Information Technology Specialist

Summary Starting salary for this position will depend on the grade you are determined to be qualified and selected. The OPM Special Rate Table Number 999B applies to this position. The annual salary range by grade is as follows: GS-09: $68,545 to $89,114 Per Year GS-11: $75,278 to $97,867 Per Year As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. This position is also being announced to applicants eligible to apply through Merit Staffing procedures under 26-NYN-12934605-MS. Learn more about this agency Duties If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team to serve as a district Information Technology (IT) Specialist responsible for providing technical, advisory, and/or analytical assistance in a variety of IT specialty areas, which support the information management needs of the United States Attorney's Office (USAO) for the Northern District of New York. The IT environment includes personal computers, routers, switches, bridges, a wide area network and local area network, operating systems, case management systems, and litigation support operations. Typical work assignments will include performing essential IT tasks associated with day-to-day operation of systems utilizing network hardware and software capabilities to meet information needs, such as: Customer Support: Planning and delivering customer support services at the point of computer user/specialist interface including installation, configuration, troubleshooting, customer assistance, and training. IT Systems/Network Administration: Testing, quality assurance, configuration, installation, implementation, integration, maintenance, and management of networked systems used for the transmission of information in data, voice, and/or video format. Systems Security: Ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems, networks, and data through the planning, analysis, development, implementation, maintenance, and enhancement of systems, programs, policies, procedures, and tools. Internet: Performing routine assignments and segments of projects related to technical planning, design, development, testing, implementation, and management of internet, intranet, and extranet activities, including systems/applications development and technical management of websites. Litigation Support Servies: Coordinating litigation support and case management services (including trial preparation and presentation) in response to customer needs in conjunction with the district's designated "Litigation Support Coordinator." Policy and Planning: Providing input to IT planning and policy activities within the parameters of guidance and directives. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. Requirements Conditions of employment You must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation. You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable. If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period. You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement. Qualifications To be qualified at the GS-09 and/or GS-11 level, you must possess: Basic Requirements: Information Technology (IT)-related experience, obtained through paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training, demonstrating each of the following competences: Attention to Detail: Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail. Examples of proficiency may include: monitoring network capacity and performance; ensuring compliance with appropriate standards. Customer Service: Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work until produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services. Examples of proficiency may include: providing customer support services including installation, configuration, troubleshooting, customer assistance, and training in response to user requirements; assessing and providing feedback on problematic trends and patterns in customer support requirements. Oral Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Examples of proficiency may include: implementing and explaining policies and procedures to ensure information systems' reliability and accessibility and prevent and defend against unauthorized access to systems, networks, and data; providing customer training, including orientation for new users. Problem Solving: Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations. Examples of proficiency may include: resolving hardware/software interface and interoperability problems; diagnosing and resolving problems in response to customer reported incidents. AND To be qualified at the GS-09 level, you must also possess: Specialized Experience: One (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least work at the GS-07 level in Federal service in or related to work in the Information Technology (IT) field, which has equipped you with the competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as experience performing following types of duties: performing routine and recurring assignments in any one of a variety of IT specialty areas, such as customer support, systems/network administration, systems security, internet/intranet/extranet, or litigation support services; identifying and resolving routine IT issues and problems; providing technical information and advisory assistance to customers on a variety of IT systems, applications, products, and/or services; evaluating established methods, approaches, and procedures; and applying appropriate systems security measures. OR Education: A Master's or equivalent graduate degree in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems, or networks; OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Master's degree or equivalent graduate degree. All academic degrees and coursework must be from an accredited or pre-accredited institution. To be qualified at the GS-11 level, you must also possess: Specialized Experience: One (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least work at the GS-09 level in Federal service in or related to work in the Information Technology (IT) field, which has equipped you with the competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as experience performing following types of duties: assisting in the development, configuration, installation, and maintenance of networked information technology systems; performing routine and recurring assignments in a wide range and variety of IT specialty areas, such as customer support, systems/network administration, systems security, internet/intranet/extranet, or litigation support services; identifying and resolving more difficult and complex IT issues and problems; providing technical information, advisory, and analytical assistance to customers on a variety of IT systems, applications, products, and/or services; evaluating established methods, approaches, and procedures to prepare recommendations for change when needed; and applying appropriate security principles and methods to test and implement information security programs. OR Education: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems, or networks; OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. All academic degrees and coursework must be from an accredited or pre-accredited institution. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in the announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Education All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov OR Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. Additional information Relocation: The payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized. Benefits: The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov. Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline. Political Appointees (Current or Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service. Expand Hide  additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.