Summary

Deliver secure and high availability infrastructure solutions supporting VA's mission. Serve as an operational service provider of foundational compute, storage, physical database, and client management components. Implement and sustain technical, management, and operational security controls and supporting processes to protect mission critical networks, systems, and applications throughout the VA enterprise.

Duties

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• Directs and/or performs studies that identify opportunities for introducing or improving utilization of server technologies.
• Prepare flowcharts, data flow, process control, and supporting documentation.
• The incumbent is a contact in the VA for initial inquiries regarding a wide range of information about contemporary server platform technology issues; including improvements for existing systems, and entirely new systems needed to meet specific requirements.
• Manages engineering, implementation, evaluation and continuous improvement of processes and technology in accordance with management priorities and objectives.
• Documents statistics on information assets and maintains information flow and asset prioritizing documents and maintains asset
  dependencies and contingency deficiencies; develops technology assessments, as well as critical asset protection implementation plans; and implements critical information protection training awareness programs.
• Develops and maintains SOPs, practices, and procedures to manage the use, access, and availability of secured databases and systems.
• Performs server operating system and server hardware security work using a variety of tools, industry best practices, and government guidelines including VA Handbook 6500, Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) requirements, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) security controls.

Cybersecurity Code: 641 - Systems Requirement Planner. Consults with customers to evaluate functional requirements into technical solutions.

Cybersecurity Code: 451 - System Administrator. Responsible for setting up and maintaining a system or specific components of a system (e.g., for example, installing, configuring, and updating hardware and software; establishing and managing user accounts; overseeing or conducting backup and recovery tasks; implementing operational and technical security controls; and adhering to organizational security policies and procedures).

Cybersecurity Code: 461 - Systems Security Analyst. Responsible for the analysis and development of the integration, testing, operations, and maintenance of systems security.

Promotion Potential: This position is at full performance level.

Work Schedule: Sunday - Thursday, 5pm - 1:30am

Compressed/Flexible: Upon supervisor discretion

Telework: This position may be authorized for ADHOC telework.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Position Description/PD#: Supervisory IT Specialist (OS/System Admin)/PD20144A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• May serve a probationary period.
• A complete application package; Resume, SF-50s, etc.
• Only resumes up to TWO total pages will be accepted. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for position requirements listed in the job announcement. File size must not exceed 5MB.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• This is not a remote position. OI&T has multiple worksites at various duty locations, and the individual(s) selected may be assigned to any federal government work site. This announcement will NOT be used to change duty locations. If selected, and you are a current VA employee, and not on an approved exemption, you will continue to report to your current duty location.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which you will be evaluated for 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

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/05/2026.

Applicants must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below at a proficiency level equivalent to the next lower grade level in federal service

You must meet both the Basic Requirement and the Specialized Experience to qualify for this series as described below.

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: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: mastery-level expertise in enterprise server and operating system administration, cybersecurity compliance, IT operations sustainment, and supervisory leadership to oversee secure, reliable, after-hours operations. Leads staff and contractors across Swing/Midnight shifts, ensuring effective incident triage, escalation, ServiceNow queue management, emergency changes, maintenance, shift turnover, service restoration with thorough documentation and adherence to company policy, NIST controls, and configuration/change management standards. Specialized knowledge to sustain 24/7/365 enterprise service availability, minimize operational and compliance risk, and protect mission-critical infrastructure. Disciplined execution across a geographically dispersed team and operating system services.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

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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.

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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.