Clarification from the agency

Current federal civilian employees in the competitive service on permanent career or career-conditional appointments; • Former federal employees with reinstatement eligibility; • Current federal employees eligible under Interchange Agreements; and, • Applicants eligible under special hiring authorities (Schedule A, etc.)

The Inspector General of the Department of Education (Department) heads an independent and objective organization responsible for audit, investigation, and other services related to programs and operations of the Department. The Inspector General provides leadership and coordination and recommends policies for activities designated to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration of programs and operations, as well as to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in such programs and operations. The Inspector General is the principal advisor to the Secretary of the Department on the above matters and is responsible for keeping the Secretary and Congress fully and currently informed about problems and deficiencies relating to the administration of the Department’s programs and operations and the necessity for and progress of corrective action.

 The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) consists of the following six components:

• Immediate Office of the Inspector General
• Audit Services
• Investigation Services
• Technology Services
• Management Services
• Legal Services

Technology Services combines audit, innovative solutions, digital evidence and analytical expertise to address IT management and security issues, investigate cyber-related crimes, and conduct proactive data analysis.  TS also leverages the use of technology to generate products and services that advance and enhance the OIG mission.

The incumbent will perform the following duties:

Supervises and directs the work of Information Technology specialists in the day-to-day operation, maintenance, and security of the OIG IT infrastructure. Evaluates subordinates’ performance; approves leave; recommends promotions, reassignments, and disciplinary measures.  Keeps employees informed of OIG goals and objectives.

Develops, implements, oversees, and monitors a program of assessment and authorization for OIG systems, data, and infrastructure to ensure that all systems have a valid Authority to Operate (ATO).

Ensures the proper integration of Information Technology programs and services; and develops solutions to integration/interoperability issues. Designs, develops, and manages systems that meet current and emerging business requirements and apply and extend or optimize the existing architecture.

Establishes and executes configuration management process to properly develop, manage, maintain, and document the current and future OIG systems.

Lead, maintain and coordinate activities (such as creating PowerBI Dashboard, Workflows, Network/IT Infrastructure Upgrades) to support an organization's office automation efforts.

Independently serves as a senior IT expert and consultant to OIG management officials and staff at Headquarters and Regional Offices. Ensures development of a secure technical architecture and plan for integrating security into programs and the agency's IT structure meeting OIG operational requirements.

Ensure compliance with Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) of 2014, FedRAMP, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Departmental directives and guidelines.

Independently spearheads and leads ad hoc teams to ensure that all technical, physical, security, and procedural requirements are fulfilled for the OIG.  Reviews current legislation, statutes, regulations, and other security resource information and ensures that the OIG systems’ security posture is aligned with current practices.  Ensures that individuals within the OIG are trained on current and emerging technologies for effective/efficient use of technologies. Assists in conducting IT system operations and security reviews, developing, and implementing policies and providing educational lectures and briefings.

Develops and implements Information system operation program that assesses and addresses the effective and proper use of systems and risks and magnitude of the harm resulting from the loss, misuse, or unauthorized access of information. Ensures that information systems used by the OIG operate in a secure manner and provides appropriate confidentiality, integrity, and availability using cost-effective management, administrative, operational, and technical controls. 

Participates in studies and analyses and maintains knowledge of threats to information systems and data; establishes information assurance objectives, operational processes, and appropriate counter-measures to defend OIG systems and data against identified threats; and develops, implements, oversees, and monitors IT security strategies, plans, policies, agreements, standards, practices, and security management programs to ensure OIG system and data compliance with statutes like the Federal Information Security Management Act and with Office of Management and Budget (OMB)/Department/OIG  regulations and guidelines.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a United States Citizen
• This position is subject to a background investigation
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service
• May be subject to a one-year probationary period
• May be subject to a one-year supervisory probationary period
• Drug testing is required

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

If you are a current federal employee, you must meet all time-in-grade and time-after competitive appointment qualifications within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement. To verify that you meet these requirements, we will review your responses to the core eligibility questions on the occupational questionnaire, as well as your submitted resume and required documents. To make an accurate determination, you will need to include on your resume your federal position title, pay plan, occupational series, grade level, agency, dates for which you held the grade level (stated as MM/YYYY to MM/YYYY, OR MM/YYYY to PRESENT), and total hours worked per week. 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).

Conditions of Employment

TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY:

• You may be eligible for occasional telework in which you are required to report to the office on a regular basis. Participation must be requested and approved by the supervisor and there must be a signed telework agreement. The number of telework days approved is determined by the agency policy, emergency situations, the approval of your immediate supervisor. You must have access to high speed internet and cell phone service meeting current Agency policy from the approved work location.  

Qualifications

Basic Experience Requirements

You must possess IT related experience (paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (e.g., IT certification), as appropriate) demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below.

1.    Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.

2.    Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (i.e., 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 (e.g., ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (e.g., 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.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

You may meet the minimum requirements for the GS-15 if you possess:

One year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.  To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to the GS-14 level in the Federal government. 

Specialized Experience for the GS-15

One year of experience equivalent to the GS-14 performing all three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1.    Expert experience in ensuring that information systems operate in a secure manner and ensuring appropriate confidentiality, integrity and availability through the cost- effective management, administrative, operational, and technical controls.    
2.    Expert experience in applying new developments to previously unsolvable security problems; making decisions or recommendations that significantly influence important information Assurance policies and programs.
3.    Expert experience in applying project management principles, methods, and practices including developing plans and schedules, estimating resource requirements, defining milestones and deliverables, monitoring activities, and evaluating and reporting on accomplishments.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

1.  Mastery of, and skill in applying, advanced I.T. principles, concepts, methods, standards and practices sufficient to accomplish assignments;

2.  Ability to develop and interpret policies, procedures, and strategies governing the planning and delivery of services throughout the agency; 

3.  Ability to provide expert technical advice, guidance, and recommendations to management and other technical Specialist on critical I.T. issues;

4.  Mastery knowledge of the Microsoft Cloud Computing environment;

 5. Expert-level knowledge of a wide variety of activities related to cloud computing and automation;

 6. Expert knowledge of Zero Trust Architecture;

 7. Mastery of and skill in assessing the security of operating systems installation and configuration procedures to include system updates and temporary fixes to existing programs;

 8. Expert knowledge with regards to all security aspects associated with network equipment including VPN, routers, switches, bridges, servers, transmission media, and related hardware to include performing routine network configuration management functions;

9.  Ability to identify problems involving resources or procedures and takes appropriate action within the scope of delegated authority;

10. Ability to interpret guidelines including pertinent IG regulations, program directives, and applicable guidance and professional standards from OMB, GAO, ISACA, NIST, etc., and ability to implement these rules/guidance within the OIG systems;

 11. Ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral presentations;

 12. Ability to supervise a team of and IT Specialists;

13.  Knowledge and ability to develop and manage a budget.

How you will be evaluated

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

We use a multi-step process to review and evaluate applicants:

1. Eligibility and Minimum Qualifications

Once the vacancy announcement closes, we will review your submitted resume and documents to determine if you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, including any required education, experience, and/or selective placement factors. You will be rated as ineligible if you are outside of the area of consideration (i.e., who may apply) or your application is missing any required documents. You will be rated as not qualified if you do not possess the minimum qualification requirements.

2. Rating and Ranking

If you are found to meet both the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, we will assess the quality of your experience and the extent to which you possess the required KSAs by comparing your submitted resume and documents against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. (The occupational questionnaire is the list of questions in the automated system that you will have an opportunity to answer once you apply for the position). Based on the outcome of this evaluation, you will be assigned a numerical score (out of 100 possible). If your responses to the occupational questionnaire are not substantiated by your submitted resume, you may be eliminated from receiving further consideration.

3. Referral and Selection

If you are found to be amongst the most highly qualified applicants, you will be referred to the selecting official. As part of the assessment and selection process, the selecting official may invite you to participate in a structured interview, check your references, and/or request that you submit a writing sample or complete a written assessment or exercise to further evaluate your qualifications for this position.