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Supervisory IT Specialist - Continuous Operations Branch

Department of Agriculture
Food Safety and Inspection Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is in the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), Business Solutions Center (BSC). The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) provides information technology planning and design, application development, innovative technology (IT) business solutions, enterprise architecture, information security, portfolio governance and data management for FSIS. The BSC provides service delivery of reliable and scalable systems.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
11/10/2022 to 11/11/2022
This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$111,521 to - $176,300 per year

Salary range is dependent on the locality rate of the Selectee's Duty Location / Place of Residence

Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)
Remote job
Yes
Telework eligible
Not applicable, this is a remote position.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
FSIS-23-MMP-11664991-BTE
Control number
688510300

Duties

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  • Serves as Branch Chief for the Continuous Operations Branch (COB) and is responsible for managing, directing, supervising, staffing, coordinating, and evaluating a branch operation.
  • Develops policies and procedures for the Quality Assurance (QA) testing and Configuration Management (CM) program.
  • Manages the request for change process and oversees the Technical Change Control Board (TCCB).
  • Develops, implements, and manages a CM Program and a QA/Independent Verification and Validation (IVV) program to support FSIS mission requirements, goals, and initiatives.
  • Provides expert technical leadership, guidance, and interpretations for QA, CM, governance and policy for FSIS application development/implementation efforts across program areas and partnering entities.
  • Collaborates with other OCIO branches, centers, and external parties to evaluate and justify the feasibility of IT solutions.
  • Establishes software management policies, procedures, and guidelines in alignment with best practices and industry standards.
  • Manages the administration and maintenance of FSIS testing and CM tools, in compliance with USDA, to support of governance, auditing, data sharing, business analysis and reporting.
  • Coordinates with USDA and FSIS program offices in developing QA and change management strategies policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines and directs the development of high quality and security products using agile development methodologies.
  • Plans, coordinates, assesses, and implements security measure to safeguard information against accidental or unauthorized access, damage, modification, or disclosure.
  • Oversees and evaluates IT contract and procurement activities/proposals; prepares IT acquisition packages for products and services; supports business case development and develop IT cost estimates.
  • The incumbent collaborates with OCIO centers to develop, document, and analyze technology proposals for technical feasibility, compatibility, and compliance then directs, prepares, and reviews detailed internal govern cost estimates.
  • Ensures the adherence to FSIS IT governance processes and procedures including change management and CM.
  • Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets priorities, and establishes schedules for work capabilities of employees.
  • Develops and evaluates work performance of subordinates.
  • Gives advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters. Interviews candidates for positions, recommending appointments, promotions, or reassignments.
  • Hears and resolve complaints from employees, referring group grievances and more serious unresolved complaints to a higher-level supervisor or manager.
  • Effects minor disciplinary measures such as warnings and reprimands; recommends actions in more serious cases. Identifies training and development needs of employees, providing or making provisions for training as required.
  • Finds ways to improve production or increase the quality of the work directed.
  • Delegates responsibility to subordinates and holds them accountable for the performance of their functional elements.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Satisfactory background investigation and/or fingerprint check required.
  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • May be subject to satisfactory completion of one year probationary or trial period.
  • If you are selected, you may need to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) prior to being appointed to determine suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.
  • False statements or responses on a resume or application can jeopardize employment and may be grounds for disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.
  • Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
  • If you are newly hired, the documentation you present for purposes of completing the Department Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 on your entry-on-duty date will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" system.
  • Federal law requires the use of E-VERIFY to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. Under this system, the new hire is required to resolve any identified discrepancies as a condition of continued employment.
  • Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
  • 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.

Qualifications

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

Time in grade: Applicants must meet one year at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g. one year at the GS-13 grade level for consideration at the GS-14 grade level.)

For the GS-14 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-13 level) that demonstrates:

  • Developing, modifying, and updating new and existing policies, procedures and strategies for the Quality Assurance (QA) testing and Configuration Management (CM)
  • Overseeing Software Quality Assurance (QA)/Independent Verification & Validation(IV&V) program, Test (automated, manual, performance) program, Configuration Management program and Configuration management database
  • Manages the administration and maintenance of Organizations testing and CM tools to support governance, auditing, data sharing, business analysis and reporting.
All applicants qualifying based on experience must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below. Please refer to the competency definition shown below, when addressing those competencies.
  • Problem Solving: Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Attention to Detail: Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here:

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, knowledge, and skills 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

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

This announcement may be used to fill additional like vacancies should any occur in the announced duty location(s).

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.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact: USDAs TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

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.

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.

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.

It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. To see more information visit CHCO Council.

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 and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 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. 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 RA for Online Assessments here.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Accountability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Influencing/Negotiating
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork
To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Non-Competitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities need to meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To view the application form, visit:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11664991

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