Information Technology Specialist (Senior Computer Specialist)

Duties

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Provides assistance to field personnel in identifying and resolving conflicting requirements found among diverse institution environments; provides support for the nationwide inmate education network and video conferencing management.

Plans, directs and coordinates activities of the applicable Field IT Operation Support Section technology projects within the Computer Services Administration and User Support (CSAUS) Branch to ensure that goals and objectives for the Branch are accomplished within prescribed times frames and budget.

Serves as a technical expert in personal computers (PC) hardware, local area networks (LANs), commercial PC software, custom PC programming and telecommunications.

Monitors the implementation of the Office of Information Systems (OIS) technical bulletins to ensure compliance throughout the respective regions.

Serves as the technical lead in the design, procurement, deliveries and installation of network hardware and software for field locations as it relates to inmate education related IT projects.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Career Transition Programs (CTAP or ICTAP): These programs apply to Federal and/or DOJ employees who meet the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must:

1. Meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria;
2. Be rated well-qualified for the position [with a score of 85 or above] based on the competencies listed above; and
3. Submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility:
   
   • A copy of the agency notice (i.e., separation notice or agency RIF letter),
   • Most recent performance appraisal, and
   • Most recent SF-50 showing current/former position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location.

See USAJOBS' Career Transition Programs for more information.

Key Requirements:

1. U.S. Citizenship is Required.
2. See Special Conditions of Employment Section.
3. Selective Service Requirement

Qualifications

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements:

Basic Requirements:

Applicants may qualify by meeting or exceeding the minimum proficiency level established for each of the required competencies listed below,

GS-12 and GS-13:

The required competencies for the GS-12 and above grade level(s) are Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Information Management, Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Problem Solving, Teamwork, and Technical Competence.

Competency Definitions:

• 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.
• 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.
• Information Management - Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organizes and maintains information or information management systems.
• 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.
• 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.
• Teamwork - Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
• 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.

AND

Specialized Experience:

You must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (or equivalent). Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities/competencies to perform successfully the duties of the position and is related to the work of the position to be filled but may now be obtained through other means. Such demonstratable knowledge, skills, and abilities/competences may be typically gained in the IT field or through the performance of work where the primary concern is IT.

Some examples of qualifying experience:

GS-12:

• Experience with the planning, analysis, design, development, testing, quality assurance, configuration, installation, implementation, integration, maintenance, and/or management of networked systems used for the transmission of information in voice, data, and/or video formats.
• Experience with ensuring the integrity, availability, and confidentiality of information systems through the planning, analysis, development, implementation, maintenance and enhancement of systems, programs, policies and procedures.
• Experience with the planning and delivery of customer support services at the point of computer user/specialist interface, including installation, configuration, troubleshooting, user assistance, and/or training related to the Inmate Education Network as well as applications supported by the Field IT Operations Support Section.
• Experience with strategic planning, capital planning, policy and standards development, budgeting, resource management, knowledge management, auditing.

GS-13:

• Experience serving as technical expert in personal computer (PC) hardware, local area networks (LANs), commercial PC software, custom PC programming, and telecommunications.
• Experience developing and providing training for institutions, regional offices, and Central Office staff, based on stipulated areas of focus, weakness or new initiatives relating to the Inmate Education Network and other Field IT Operations Support Section initiatives.
• Experience in designing, configuration, and implementation of LAN. The Specialist may be called upon to brief upper management on development of new networking developments and networking standards, and the results of new installations.
• Experience serving as the technical lead in the design, procurement, deliveries and installation of network hardware and software for field locations as relates to inmate education related IT projects.
• Experience developing test plans to ensure that the system functions as designed and that security requirements are being met.

OR

GS-12 and GS-13:

Applicants may also be considered to have satisfied the minimum qualification requirements for a position if they can present evidence that clearly justifies a high evaluation of their competence, such as one or more of the following:

• Appropriate licensure, registration(s), certification(s); or
• A substantial record of experience, achievement, and publications that demonstrates eminence in the appropriate profession/technical field.

Applicants can qualify fully on the basis of licensure, certification, registration, or special training as an alternative to experience.

Applicants must provide copies of all such documentation when submitting an application.

If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities.

You MUST meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/30/2027.

Your resume must support your responses to the online questionnaire and the qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating.See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume.

After you submit your application, you will receive notification indicated whether or not the USA Hire assessment is required. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement to complete the assessment which is part of your application.

Education

ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). 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, Click Here.

Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.

Additional information

Additional selections may be made from this announcement.

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. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

OPEN UNTIL FILLED:

This announcement will remain open until September 30, 2027, or until filled. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and will remain on file through September 30, 2027. The first cutoff date will be 11:59pm (EST) on October 31, 2026, with subsequent cutoff dates occurring monthly, or until all vacancies are filled. Eligible and qualified applicants will be referred to selecting officials on an as-needed basis until vacancies are filled.

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION PREFERENCE:

In this announcement, you will be required to select at leastone preferred duty location. Your preference helps us understand your interest but cannot be guaranteed. Final duty assignment is determined by the Bureau's staffing needs, availability of positions, and funding. You may receive a final offer for a location outside your stated preference(s). By applying, you acknowledge that you may be offered employment at a duty station outside of your preferred duty locations within the Bureau of Prisons and its nationwide mission requirements.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT SECTION:

Initial appointment to a supervisory/managerial position requires a one-year probationary period.

The incumbent is subject to geographic relocation to meet the needs of the agency.

Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a urinalysis, physical, and background investigation.

All applicants are subject to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit checks.

Additional selections may be made if vacancies occur within the life of the certificate.

This is a secondary/non-law enforcement coverage position. Individuals that DO NOT have three years of law enforcement coverage gained in a primary law enforcement position by the closing date of the vacancy announcement are ineligible for secondary law enforcement position(s) and coverage but may still be considered for a non-law enforcement position.

Individuals selected who are under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and who have not had three years "primary" law enforcement retirement coverage, will not be covered by law enforcement retirement while in this position. To regain coverage, individuals must return to a position with "primary" coverage.

Current Federal Law Enforcement Employees:

Completion of the mandatory courses "Introduction to Correctional Techniques (ICT) Phase I and Phase II" is a condition of employment for this secondary law enforcement position. Employees who have not yet completed ICT Phase I and II will be required to do so after entering the