Supervisory Information Technology Specialist (Operating Systems)

Summary

This position is located in the Production Support Operations (PSO) Branch under the Technology Office.

Leads the PSO by directing system operations, ensuring reliability of RD production environments, and overseeing issue resolution. Guides staff, sets priorities, and coordinates with stakeholders to maintain secure, efficient IT operations and drive continuous and drive continuous improvement.

USDA Employees: Please refer to the Next Steps section.

Duties

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• Serves as the Production Support Operations Branch Chief; directly supervises the work of the federal staff and assigned contractors. Ensures organization's strategic plan, mission, vision, and values are communicated to the team and carried out.
• Supports Microsoft, Linux, AIX, and Solaris servers and applications in a virtual PaaS environment. Manages cloud technologies that include, but are not limited to, Salesforce, Mulesoft, Azure, and AWS platforms, server backups, cloud integration.
• Supports a variety of Operating Systems (OSs), applications, programs, and platforms as well as various infrastructure management tools. Provides HW/SW implementation, administration, and configuration support.
• Performs server and system configuration. Performs system engineering, roll-out implementation configuration, debugging, and support. Performs system patching, vulnerability remediations, OS and Common component upgrades, etc.
• Complies with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies, standards, and guidelines affecting information technology projects within RD, including periodic changes and amendments to those documents.
• Manages and/or represents the Branch in dealings with personnel internal and external to the office. Meets with involved parties to identify issues, explore alternatives, and arrive at acceptable solutions.

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.
• The U.S. Government utilizes Trusted Workforce 2.0 to implement Continuous Vetting (CV) as a-whole-of government approach to personnel security. If selected for this position, you will be subject to continuous automated record checks of criminal, financial, and public record databases throughout your period of eligibility or employment, replacing traditional periodic reinvestigations.
• Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• 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.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions and specialized experience as defined below:

Time in Grade GS-14: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level (GS-13) in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

Specialized experience is defined as: Experience leading and overseeing the management of key Information Technology (IT) applications and infrastructure used by agency personnel and customers who do business with our agency. Knowledge of various IT platforms, including but not limited to Cloud, PaaS, Mainframe, and other technology platforms. Proven knowledge with tools and approaches for IT Service Management and best practices to deliver IT infrastructure services effectively and efficiently. Experience interfacing with developers to assist in successful integration and implementation of new applications and enhancements and to deploy applications properly into the Hosting environment to conform to applicable security requirements. Demonstrated leadership experience including strategy and execution of full system life cycle and ability to work cross functionally with internal and external customers. Experience coordinating project work plans, schedules, standard reports, and technical requirements. Experience coordinating release management services consistent with applicable security, change, and release management guidelines. Experience maintaining technical documentation (policies, procedures, templates, etc..), increasing employee and key stakeholder adoption and usage, and meeting objectives on time and on budget.

There is no education substitution for this grade level.

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.

Education

Qualifications are based upon meeting specialized experience only. Education cannot be used to qualify for this position.

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.
• Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).
• Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period.
• Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Refer to PUBLIC LAW 114-47-AUG. 7, 2015 for more information.
• If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report.
• This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy.
• Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.

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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.