Clarification from the agency

All United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) are eligible to apply.

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Presidential Innovation Fellows (PIF) is a renowned fellowship program that pairs mid-to-senior-level entrepreneurs, executives, and technologists of all kinds with top civil servants and change-makers working within the federal government to tackle some of our nation’s biggest challenges. Fellows are embedded within agencies as senior advisors for 12-24 month engagements working on mission-critical problems, shaping smarter policy and/or advancing equitable technology for public good.

The PIF program brings the principles, values, and practices of the innovation economy into government through the most effective agents of change we know: our people. PIF pairs talented, diverse technologists and strategists with forward-thinking civil servants to tackle our nation’s biggest challenges, and to achieve profound and lasting social impact that serves the public. Serving as trusted advisors and experts alongside government leaders, these Fellows leverage technology, design and strategy expertise to improve experiences for the American people now and into the future.

The position requires that Fellows perform work of an exceptional degree of difficulty across a wide range of topics at the convergence of technology, policy, and delivery. The Fellow will leverage their experience deploying high-­quality, human-centered platforms and services to lead major initiatives, consult on systems and policy proposals, and provide technical, policy, and programmatic guidance to government agencies. The individual will be expected to deliver innovative solutions that draw upon best practices. These solutions should have the potential to dramatically improve the delivery of government services, and provide value to the public at whom those services are directed.

The incumbent will use their demonstrated experience building and scaling initiatives to grow the effectiveness of the program.

Typical duties include, but are not limited to:

• Acting as a strategic advisor, collaborating with cross-functional teams to achieve organizational or project objectives, and leading stakeholders through organizational change.  
• Advising regarding potential impacts of and identifying solutions that leverage AI or other emerging technology to support federal priorities as well as identify potential risks that AI or similar technologies (e.g. machine learning, natural language processing, robotic process automation, large language models, deep learning) pose to existing processes and technology infrastructure. 
• Providing leadership in the development of AI models in prototype environments as well as using machine learning operations techniques for gaining business value from machine learning. 
• Serving as senior advisor regarding streamlining of model development and deployment via monitoring, validation, and governance of machine learning models. 

KEY OBJECTIVES:

Obj. #1 You will act as a strategic advisor to design and deliver a digital government with and for the American public.

• You will analyze and scope the technical and policy requirements needed to implement complex digital solutions
• You will leverage your experience deploying high-quality, user centric platforms and services to lead major initiatives
• You will apply forward thinking design and development principles to product development and project management such as lean start-up, user centered design and agile

Obj. #2 You will conceive/recommend projects/strategies to advance the state of the art in the specialty area.

• You will consult on systems and policy proposals, and provide technical policy and programmatic guidance to the government
• You will demonstrate thought leadership, contributing best practices in a variety of technologies and principles
• You will translate business problems into technology strategies and solutions that draw on current and emergent tools and technologies

Obj. #3 You will utilize an entrepreneurial mindset, technology acumen, and strong communication skills in order to drive projects from ideation to completion.

• You have the ability to present sensitive recommendations to higher authorities and to articulate positions/policy of vast technical complexity
• You possess knowledge of and expertise in driving and implementing technology solutions from concept to market that overcome significant challenges resulting from complex bureaucratic environments or technically difficult problems
• You have a high degree of emotional intelligence, are a quick study, and intuitively know what needs to get done to deliver with integrity, ensuring compliance at all levels

Conditions of employment

• US Citizens and National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
• Meet all eligibility criteria within 30 days of the closing date
• Register with Selective Service, if you are a male born after 12/31/1959
• Direct Deposit of salary check to financial organization required.

If selected, you must meet the following conditions:

• Receive authorization from OPM on any job offer you receive, if you are or were (within the last 5 years) a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch.
• Serve a one year probationary period, if required.
• Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 2 investigation level). Please note that the agency you get assigned to work with may have a higher background investigation requirement.
• Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee.  We will use the Department of Homeland Security’s e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.
• If required, complete a financial disclosure report to verify that no conflict, or an appearance of conflict, exists between your financial interest and this position.
• This position has job functions that must be executed within specific geographic locations. The official duty station is a federal facility, leased space, or an alternative worksite (typically the employee’s home) within the specified geographic area. If you are selected for this position you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement (Washington, DC Metropolitan Area). At that time, you may be eligible to request to telework one or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the agency’s telework policy.

Qualifications

In order to properly be able to evaluate your previous experience, we recommend being as detailed as possible in your resume and following our general guidance on creating federal style resume. Qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, so failure to provide this information may result in disqualification.

For each job on your resume, provide:

• the exact dates you held each job (from month/year to month/year)
• number of hours per week you worked (if part time).    

If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.

For a brief video on creating a Federal resume, click here. 

QUALIFICATIONS: Information Technology Specialist - Presidential Innovation Fellow (PIF)

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:  Have IT-related experience demonstrating EACH of the four competencies listed below:

Attention to Detail - This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant keeps abreast of latest technology, information, research, etc., to maintain knowledge in field of expertise (for example, reads trade journals, participates in professional/technical associations, maintains credentials).

Customer Service - This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant promotes or develops and maintains good working relationships with key individuals or groups.

Oral Communication - This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant serves on panels, committees, or task forces as a representative for the organization on technical or professional issues.

Problem Solving - This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant monitors current trends or events (for example, technological, economic, political, social, educational, or employment trends or events) and applies the information as appropriate; AND

GS-15 LEVEL SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:  In addition to the basic requirements listed above, you must have one year of specialized experience.

Specialized experience for this role is defined as experience:

1. Conducting user-centered needs analysis to define opportunities focused on emerging technologies;
2. Leading or advising executive leadership on the launch of new technology initiatives; AND 
3. Experience in at least one of the following areas: 
   • Implementing or developing data analytics or business intelligence solutions;
   • Leading the development or implementation of data strategy and policy; OR
   • Experience in a data science, product, or design role focused on Artificial Intelligence products, platforms, or solutions.

Characteristics that we look for in Fellows include:

Entrepreneurship and Technology

• Mid-senior/executive career professional experience in a subject matter expertise 
• Ability to break down business problems, understand and design effective solutions and strategies that draw on current and emergent tools, technologies, initiatives and other resources
• Experience delivering products or services from concept to market

Approach and Methodology

• Expertise applying frameworks that emphasize delivery, iteration, quantitative/qualitative learnings and responsiveness
• Expertise determining user needs and designing and deploying solutions with a focus on customer experience
• Ability to apply forward thinking design and development principles to product development and project management such as lean start-up, agile and user centered design
• Ability to describe esoteric and highly technical solutions to non-technical stakeholders

Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

• High degree of emotional intelligence. A quick study, who intuitively knows what needs to get done to deliver with integrity
• Comfort in ambiguity. Able to build relationships, continually define and scope opportunities independently, and maintain focus and momentum as priorities shift.
• Coalition builder with the ability to persuade and convince others to think about solutions in new and creative ways
• Ability to work with humility and empathy; bring together diverse co-creators; address power dynamics; and co-define challenges and ideate with stakeholders, community members, and the public

Leadership

• Demonstrated experience leading stakeholders through change where you may lack explicit authority
• Experience collaborating with and leading cross-functional teams to achieve organizational or project objectives
• Tenacity to push forward over difficult obstacles without clear guidance
• Interest in building a culture within the Fellowship and taking a genuine interest in other Fellows’ work, including providing feedback and collaborating when appropriate
• Dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in working cross-government and providing vital services to the public

How you will be evaluated

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

Applications will be evaluated against the basic qualifications. Qualified candidates will be considered in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management Direct Hire Guidelines.  You may not be considered for the position, if any part of the application is incomplete or missing the required supporting documentation. Falsifying your background, education and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or dismissing you if hired.

If you are an Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan eligible or a GSA Career Transition Assistance eligible, you must be considered well qualified to receive priority (ICTAP/CTAP). Well qualified is defined as possession of the majority of competencies (see below) required for the position and will be determined, based upon a review of your resume against the competencies required for the position being filled.

Competencies:

• Mastery of, and expert skill in applying, advanced IT principles, concepts, methods, standards, and practices sufficient to accomplish assignments such as: developing and interpreting policies, procedures, and strategies governing the planning and delivery of IT services throughout customer agencies; providing expert technical advice, guidance, and recommendations to management and other technical specialists on critical IT issues; applying new developments to previously unsolvable problems; making decisions or recommendations that significantly influence important IT policies or programs at partnering agencies.
• Expert knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques and practices sufficient to accomplish assignments such as:  Developing agency level AI policy or playbooks; prototyping and implementing AI models using a modern deep learning frameworks; leveraging machine learning operations techniques for monitoring, validation, and governance of machine learning models; and conducting design research for AI products.
• Mastery of, and expert skill in applying, user-centered design and business process engineering concepts and methods sufficient to provide leadership and direction to highly complex IT initiatives and projects designed to identify potential improvements in the way information technology is applied to highly complex customer requirements.
• Mastery of and skill in systems analysis to improve IT systems or product quality, accurately represent customer requirements, present recommendations for adoption of new methodologies, and to lead implementation activities.
• Expert skill in persuading others to take a specific action or make a decision. Expert skill in building consensus through give and take, gaining cooperation from others, and facilitating “win-win” situations.
• Expert skill in building and maintaining positive business relationships with customer agencies, stakeholders and other parties at various levels throughout the product life cycle. 
• Expert skill in collaborating across roles and organizations to build strategic relationships, achieve common goals, and to resolve sensitive issues.