Duties

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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.

As an Information Technology Specialist (IAM Security Architect): GS-2210-15, you will be responsible for:
• Overseeing Identity and Access Management (IAM) projects which support Federal Student Aid (FSA), enterprise and other services which facilitates information sharing and collaboration between FSA, Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) other federal agencies and stakeholders.
• Providing critical reviews and recommendations for the design strategy, implementation,

management, monitoring, and accountability for IAM solutions.
• Serving as the Subject Matter Expert with specialized knowledge in the Identity and Access Management IAM Branch providing users, identity, and access management for two major enterprise systems and one data center system.
• Developing long-range IT plans which anticipates, identifies, evaluates, mitigates, and minimizes risks associated with Identity Credentialing and Access Management IT systems.
• Researching and defines mission needs, life cycle of data, and the protections needed for provenance, pedigree, and access control of data and meta data in the enterprise environment.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States citizen to apply.
• You may be subject to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Relocation Expenses will not be paid.
• Must complete a Background Investigation and Fingerprint check.
• This position is subject to drug testing.

Condition of Employment:

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a probationary period or trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period OR trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

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, knowledge, and skills, and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. We will consider all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements

You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-15, if you possess the specialize experience.

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 serving as a professional with mapping and securing authentication flows using standards like SAML, OAuth 2.0, and OpenID Connect (OIDC) along with the integration of micro-services, an architect must secure machine-to-machine communications, service principals, and API gateways using TLS or specialized tokens.

2. Experience in Identity Governance and Administration for designing life-cycle management (joiner/mover/leaver) workflows, automated user provisioning, and periodic access certifications to maintain compliance (Executive Orders, OMB Memo, NIST FISMA).

3. Experience providing support for implementing Identity and Access Management (IAM) and other security functionality for existing and new business systems involving Microsoft Active Directory (AD), Azure AD, and Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) to include integration with authoritative data sources like HR, Training or Personnel Security Information Systems.

Basic Experience Requirements:

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.

1. 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. ProblemSolving- 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 and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

1. Knowledge of the latest IT management concepts, theories, principles, standards, methods, practices, and techniques sufficient to oversee and direct the assurance of reliability, accessibility, and security for the IAM systems, and to advise other IT professionals, project managers, and management officials.

2. Ability to summarize, interact and communicate complex issues, relevant analyses, and programmatic options to senior leadership, key managers, technical professionals at all levels throughout the organization.

3. Ability to plan and integrate information assurance and security related projects and concepts requiring introduction of innovative technology, in a complex organizational context.

4. Knowledge of commercial and Infrastructure Management concepts and technology, to provide technical input units on integration, of information assurance capabilities, to better support our missions.

5. Ability to use written and verbal communications of a complex and high-level nature, formal public speaking and presentation, negotiation, and persuasion of individuals with competing or conflicting interests and potentially hostile motivation sensitivity to many divergent viewpoints, multi-cultural and political awareness, and appreciation.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience for this position and grade level.

Additional information

Veterans' Career Counseling: If you are a veteran interested in receiving tips on preparing a Federal resume and/or how to prepare for an interview, you may email [redacted] to schedule a session with a career counselor ("Veterans Counseling Session" should be placed in the subject line of the email).

Student Loan Default: If selected for this position, we will verify that you have not defaulted on any loan funded or guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are found to be in default, we will contact you to make arrangements for repayment prior to making an official offer of employment.

Suitability and Investigation: If selected for this position, you will be required to complete the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for federal employment and successfully complete a pre-appointment investigation/background check.

Essential/Non-Essential: This position is considered essential for purposes of reporting to work during federal government closures.

Financial Disclosure: This position does not require financial disclosure.

Bargaining Unit: This position is not included in the bargaining unit.

Selections: Agencies have broad authority under law to hire from any appropriate source of eligibles and may fill a vacancy in the competitive service by any method authorized. We may make additional selections from this vacancy announcement within 90 days from the date the selection certificates are issued, should vacancies occur. We may also share selection certificates amongst program offices across the agency.

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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.

As an ED employee, you will also benefit from our family-friendly work environment. As part of our commitment to maintain a work life balance, we offer excused leave for Parent/Teacher Conferences (3 hours); excused leave for annual health screenings (4 hours); and matching leave for community volunteer service. Other flexibilities that may be available to you include alternative work schedules. You may be eligible to receive a recruitment incentive for this position. To receive this incentive payment, you will be required to sign a service agreement obligating you to remain with the U.S. Department of Education for a specified period as agreed upon. You may be eligible to receive a relocation incentive for this position. To receive this incentive payment, you will be required to sign a service agreement obligating you to remain with the U.S. Department of Education for a specified period as agreed upon. You may be eligible to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program as a recruitment incentive for this position. To receive student loan repayments, you will be required to sign a service agreement obligating you to remain with the U.S. Department of Education for a specified period as agreed upon.

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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.