IT Specialist (Disaster Operations Support)

Summary This position is located in the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), supporting disaster affiliated Centers under the technical and administrative supervision of the Chief Information Officer (CIO). The position is responsible for information technology work involving systems administration, network services, cloud technologies, customer support, telecommunications systems, continuity operations, and other information security activities supporting Center and Field disaster operations. Responsibilities As an IT Specialist (Disaster Operations Support) at theGS- 2210, some of your typical work assignments in support of Center activities and field operations may include: Independently performs IT work involving systems administration, operating systems, cloud -connected systems, telecommunications systems, and enterprise applications supporting disaster affiliated Centers and field operations. Performs systems maintenance involving software updates, backup and recovery activities, storage management, performance monitoring, and configuration management to ensure stable and secure operations. Configures, maintains, and troubleshoots network infrastructure components including switches, wireless access points, telecommunications systems, remote connectivity services, cloud-connected network systems, and communications equipment. Provides technical support involving hardware, software, connectivity, remote access services, telecommunications systems, cloud-connected applications, and operating systems. Evaluates operations requirements, analyzes recurring technical issues, and participates in testing system modifications, operational changes, and infrastructure updates. Supports continuity of operations by deploying, configuring, and maintaining field communications equipment, remote access capabilities, laptops, mobile devices, telecommunications systems, and network services supporting temporary disaster locations and surge operations. The duties listed above are at the GS-11 level. At the lower grade level, more instruction and oversight will be provided. IMPORTANT NOTES: Your primary residence is considered your official duty station. TRAVEL STATEMENT: You may be required to travel to a disaster site during increased disaster activity for extended periods with little or no advanced notice. If so, you may encounter hazardous working and/or living conditions; i.e., no water or electricity and/or minimal lodging facilities. Travel expenses are compensated based on SBA policy and Federal regulations. This position works on an as needed basis. This means that employees are in a pay and duty status only when activated to respond to workload needs, especially in response to heightened disaster activity. When no longer needed, employees return to an intermittent schedule and are not called into work until the next event necessitates additional staff. However, depending on the workload and/or level of disaster activity, your work schedule may be changed to full-time. Subsequently, if the workload decreases, you may be placed back onto an intermittent work schedule. Mandatory Overtime: In order to respond quickly and efficiently to disaster survivors, substantial compensated overtime hours may be required while on assignment (up to seven days a week and twelve to fourteen hours a day). A valid driver's license may be required. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Under the updated Competency-Based Qualification Standard for the IT Management Series (2210), applicants must demonstrate that they: Meet or exceed all required competencies at the minimum proficiency level, as described below; AND Have the required specialized experience for the GS-09/11 grades, as described below; OR Have the education for the GS-09/11 grades, as described below. You may be considered ineligible and removed from further consideration for the position, if you fail to meet any of the criteria above. 1) COMPETENCIES REQUIRED For the GS-09/11 grade level: 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. Interpersonal Skills - Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations. Reasoning - Identifies rules, principles, or relationships that explain facts, data, or other information; analyzes information and makes correct inferences or draws accurate conclusions. Teamwork - Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals. Additional Competency for the GS-11 grade level: Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues. In addition to meeting the above competencies, you must also meet qualification standards based on specialized experience or education, as outlined below. 2) IF QUALIFYING BASED ON SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have the knowledge, skills, and abilities/competencies which demonstrate the likelihood of performing successfully the duties of the position and are related to the work of the position to be filled. These knowledge, skills, and abilities/competencies are normally attained through the equivalent of one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level of the position being filled but may now be obtained through other means. Such demonstratable knowledge, skills, and abilities/competences may be 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; 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. Generally, time in Non-Pay status as a federal employee is not creditable towards the specialized experience requirement listed above. For GS-9: Experience that demonstrated knowledge of computer requirements and techniques in carrying out project assignments consisting of several related tasks, such as typically is the case in development of minor modifications to parts of a system on the basis of detailed specifications provided. The assignments must have shown completion of the following, or the equivalent: Analysis of the interrelationships of pertinent components of the system; Planning the sequence of actions necessary to accomplish the assignment; and Personal responsibility for at least a segment of the overall project. For GS-11: Experience that demonstrated accomplishment of computer project assignments that required a range of knowledge of computer requirements and techniques. For example, assignments would show, on the basis of general design criteria provided, experience in developing modifications to parts of a system that required significant revisions in the logic or techniques used in the original development. Accomplishments, in addition to those noted for the GS-9 level, normally involve the following, or the equivalent: Knowledge of the customary approaches, techniques, and requirements appropriate to an assigned computer applications area or computer specialty area in an organization; Planning the sequence of actions necessary to accomplish the assignment where this entailed coordination with others outside the organizational unit and development of project controls; and Adaptation of guidelines or precedents to the needs of the assignment. OR You may also qualify based on education. Please see the education section of the announcement for specific details. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on OPM's Qualifications web site: GS-2210: Information Technology Management Series All qualification requirements must be met by 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) on 08/28/2026. Education Continued from above Qualifications Section 3) IF QUALIFYING BASED ON EDUCATION: Major study for graduate level education--computer science, information science, information systems management, mathematics, statistics, operations research, or engineering, or course work that required the development or adaptation of computer programs and systems and provided knowledge equivalent to a major in the computer field. For GS-09: 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education. OR Master's degree (or equivalent graduate degree such as LL.B. or J.D. as specified in qualification standards or individual occupational requirements) directly related to the position or other coursework that required the development or adaptation of computer programs and systems and provided knowledge equivalent to a major in the computer field. Education must be in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position. OR A combination of education and experience. For example, 1 full year (18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours) of graduate-level education (i.e. 50% of education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position. For GS-11: 3 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education. OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. OR LL.M., in a field directly related to the position or other coursework that required the development or adaptation of computer programs and systems and provided knowledge equivalent to a major in the computer field. Education must be in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position. OR A combination experience as described in "A" and graduate level education as described in "B", when combined, are equivalent to 100% of the qualification requirement. Only graduate level education in excess of two full years (36 semester hours) may be used in this calculation. To compute, first determine the total number of graduate level hours that exceed 36 semester hours, and then divide that number by 18 to arrive at a percentage. Then, divide the total number of months of qualifying experience by 12 to arrive at a second percentage. Add the two percentages together. The sum of the percentages must equal at least 100% to qualify. APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: 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 (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Verify School accreditation. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty. *** If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. *** For further information, click on: Foreign Education. Additional Information This is a non-bargaining unit position. This is not a (drug) testing designated position (TDP). Reasonable Accommodation 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 reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations 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 Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments Career and InterAgency Career Transition Assistance Programs: Are programs that applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) is a program that helps "surplus" or "displaced" federal employees improve their chances of finding a new job in their current agency (intra-agency, i.e. SBA employees only). Inter-Agency Career Transition Assistance (ICTAP) is a program that helps "surplus" or "displaced" federal employees improve their chances of finding a new job at another agency (inter-agency; i.e. not applying to their current or former agency). You are eligible for CTAP/ICTAP if: 1. You are a current federal employee who meets the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee meaning you have received official notice that your job is no longer needed or that you will lose your job by Reduction-in-Force (RIF). 2. Your agency, or the agency to which you are applying, is accepting applications from within or outside of the permanent workforce. 3. The position to which you are applying MUST BE in the Local Commuting Area of the position of record from which you are being displaced. 4. You meet the qualifications and other requirements of the job for which you are applying. This includes being rated as well-qualified for the position (score of 85 or better based on your responses to the competencies and associated questions listed within the assessment).