Information Technology Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the E Executive Office (E/EX) and supports executive direction across the E Family, including human resources, budget and fiscal operations, general services, and information technology management. This position exercises overall responsibility for the continuing functionality of all servers in the Bureau's enterprise LAN that supports Department-wide mission-critical functions.

Duties

• Apply performance metrics to IT and collaboration platforms; recommend configuration changes, resource reallocation, or AI-enabled solutions to enhance system efficiency.
• Plan and coordinate the maintenance, upgrade, and lifecycle administration of servers and SharePoint Online environments, including site governance and permissions.
• Serve as subject matter expert on M365 tools (SharePoint, Teams, Power Platform); advise specialists and deliver training on new methods, including AI-enabled workflows.
• Troubleshoot systems and collaboration platform issues, including SharePoint, Teams, and e-mail operations, applying access controls while working with Bureau customers.
• Participate in seminars and Bureau forums to exchange information, identify process-improvement opportunities, and support adoption of new digital and AI-enabled tools.
• At the GS-13 level, the incumbent performs the same duties as outlined above, however, the scope and complexity of assignments are increased, and the incumbent receives less supervision than the GS-12.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F. Applicants applying for the GS-13 grade level must meet the following requirements: Have IT-related experience demonstrating EACH of the four competencies AND specialized experience listed below: Attention to Detail - Plan, coordinate, and implement periodic reviews of installed automated systems to determine if approved systems plans have been effectively followed and ensure that planned technical, economic, or other benefits are achieved. Customer Service - Advise other specialists and managers on implementation of new or enhanced IT systems including providing on-the-job and formal training for new and revised methods and techniques for resolving IT issues.. Oral Communication - Recommend software procedures for use and identifies and recommend standards criteria for assessing network server performance. Problem Solving - Optimize the functionality of networks and systems; and diagnose and recover failed systems. Run or coordinate related debugging and problem resolution. AND Have at least 1 full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience monitoring and documenting systems performance to ensure that procedures and guidelines are followed to eliminate and prevent system disruption.; Experience maintaining and documenting in-house information technology configurations.; Experience identifying and recommending potential areas for enhancing system reliability and functionality.; AND Experience managing installation and integration of new products or equipment. NOTE: In order to qualify for this position, your 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. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position. Applicants applying for the GS-12 grade level must meet the following requirements: Have IT-related experience demonstrating EACH of the four competencies AND specialized experience listed below: Attention to Detail - Identify and recommend potential areas of enhancing systems reliability and functionality. Customer Service - Advise other specialists and managers on implementation of new or enhanced IT systems. Oral Communication - Conduct reviews and makes recommendations regarding the feasibility of system enhancements. Problem Solving - Optimize the functionality of networks and systems; and diagnose and recover failed systems. AND Have at least 1 full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service which provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience assisting with monitoring and documenting systems performance to ensure that procedures and guidelines are followed to eliminate and prevent system disruption.; Experience documenting in-house information technology configurations.; AND Experience assisting with identifying and recommending potential areas for enhancing system reliability and functionality. NOTE: In order to qualify for this position, your 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. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-12 position.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement. How You Will Be Evaluated

The evaluation process consists of the ApplyGov Competency Based Assessments and a crediting plan for which applicants will be assigned a score between 70 and 100. A resume review will be conducted for minimum qualification requirements, as described in the “Qualifications” section of this announcement, of the top qualified candidates based on combined total score. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further. Responses to questions that are not fully supported by your resume may result in a rating adjustment. You will be assessed on the following job-related competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Non-Supervisory: Oral Communication, Writing, Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, Teamwork, Technology Orientation, Customer Service, Attention to Detail and Self-Management. Set aside at least 2 hours to take the external assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. There are timed sections that must be completed within the allotted timeframe. Your score from the external non-supervisory assessment will remain on file for 180 days, allowing you to apply for multiple DOS-announced positions without needing to retake the assessments. Top applicants may be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. The assessment is used to measure the degree in which your background matches the competencies and KSAs required for this position. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies: Knowledge of systems administration theories, concepts, and methods. Skill in planning and executing system testing. Ability to develop and implement migration strategies. Knowledge of IT architecture principles and emerging technologies. Skill in troubleshooting and resolving critical, system-wide hardware and software problems. Ability to advise and influence Bureau managers, other IT specialists, and outside vendors or contractors. Applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview. Qualified non-competitive candidates must be deemed best qualified based on the applicant assessment in order to be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We do not make assumptions regarding your experience. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application may result in your removal from consideration. You may preview questions for this vacancy. Other Information

To request a reasonable accommodation for additional time on the timed sections of the assessment, please submit your request using the “Request a Reasonable Accommodation” button within the Assessment Application. For all other reasonable accommodations at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations (OAA) at [email protected]. OAA is responsible for reviewing and adjudicating reasonable accommodation (RA) requests for the Assessment Battery being used for this announcement. The following applies to all RA requests: RA requests cover additional time on timed sections only. Applicants submitting a RA request MUST attach supporting medical documentation signed by a licensed, treating medical provider. The documentation should describe the nature, severity, and expected duration of the condition, identify the relevant medical condition or diagnosis, and explain the basis for the requested extension. RA requests that do not contain supporting medical documentation attachments at the time of initial request may be subject to further review. Note: the following documents do not, on their own, qualify for automatic approval of the RA request: Schedule A letters, VA benefits letters, or SSA letters. Applicants MUST submit their application before the vacancy closes, even if pending an accommodation decision. Applicants are encouraged to carefully follow instructions related to medical documentation provided in the vacancy announcement prior to beginning the RA process. Applicants will have 48 hours after their RA request is adjudicated to complete the assessment battery. Scores generated after the allotted timeframe will not be admissible and the applicant will not be considered further for the vacancy. If a different type of RA is needed, please contact OAA directly at [email protected]. If eligible, situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days and may require a higher or lower security clearance. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions. Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP): View OPM's CTAP & ICTAP eligibility website for more information. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority consideration. To be considered Well-Qualified applicants must: score an 85 or above, meet Minimum Qualifications, and demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all major aspects of the position.