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IT Specialist (Artificial Intelligence)

Department of Homeland Security
DHS Headquarters
Office of the Chief Information Officer
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the Chief Information Officer. The purpose of the position is to serve as an AI Technology Expert for AI/ML-enabled applications and solutions. In this role you will help DHS with leveraging recent technological advancements to harness the benefits of AI and significantly expand its responsible use to improve delivery of services and operational effectiveness.

Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
02/06/2024 to 07/05/2024
Salary
$143,736 to - $191,900 per year

The salary range indicated will be adjusted to include locality payment for selectee's duty station.

Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Location
many 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
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
DHA-12281099-24-OCIO
Control number
774536200

Duties

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The primary purpose of the position is to serve as an AI Technology Expert for AI/ML-enabled applications and solutions. In this role you will help DHS leverage the moment and momentum created by recent technological advancements to harness the benefits of AI and significantly expand its responsible use to improve delivery of services and operational effectiveness. As an AI Technology Expert, GS-2210-15, your typical work assignments may include:

  • Identifying opportunities to leverage and integrate AI/ML technologies and capabilities into DHS processes, products, or services; securing leadership buy in; and developing the product vision, strategies, and roadmaps.
  • Leading cross functional teams to develop AI/ML-enabled or integrated solutions for products of varying size and technical complexity.
  • Using modern approaches for product and services delivery in an iterative manner that meets the mission and user needs.
  • Fostering regular engagement, building trust and rapport, and collaborating closely with senior DHS and government leadership, cross-functional teams, and external stakeholders.
  • Representing DHS on working groups, committees, and at conferences on matters relating to the responsible use of AI/ML technologies such as innovation, capabilities, and applications.
  • Leading, developing, and/or providing consultation and input on AI/ML systems and policy proposals to government leaders.
  • Identifying and mitigating safety and security considerations for the use of AI/ML (bias, dual use, data privacy, civil rights, civil liberties, etc.) to ensure responsible use at DHS.
This announcement is open continuous and will run for 60 days. We will be reviewing qualified applicants every 7 days. We are filling 50 positions. The vacancy will remain open until all positions have been filled or until the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • You must successfully pass a background investigation.
  • You must submit to a pre-employment drug test.
  • You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
  • Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS hiring for similar positions.
  • You may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or overtime, and/or 24/7 shift schedules, and/or on-call and standby duty status.
  • You may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft.
  • You may be required to work in shifts on a rotational basis in support of 24 hour operations.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: For all positions individuals must have IT-related experience 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 (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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 qualify for the GS-15 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal government, performing duties such as: 1. Applying advanced technical or policy knowledge in Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning (AI/ML).
2. Delivering or integrating technology or products that use or apply AI/ML which may include neural networks, high performance computing (HPC), or other advance data science technologies, frameworks, models, systems, human-machine interfaces, or applications in an organization
3. Making decisions or providing recommendations that influence policies, projects, or programs, and securing leadership buy in and/or stakeholder consensus.
4. Defining effective objectives and product goals and formulating/tracking measures of success.
5. Leading cross functional teams, which may include designers, product managers, data scientists, or software engineers, and working collaboratively with stakeholders to meet program or project goals, objectives, and priorities.

All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

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.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Shared Certificates: The Department of Homeland Security-HQ shares lists of applicants among DHS-components, and other government agencies hiring for similar roles. You may be referred for consideration to other agencies Hiring Managers throughout the Department for more than one position based on this application. By applying to this announcement, you understand your application materials may be shared with multiple Hiring Mangers throughout DHS-HQ, other DHS components, and other government agencies hiring for similar roles. If additional positions are filled from this announcement conditions of employment may differ. You will be notified if you are referred for additional positions.

Education

Not Applicable at this grade level.

Additional information

The AI Technology Expert will join the Office of the Chief Information Officer and leverage their substantive knowledge and experience in Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (ML) technologies, models, and applications to: advance the safe, secure, and responsible use of AI across DHS; improve the delivery of services; increase operational effectiveness; and support critical missions such as helping disaster survivors, improving customer experience, combating fentanyl production and importation, strengthening supply chain security, countering exploitation, making travel more secure, and protecting critical infrastructure.

The salary ranges vary according to the geographic area locality adjustments; therefore rates advertised represent base pay only as pay will depend upon the selectees duty location. Please see the 2024 General Schedule (opm.gov) locality pay tables for more information.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation as a condition of placement in this Public Trust-non-sensitive-High Risk position. This review may include financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

How you will be evaluated

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

Appointments made under the DHA are processed as "new" appointments. Current Federal employees may be required to serve a new probationary period (5 CFR 315.802(b).

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements.

Applicants will be evaluated on their total background including experience (paid and unpaid), education, awards, and training and self-development as it relates to the position based upon the information provided in the resume/application and any other supporting documents. All work experience should specify the length of time spent in the position. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that indicates hours per week "varies." List exact hours per week on each job experience.

This notice is issued under the direct-hire authority. Using Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved government-wide direct hire authorities, agencies may appoint candidates directly to jobs, without regard to the provisions of Title 5 U.S.C. 3309 through 3318, for which OPM determines that there is a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need.

Veterans Preference: Veterans preference does not apply under this Direct-Hire Authority (DHA).

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the Federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. Information about ICTAP eligibility can be found by clicking here to access OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under ICTAP, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement and your resume must demonstrate possession of the following KSA/competency: Information Technology (AI), Product Management and Delivery, IT (AI) Technical Expertise, and Oral Communication.

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