IT Specialist

Department of State Headquarters

$110K — $130K *
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of IT experience with a focus on data and AI products development
  • Demonstrated attention to detail in technical work
  • Strong customer service skills for client engagement and needs assessment
  • Effective oral communication abilities for presenting technical information
  • Proven problem-solving skills in technical contexts
  • Expertise serving as a product owner or technical lead in enterprise data or AI solutions

Responsibilities

  • Lead the lifecycle of enterprise data and AI products from concept to deployment
  • Establish product strategies as a technical lead for enterprise AI initiatives
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop scalable solutions
  • Evaluate technical approaches for complex AI and data projects
  • Provide technical advice and brief senior leaders on AI strategy and product performance

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package for federal employees
  • Access to telework agreements with supervisory approval
  • Potential for referrals to similar positions across the Department
  • Career Transition Assistance Program eligibility for affected employees
  • Commitment to improving government efficiency and supporting constitutional values
Full Job Description
Summary

Join the Diplomatic Technology Center for Analytics (CfA), where you will help shape how AI and data transform diplomacy. As an IT Specialist, you will serve as a technical leader in developing and delivering enterprise data and AI products that support global operations, inform leadership, and enable the Department to work more effectively. You will collaborate with data scientists, software engineers, analysts, and mission partners to solve complex problems using modern technologies.

Duties

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  • Lead the end-to-end lifecycle of enterprise data and artificial intelligence products, from concept and prioritization through deployment and continuous improvement.
  • Serve as the technical lead or product owner for enterprise AI capabilities by establishing product strategy, prioritizing work, making technical and methodological decisions, and balancing mission requirements, user needs, security, and governanc
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of software engineers, data scientists, architects, cybersecurity professionals, and business stakeholders to deliver secure, scalable enterprise solutions.
  • Determine technical approaches for complex AI and data initiatives, evaluate competing alternatives, resolve organizational and technical challenges, and recommend solutions where precedents do not exist.
  • Provide expert technical advice and brief senior leaders on enterprise AI strategy, product performance, implementation risks, and recommendations that influence Department-wide decisions.


Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.


Qualifications

Applicants applying for the GS-14 grade level must meet the following requirements:Have IT-related experience demonstrating EACH of the four competencies:

  1. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail;
  2. 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;
  3. 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;
  4. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations;


AND specialized experience listed below:

  • Experience serving as the product owner, technical lead, or project manager for enterprise data or artificial intelligence products, developing product strategies, roadmaps and project plans, prioritizing work, resolving complex technical and organizational challenges, and briefing senior executives on technical issues that influence agency programs or operations.
  • Experience translating mission or business requirements into enterprise data or AI capabilities by eliciting requirements, identifying and prioritizing AI use cases, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, and leading implementation of enterprise solutions from planning through deployment.
  • Experience exercising independent technical judgment to determine technical and methodological approaches for enterprise data or AI solutions, evaluating alternatives, developing solutions where precedents do not exist, managing AI risks, and providing expert technical guidance on enterprise architecture, governance, or implementation.


AND have at least 1 full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service which provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

NOTE: In order to qualify for this position, your experience MUST be IT related; the experience may be demonstrated by paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (for example, IT certification), as appropriate. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-14 position.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

Additional information

  • If eligible, situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval.


  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days and may require a higher or lower security clearance. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.


  • Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP): View OPM's CTAP & ICTAP eligibility website for more information. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority consideration. To be considered Well-Qualified applicants must: score an 85 or above, meet Minimum Qualifications, and demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all major aspects of the position.


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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.

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.

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