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We are looking for skilled technologists with experience in any of the following areas: Software Engineering, Product Management, Design & UX or Data Science & Strategy.

This position can be located in either our Chief Technology, Product Engineering or Software Product Management Offices.

This is not a bargaining unit position.

Learn more about this agency

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Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

01/13/2023 to 12/29/2023
Salary

$99,908 - $129,878 per year
The salary range listed reflects the GS base rate (not including locality). Upon selection, the salary will be adjusted to include locality.
Pay scale & grade

GS 14
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Location

Few vacancies 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
Job family (Series)

2210 Information Technology Management
Supervisory status

No
Security clearance

Other
Drug test

No
Position sensitivity and risk

High Risk (HR)
Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness
Announcement number

\CARX-23-11800041-JNe-OCA
Control number

699796500

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Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

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Do you want an opportunity to improve the lives of millions of Veterans? Use your technical expertise to develop and deliver cutting-edge digital capabilities to Veterans and those who care for them!

We're looking for experts in data science, software engineering, product design, product management, and user experience (UX) who are passionate about using their skills to ensure Veterans and their families receive seamless care and services to join our team of technologists. Our technologists help develop cutting-edge technology, advocate for Veteran needs, and ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs can provide Veterans' home loans, G.I. Bill, healthcare, and other services.

We are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, women, minorities, people with disabilities, system-impacted people, Veterans, and people of all ages to apply.

About Our Technologist Teams

If selected, technologists will be appointed to serve in our Office of Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

You can work from home anywhere in the United States, or at VA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

At OIT, you will be working on a wide variety of projects that are relevant to your specific area of expertise. Possible projects could include:

Working on small, cross-functional teams with healthcare, education, and financial analysts to perform technical investigative research for projects that affect millions of Veterans.
Analyzing computational models implemented by financial institutions that inform what benefits Veterans and their families are eligible for. Ex. Healthcare, home loan guarantees, and educational benefits
Researching how electronic healthcare data can be utilized to deliver better care and services to Veterans.
Anticipating risks and acting fast to support Veterans when IT systems fail.
Serve as a technical expert and advisor to support VA mission.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Available with supervisory approval
Duty Location Status: Will work remotely from home location
Position Description Title/PD#: IT Specialist/ PD18520A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Physical Demands: The work is largely sedentary. The incumbent must possess the flexibility and versatility of mind necessary to defend and negotiate matters involving significant controversial issues. May be required to work under stressful conditions, such as long hours, to complete sensitive and urgent work assignments.
What We're Looking For

We want people excited about building technology and embracing the VA's mission.We are looking for skilled technologists with experience in any of the following areas:

Data Science & Strategy: Examine large datasets using scripting languages or modern statistical analyses and computational languages (e.g., Python, R, SQL, Azure Synapse, Power BI, Databricks, Azure ML, Kubernetes, Oracle, Enterprise Data Lake, Azure Data Factory and hosting solutions on cloud environments to include AWS and Azure) to provide seamless care and services to Veterans and their caregivers. Use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies, logistic and linear regression models, or natural language processing (NLP) to detect, anticipate and prevent potential Veteran harm or inability to access VA benefits and services.
Software Engineering: Design, create, and test systems to dig into how to best deliver IT products and services. Use front-end, back-end, and full-stack engineering to develop and support new technical strategies that could help effectively serve Veterans and VA employees. This could include API design and development, furthering open-source policies while prioritizing maintainability and software reusability in all product development. Programming languages, e.g., Python, SQL, R, Java, JS, Go, Scala, C, C++, Julia, or MatLab.
Product Management: Coordinate across stakeholders and use agile or lean approaches to align cross-functional teams around a common vision or strategy and user needs. Monitor Veteran and market trends and develop environmental analyses. Use expertise to advance the use of emerging technologies within government.
Design & UX: A user experience designer at Veteran's Affairs will have a direct impact on the VA's ability to provide its customers - Veterans of the US military and other members of the public that support those Veterans - with an exceptional customer experience, comparable with the experience they have with top tier commercial products and services. They may work on public-facing, clinical, or staff facing initiatives in various design practice areas. A user experience designer can advance through multiple levels in their design career at VA and have a significant impact on improving VA products, processes, and best practices.

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Conditions of Employment

You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
Selectees are subject to a background/suitability investigation.
Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
Selectees may be required to serve a probationary period.
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
A complete application package, i.e., Resume, Transcripts, etc., as required by the job announcement.
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
Participation in the Seasonal Influenza Prevention Program for VHA Health Care Personnel (HCP) is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs HCP.
All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
Pre-employment physical evaluation may be required.

Qualifications

Please read this public notice in its entirety before submitting your application. Vacancies may not presently exist but may become available at any point during the opening period of this vacancy announcement. We will not review applicant resumes until there is a request to fill a vacancy.

You are applying to a public notice to fill current and future vacancies. Please note, that there may or may not be actual/projected vacancies when you submit your application. Your resume and supporting documentation will be retained with other applicants and reviewed as vacancies occur. You will not receive a notice regarding your application's status other than the initial acknowledgment until a request is received to fill a position.

This announcement will remain open until the December 29, 2023. The cut-off date is January 20, 2023, OR the point at which the first 100 applications are received, whichever comes first. Due to the potential of a high volume of applicants, not all applicants may receive consideration.

After the initial cut-off period, once additional requests to fill a vacancy are received, applications will be reviewed in increments of 100 applications in date order.

Note: Submitting multiple applications will change the order in which your application is reviewed.

We will refer qualified applicants to the selecting official for consideration. The organization's hiring needs will determine the referral of additional applicants. Applicants will be notified about their application's status if referred or if we fill all vacancies.

This position is primarily aligned to the following NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework work roles:

OPM Cyber Code 801 - Program Manager

For more information about these work roles, where they fit within the larger Cyber Workforce, and how they can support your unique career journey, please visit the Cyber Career Pathways tool on the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies website:https://niccs.us-cert.gov/workforce-development/cyber-career-pathways

You may qualify based on your experience as described below.

Experience - 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.

For all positions individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below. The employing agency is responsible for identifying the specific level of proficiency required for each competency at each grade level based on the requirements of the position being filled.

Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
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.
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.
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-13 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience with leading, coordinating, and ensuring the overall success of an IT program or products; ensuring alignment with agency priorities; and lifecycle management.

Such experience is typically gained in the IT field or through the performance of work where the primary concern is IT.

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; religions; 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.

Per Office of Personnel Management General Schedule Qualification Policies, federal employees are assumed to have gained experience by performing duties and responsibilities appropriate for their official series and grade level as described in their position description. Experience that would not normally be part of the employee's position is creditable when documented by satisfactory evidence (e.g., a memorandum from the manager, human resources director, or official documentation such as SF-52, SF-50 documenting an official detail/assignments, or other comparable documentation). The documentation must indicate whether the employee performed the duties full time or, if part-time, the percentage of times the employee performed the additional duties.

To receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your position, you must provide official documentation of such experience as indicated above.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit OPM's web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/alph-ndx.asp.

Education

There is no education substitute or requirement for the GS-14 level.

Additional information

Current Openings

New and emerging technologies are changing how preexisting products and services work or creating new ones. We need more technologists serving in the ranks of our technology teams. These positions are vital in helping us understand the constantly evolving needs of Veterans and their families.

Technologists will work alongside financial analysts, healthcare researchers, human resources experts, and more to provide quality IT products and services using various technical or design methods to inform how best to deliver care and benefits to Veterans. Technologists will support the cross-pollination of key ideas in emerging technology fields to ensure the federal government can keep pace with the private sector.

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 well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

OPM General Schedule (GS) & Locality Pay Tables: The salary range listed reflects the GS base rate (not including locality). Upon selection, the salary will be adjusted to include locality. Please see OPM GS & Locality Pay Tables.

Superior Qualifications and Special Needs Pay-Setting: Agencies may set the rate of basic pay of a newly-appointed employee at a rate above the minimum rate of the appropriate General Schedule (GS) grade because of-

the superior qualifications of the candidate; or
a special need of the agency for the candidate's services.

An agency must approve each determination to use this authority before the employee enters on duty - the determination cannot be made retroactively - and is not guaranteed. OPM Superior Qualifications and Special Needs Pay-Setting Authority Fact Sheet.This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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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.

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

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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.
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

Documents Accepted:
- DD-214/ Statement of Service
- Disability Letter (VA)
- Other (1)
- Resume
- Separation Notice (RIF)
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
Documents Required:
- Resume
Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online.

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 12/29/2023 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11800041.

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Agency contact information

VHA National Recruitment Center

Phone

(844)456-5208

Email

VHANationalRecruitmentCenter@va.gov

Address

DAS Information and Technology - 103
810 Vermont Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20420
US

Learn more about this agency

Next steps

After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Help

Documents Accepted:

DD-214/ Statement of Service
Disability Letter (VA)
Other (1)
Resume
Separation Notice (RIF)
SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Documents Required:

Resume

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Help

All applicants are encouraged to apply online.

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 12/29/2023 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11800041.

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

VHA National Recruitment Center

Phone

(844)456-5208

Email

VHANationalRecruitmentCenter@va.gov

Address

DAS Information and Technology - 103
810 Vermont Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20420
US

Learn more about this agency

Next steps

After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Help

Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

01/13/2023 to 12/29/2023
Salary

$99,908 - $129,878 per year
The salary range listed reflects the GS base rate (not including locality). Upon selection, the salary will be adjusted to include locality.
Pay scale & grade

GS 14
Location

Few vacancies 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
Job family (Series)

2210 Information Technology Management
Supervisory status

No
Security clearance

Other
Drug test

No
Position sensitivity and risk

High Risk (HR)
Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness
Announcement number

\CARX-23-11800041-JNe-OCA
Control number

699796500

This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/699796500. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.

IT Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs

Office of Information and Technology

Summary

Overview

Open & closing dates

Salary

Pay scale & grade

Location

Remote job

Telework eligible

Travel Required

Relocation expenses reimbursed

Appointment type

Work schedule

Service

Promotion potential

Job family (Series)

Supervisory status

Security clearance

Drug test

Position sensitivity and risk

Trust determination process

Announcement number

Control number

This job is open to

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

The public

Clarification from the agency

Videos

Duties

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Qualifications

Education

Additional information

How You Will Be Evaluated

Required Documents

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

How to Apply

Agency contact information

VHA National Recruitment Center

Phone

Email

Address

Next steps

Fair & Transparent