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Student Trainee (Information Tech): Pathways Internship Experience Program (IEP) GS-09

Department of State
Department of State - Agency Wide
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This vacancy announcement will be open from July 14, 2017 to July 20, 2017 or when 100 applications have been received. The vacancy will close on whichever day the first of these conditions are met. If the application limit is reached on the same day the announcement opened, the open and close date will be the same. Candidates are encouraged to read the entire announcement before submitting their application packages.

The Pathways Internship Program targets students accepted for enrollment or currently enrolled in a qualifying educational program in an accredited institution, on a full or half-time basis with paid opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school. Applicants must meet the definition of "student" in order to be considered for this opportunity. Internship appointments under the Internship Experience Program (IEP) are non-temporary and can last the duration of the student's academic program. This will be determined at the time of selection. At the successful conclusion of the program, interns may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a Federal career or career-conditional position in the competitive service. Interns may work full-time or part-time schedules.

Pathways candidates must meet the DOS qualification standards applicable to the position being filled. All applicants must meet the qualifications by the closing date of this announcement.

  • Cumulative GPA of 2.0 at time of application and must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA throughout the entire Pathways Internship appointment;
  • Degree does not have to be related to the position/series; however to be eligible, candidate must meet the OPM qualification standards for the position to which the Intern may be converted.
Student means an individual accepted for enrollment or enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis (as defined by the institution in which the student is enrolled), including awardees of the Harry S. Truman Foundation Scholarship Program under Public Law 93-842. Students need not be in actual physical attendance, so long as all other requirements are met. An individual who needs to complete less than the equivalent of half an academic/vocational or technical course-load immediately prior to graduating is still considered a student for purposes of this Program.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
07/14/2017 to 07/18/2017
Salary
$54,972 to - $71,467 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 09
Location
FEW vacancies in the following location:
District of Columbia, DC
FEW vacancies
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Internships - This is a non-temporary excepted appointment expected to last more than 1 year.
Work schedule
Full-time - Part-Time or Full-time
Service
Promotion potential
09
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Announcement number
HRSC/PATH-2017-0082
Control number
474203500

This job is open to

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Duties

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The Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP) is responsible for providing the State Department’s worldwide outreach platform for public diplomacy and partnering with policy experts and missions abroad to design and execute outcome-oriented programs that engage foreign audiences to advance U.S. Foreign Policy. IIP’s team of strategists, developers, analysts, and communicators leverage technology and reach across platforms, creating data-driven, digital diplomacy solutions

This position serves as a technology specialist with responsibility for promoting IIP’s goals and objectives by providing digital support to various projects and programs in the Office of Policy, Outreach, and Governance, Office of Design, or Office of Digital. The incumbent works with common modern technology hardware (computers, smartphones, tablets) and software (office productivity tools, cloud based products, interactive websites such as common social media platforms) in a collaborative team environment.

As an Information Technology Trainee, you will:

  • Identify and resolve issues and problems, and recommend changes and updates to established methods and practice where appropriate.
  • Participate in the development of IT goals, objectives, plans, and policies.
  • Assist in identifying and specifying business requirements for new or enhanced systems; and develop basic system specifications.
  • Participate in the design, development, testing, and implementation of new or modified applications software.
  • Participate in defining IT security requirements, and implementing and supporting IT security applications.
  • Install, configure, and maintain operating systems components; and install updates and temporary fixes to existing programs.
  • Apply knowledge of network standards, protocols, and procedures to assist in the development, configuration, installation, and maintenance of networked
    systems including local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs), and perform routine network configuration management functions.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned.

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 Secret security clearance.
  • Must be at least 16 years of age by the closing date of the announcement.
  • Must maintain student eligibility for duration of internship.

Pathways Internship Program candidates must meet the U.S. Department of State (DOS) qualification standards applicable to the position being filled. All applicants must meet the qualifications by the closing date of the announcement in order to be considered for the position.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • A U.S. Citizen;
  • 16 years or older by the closing date of this announcement;
  • Enrolled or formally accepted for enrollment as a full-time or half-time student into an accredited college or university in a degree-seeking program, or enrolled or formally accepted for enrollment in a certificate program;
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.0 at time of application and must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA throughout the entire Pathways Internship appointment; and
  • Degree does not have to be related to the position/series; however to be eligible, candidate must meet the agency-developed or OPM qualification standards for the position to which the Intern may be converted.
  • All transcripts or educational supporting documentation must reflect a projected graduation date on or after Fall 2018.
Certificate Requirements:
  • Undergraduate Certificates must contain a minimum of 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours.
  • Graduate certificates must contain a minimum of 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours.
  • For study at a business or technical school, 36 weeks of study (20+ classroom hours per week) is comparable to 1 academic year above high school.
All academic degrees and course work must be completed at an institution that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see U.S. Department of Education.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence at the time of application. Late submissions of proof of accreditation will not be accepted. Click on the link for a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials.

Qualifications

Applicants applying for the GS-09 grade level must have completed 2 academic years of graduate level education, or a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree.

Major study--computer science, information science, information systems management, mathematics, statistics, operations research, or engineering, or course work that required the development or adaptation of computer programs and systems and provided knowledge equivalent to a major in the computer field.

Work assignments may include:


  • Assisting with the development and completion of IT project plans, including assigned tasks, management of timelines, development of cost estimates, project budgets, and monitoring of progress in terms of planned versus actual results.



  • Participating in meetings, conferences, and work groups with Bureau officials or professional organizations on matters relating to IT programs or Office projects.



  • Working with colleagues on technical, operational, customer, and administrative matters.
***You may qualify for the Special Salary Rate if you meet the following conditions: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-administration/fact-sheets/special-rates-for-student-trainees/. The range for the Special Salary Rate is $56,226 - $73,098.00.

Additional information

Applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to undergo a pre-employment background investigation.

As a condition of employment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify prior to appointment that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.

Pathways Internship Experience Program (IEP) appointments are made on a non-temporary basis.

Pathways Program Interns are eligible for conversion to the competitive service; however conversion is never guaranteed. To be eligible for conversion to the competitive service after completion of the program, an intern must:

  1. Be a U.S. Citizen
  2. Successfully complete an academic course of study as evidenced by a qualifying degree
  3. Graduate with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
  4. Complete a minimum of 640 hours of work experience under the Internship Program
  5. Meet the OPM qualification standards for the position to which the Intern may be converted
  6. Maintain acceptable performance under the Agency's approved performance management system
  7. Receive favorable recommendation for conversion from supervisor
The US Department of State is not obligated to make an offer of employment, nor is the student obligated to accept an offer of employment.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they are well qualified for the position. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION - This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Office of Employee Relations, Disability/Reasonable Accommodations Division, at (202) 261-8163 or reasonableaccommodations@state.gov. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Candidates will be evaluated based solely on basic eligibility requirements using agency-developed or OPM Qualification standards. Candidates who meet the qualification requirements will be referred to the hiring official for consideration in an unranked order.

Veterans' preference applies for selection in all Pathways positions. Veterans entitled to preference will be listed ahead of those who are non-preference eligibles.

Selections will be made in accordance with the requirements of 5 CFR Part 302, veterans preference laws, and OPM guidance.

In accordance with the Office of Personnel Management policy, for undergraduate level education, successfully completed education is credited based on its relationship to 120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours. For example, 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours is comparable to 1 year of undergraduate education.

An academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 academic year of full-time study. This determination is made based on normal course loads for a full year of study in the graduate program. If that information is not provided by the applicant, 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours will be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. For applicants that have completed more than 1 year of education in a graduate program, advanced degree, or certificate program, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide documentation from the institution in order to establish the length of their academic program to be used to project their expected graduation date.

NOTE: If it is determined that you do not meet program eligibility requirements or fail to submit proper documentation, you will be removed from consideration.
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