriate stakeholders.
• Follow established notification, reporting, and escalation procedures.
• Provide timely follow-up communications as incident conditions develop or change.
• Coordinate information sharing with internal departments, leadership, emergency management personnel, and external partners.
• Support emergency management activities, continuity operations, special events, and incident response efforts.
• Assist with post-incident reporting, documentation, and related follow-up activities.
• Exercise sound judgment and operate independently in fast-moving and time-sensitive situations.
• Safeguard sensitive, confidential, and operationally significant information.
• Work rotating shifts in support of continuous operations, including nights, weekends, holidays, and extended hours when required during emergencies or significant events.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED).
• Fluency in English, including reading, writing, and verbal communication.
• Must be either a United States citizen by birth or naturalization, or a Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a minimum Tier 2 Non-Critical Sensitive determination and/or required security eligibility.
• Ability to work in a 24/7/365 operational environment, including rotating shifts, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to assess information, prioritize competing issues, and communicate effectively during time-sensitive situations.
• Demonstrated discretion when handling sensitive information.