Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic hosted a rapid hire event June 1, drawing hundreds of prospective applicants to the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.

It’s the second job fair the command held in six months, speaking to the desire to quickly fortify the workforce in order to better serve the fleet.

Part of what made the event so successful was the use of use Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). According to the OPM website, DHA empowers federal agencies to fill quickly vacancies where there is a critical need or severe shortage of candidates.

For NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic that meant candidates received on-the-spot offers the day of the job fair and be working within weeks. With the proven work experience and a motivated hiring team, the command signed up its first the day’s first hire within 15 minutes of the doors opening. In all 97 applicants, received job offers with the remaining applicants entered into an interactive database that will allow hiring officials to match candidates to open positions.

“The success of the event highlights our partnership with the Office of Civilian Human Resources, Stennis Operations Center and the various departments of NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic who all came together to ensure a smooth operation across each phase of the hiring process,” said Rebecca Rowe, NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic human resources director. “We were able to significantly increase the number of job offers since our last job fair, thanks in part to our ability to use all of our Direct-Hire Authorities.” 

Though the job fair is over, the search for quality candidates is not. Interested candidates are encouraged to send their resumes to NAVFAC_MLHRO@navy.mil.

This continuing recruitment process involves the entire NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic team of subject matter experts, hiring managers and representatives across the enterprise according to Jean Dumlao, NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic Public Works director. This type of agile collaboration to recruit, develop and retain highly qualified and motivated people is key to NAVFAC’s mission to enable warfighter lethality and maximize naval shore readiness.

“We provide a variety of services that directly support our warfighters and shore activities every single day and around the clock," said Dumlao. “It’s absolutely critical to attract, develop and retain a highly capable workforce to deliver the products and services our Sailors and Marines rely on.”

The organization is actively recruiting for positions in a variety of professional disciplines to include Electrical, Mechanical, Civil/Structural, Fire Protection, and Environmental Engineers; Construction Managers; Engineering Technicians; and Financial Management Analysts.  NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic also requires many High Voltage Electricians; Electricians; Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanics; Maintenance Mechanics; Pipefitters/Plumbers; Crane Operators; Riggers; High Voltage Electrical Workers; Heavy Mobile Equipment Mechanics; Boiler Plant Workers; and Trade Apprentices.

Because the command spans the east coast from Maine to Georgia, and as far west as Illinois, applicants may also consider opportunities outside of its Hampton Roads, Virginia headquarters -- Kittery, Maine; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Newport, Rhode Island; New London, Connecticut; Great Lakes, Illinois; Earle, New Jersey; Crane, Indiana; Havelock, North Carolina; Jacksonville, North Carolina; Albany, Georgia; Parris Island, South Carolina; and Beaufort, South Carolina are all in need of new employees.

NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic provides facilities engineering, public works and environmental products and services across an area of responsibility that spans from Georgia to Maine and as far west as Indiana. As an integral member of the Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic team, NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic provides leadership through the Regional Engineer organization to ensure the region's facilities and infrastructure are managed efficiently and effectively.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Naval Facilities Engineering Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navfachq/.

Get more information about the Navy from US Navy facebook or twitter.

For more news from Naval Facilities Engineering Command, visit www.navy.mil/.