IT Specialist 'End User SME', GS-2210-15 FPL GS-15 (ED only)

Summary

This position is in the U.S. Department of Education (ED), Federal Student Aid (FSA), Chief Technology Office (CTO), Technology Operations Division (TOD). The Technology Operations Division provides information technology operations services for all FSA systems, promoting the effective and secure use of technology to achieve FSA's strategic objectives through sound planning, investments, integrated technology architectures and standards, production support, and cybersecurity services.

Duties

APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 200 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 200th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first. We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application. This position is eligible for Remote/Virtual work. However, this position may fall under the Presidential Memorandum titled "Return to In-Person Work" which will require you to go into the office if you are located within 200 miles of a Department of Education facility in these locations: Washington, DC, Dallas, TX, San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, Kansas City, MO, Chicago, Il, Atlanta, GA, Philadelphia, PA, and New York City, NY,. Actual salary will be based on location of selectee. Locality pay tables available at www.opm.gov. As a IT Specialist 'End User SME' GS-2210-15, you will be responsible for: Conducting research on network products, services, protocols and standards to remain abreast of developments in the networking industry. Communicating complex technical requirements to non-technical personnel; and preparing and presenting briefings to senior management officials on complex and controversial issues. Providing network and security support for the Department's information and communication's technology infrastructure for voice, mobility, video, and data services across the enterprise, including technologies such as Software Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN), Local Area Network (LAN) and Wireless LAN topologies, Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), and Internet Protocol Version IPv4 and IPv6. Developing and maintaining plans to support the development of security measures, mitigation of controls for boundary defense, incident response planning. Ensuring that the network solution complies with Federal and Department requirements to include, but not limited, baseline secure configuration, network security hardening, network security monitoring, network encryption, redundant connections, optimized network configuration, right sizing network bandwidth, Managed Trusted Internet Protocol Service/Trusted Internet Connections, and integration of cloud hosting providers to the network infrastructure.

Qualifications

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement. If you are a current federal employee, you must meet all time-in-grade and time-after competitive appointment qualifications within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement. To verify that you meet these requirements, we will review your responses to the core eligibility questions on the occupational questionnaire, as well as your submitted resume and required documents. To make an accurate determination, you will need to include on your resume your federal position title, pay plan, occupational series, grade level, agency, dates for which you held the grade level (stated as MM/YYYY to MM/YYYY, OR MM/YYYY to PRESENT), and total hours worked per week. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Minimum Qualification Requirements You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-15, if you possess the specialize experience, education, or a combination of the two. Specialized Experience for the GS-15 One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-14 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments: 1. Experience with architecture and design of enterprise network for multi-office site and Cloud Hosting Providers with considerations of unified communication, Network architectures and frameworks (ex. SD-WAN, ZTA, SASE) and Network protocols (ex. IPv4/IPv6). 2. Experience transitioning federal or enterprise-wide IT and telecommunications, such as contract vehicle and management/operation and maintenance of the contract. 3. Experience managing contractor performance as at least a FAC-COR Level III for large multifaceted IT investments in leading acquisition and procurement efforts such as authoring Performance Work Statement (PWS) and Independent Government Cost Estimate (ICGE's). Basic Experience Requirements Example (IT Specialist GS-12 and Above GS or Equivalent): For positions at the GS-12, GS-13, GS-14, or GS-15 grade levels, applicants may qualify by meeting or exceeding the minimum proficiency level established for each of the required competencies, in addition to meeting the specialized experience requirement as demonstrated through the assessment of skills. You must possess IT-related experience (paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (e.g., IT certification), as appropriate) demonstrating each of the nine competencies listed below. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail. 2. Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (i.e., any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit 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. 3. Decision Making - Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change. 4. Information Management - Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organizes and maintains information or information management systems. 5. Interpersonal Skills- Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations. 6. 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. 7. Problem Solving- Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations. 8. Teamwork- Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals. 9. Technical Competence- Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills an