Summary

This position is located in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of the World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB), Office of Chief Economist (OCE). The Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) advises the Secretary on the economic implications of policies and programs affecting the U.S. food and fiber system and rural areas as well as coordinates, reviews, and approves the Department's commodity and farm sector forecasts.

Duties

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• Assists other Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) staff members in the proper use of this technology.
• Collaborates with a wide range of clients, hardware and software developers, and suppliers.
• Assists with website development and content posting. Support interagency data and information dissemination.
• Authority on database administration and database systems engineering and implementation.
• Conducts the design of complex client-server applications interfaced to centralized database to meet OCE needs and requirements.
• Configures, monitors, and maintains Cisco ASA firewall, as well as monitor the network for intrusion detection.
• Prepares detailed hardware or software specifications to be used in procurement solicitations.
• Develops, manages, and monitors lockup security measures to ensure integrity of the lockup process.
• Carries out the activities necessary to support the information technology infrastructure by ensuring network and database integrity, availability, and recoverability.
• Assists users and resolves problems with complex applications developed in-house and by contractors.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• If selected, you may be required to serve a probationary or trial period as applicable to appointment type. Additional information is in Next Steps section.
• Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.

Qualifications

you must demonstrate one year of information technology related experience in the federal service or private or public sector demonstrating the following four competencies, as defined:

Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.

Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, 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.

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.

Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations. In addition to the four competencies above, your application or resume must clearly show that you possess the specialized experience requirements as listed below:

GS-14 - I possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level; or it's non-Federal equivalent that included experience demonstrated in each of the following areas: 1) Conducts the design of complex client-server applications interfaced to centralized to databases to meet agency needs and requirements; 2) Carries out the activities necessary to support agency information technology infrastructure by ensuring network and database integrity, availability, and recoverability; 3) Configures, monitors, and maintains the agency Cisco ASA firewall; 4) Develops, manages, and monitors lockup security measures to ensure integrity of lockup process.

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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Selective Placement Factor: Comprehensive knowledge in all phases of Microsoft SQL server administration, and in developing, maintaining, and debugging SQL and SQL Stored procedures and Comprehensive knowledge in developing, maintaining and debugging complex client server applications using C#, MS.NET, and the Microsoft Visual Studio

environment.

The above factor must be demonstrated in resume, or you will be rated out.

Education

There is no education substitution for specialized experience.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

Incentives may be authorized.

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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

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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.

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.