Chief Architect Job in Woodlawn, MD

Vacancy No. SSA-SL-023 Department Social Security Administration
Salary $147,649.00 to $210,805.00 Grade 00 to 00
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/11/2024 Close Date 12/2/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Woodlawn, MD


Summary

The Chief Architect (CA) is the agency's lead technical expert responsible for providing technical vision and guidance to the Social Security Administration's (SSA) Commissioner and Chief Information Officer in the Officer of Chief Information Officer (OCIO).

Duties

The Chief Architect (CA ) will ensure definition of the organization's architecture platform through knowledge of the agency's legacy information technology (IT) platforms, coupled with applied knowledge of advanced information systems architecture, software development techniques, and industry best practices all of which are consistent with agency mission and objectives, applicable laws, regulations, principles, and standards.

The CA provides technical expertise for legacy system design, development, and operations. The CA will ensure an enterprise and inter-agency approach to architecture and integration. The CA will provide policy and governance for architectural and technical direction throughout the systems development lifecycle. The CA will also provide guidance on reference implementations for key technology decisions. The incumbent is responsible for driving the logical data model design, major interfaces design, security model selection and design and hosting/deployment and contingency design of all new systems.

The incumbent will collaborate with the agency's CIO, Deputy CIO, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), program management office, and senior agency officials responsible for budget and procurement/ acquisitions and business partners to communicate SSA's technology, architecture vision and strategy ensuring that agency architecture can support the growing and evolving needs of the enterprise and SSA's growing and diverse constituencies.

Additionally, the CA:

  • Defines the overall architecture strategy and vision for the organization, ensuring alignment with business goals and objectives. Sets policy, provides governance and oversight, and provides technical expertise in the following areas:
    • Information System and Technology Architecture
    • Security, Data, and Business Architecture
    • Solution Engineering
    • Governance and Oversight
    • Processes and Tools
  • Utilizes expert-level technical knowledge, judgment, and resource management skills based on in-depth knowledge of the organization's information systems technologies and architectures to develop and maintain an aspirational long-term architectural road map for the enterprise and target state architectural blueprints.
  • Oversees the design and implementation of technology solutions, guiding the technical team, and ensuring that the architecture is scalable, secure, and efficient. Through collaboration with various stakeholders, the CA helps to translate complex business needs into sustainable technology strategies.
  • Designs and oversees the development of a business data architecture and mapping methodology for enterprise data within programmatic and analytic applications.
  • Reviews and approves major architectural designs to ensure compliance with internal standards and the strategic direction of the organization. Communicates architectural decisions, plans, goals, and strategies to agency executives and senior level management.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required
  • Selective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
  • Fingerprinting and background and/or security investigation may be required
  • Job offers are contingent on fingerprinting and background / security investigation results
  • Selectees may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period
  • Relocation expenses will not be paid
  • All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement
  • Selections for Senior Level (SL) positions are subject to concurrence by SSA's Executive Resources Board and approval by the agency head.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, candidates must possess specialized experience at a senior level (GS-15 level or equivalent) which demonstrates ability to perform the duties of the position, including progressively responsible experience directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (TQs) below, which includes substantial experience providing enterprise-wide policy and governance for architectural and technical direction throughout the systems development lifecycle. Typically, experience of this nature will be gained in a related field; in a position held for at least one year at the GS-15, comparable pay band or level above in the federal government; or comparable position with a state or local government, or private sector organization.

Applicants are required to address each of the mandatory technical qualifications (TQ) statements. Your responses must demonstrate possession of these qualifications, and be supported by your resume. Please provide thorough examples that are clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibility, scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, policy initiatives undertaken, and level of contacts. You will not be considered for this position if you fail to submit qualification statements specifically addressing each mandatory TQ requirement. Failure to meet any of the mandatory TQs will eliminate you from further consideration.

Each narrative must not exceed 2 pages per TQ and must be addressed separately.

Mandatory Technical Qualifications (TQs):
  • TQ1 - Senior level experience in the development and maintenance of an enterprise architecture roadmap for an organization, from the baseline environment to the target environment. Describe the architectural domains: strategy, business, data, applications, infrastructure, and security.
  • TQ2 - Senior level experience facilitating IT alignment through a collaborative, supportive and consultative manner, driving the organization's business strategies and balancing technology innovation and growth with effective team motivation and communication.
Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

*This position is a Senior Level (SL) position in the federal government. Senior Level employees are in non-executive positions whose duties are broad and complex enough to be classified above GS-15 level. Senior level positions involve highly specialized and complex work.*

This position is covered under the post-employment restrictions of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (PL 95-521). This law also requires the selectee to file an Executive Personnel Financial Disclosure Report (Standard Form 278) within 30 days of appointment.

Veteran's preference applies to this SL position.

Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of this announcement.

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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 based on the quality and extent of accomplishments and experience as they relate to the Technical Qualifications. This information will be obtained from the application and narrative statements. The narrative statements provide the applicant with an opportunity to relate his/her background to the specific requirements of the position. Failure to provide specific information in each of the narrative statements will result in an applicant receiving a lower rating or disqualification. A minimum qualifications screening will be conducted by the Office of Human Resources. Eligible applicants will then be evaluated by a screening panel composed of a diverse mix of senior executives/professioinals selected for organizational and/or functional backgrounds relevant to this position. The panel discusses each application and reaches consensus as to the Highly Qualified, Well Qualified and Minimally Qualified candidates. Only the individuals in the Highly Qualified category will be referred to the Recommending Official for interview. Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. To preview the questions, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12605791

Candidates eligible for veterans' preference will be placed ahead of other candidates in the appropriate category for which they have been rated. Additionally, preference eligibles who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent and who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements will automatically be placed in the Highly Qualified Category.

Required Documents

Applications must include:
(1) Resume (Maximum 10 pages) - Applicants may use any resume format of choice. At a minimum, your application must contain:
-- Job information (Announcement number and title of job for which you are applying)
-- Personal Information (Full name, mailing address, work and home phone numbers, country of citizenship, reinstatement eligibility (if applicable, attach SF-50 as proof of your status), highest Federal civilian grade held
-- Education (College name, city and state, major, type and year of degree)
-- Work Experience (Job title (including series and grade if Federal employment), duties and accomplishments, employer's name and address, supervisor's name and phone number, starting and ending date (month and year), hours per week, salary. Indicate if we may contact your current supervisor.)
-- Other qualifications (Job-related training courses (title and year), skills, certifications and licenses, honors, awards and special accomplishments)

When uploading to your USAJOBS account, select "Resume" as the document type. Do not use/list a Social Security Number on this document.

(2) Mandatory Technical Qualifications Statements (Maximum of 2 pages per TQ) - When uploading to your USAJOBS account, select "Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs)" as the document type. You must number each TQ and upload as one singular document. Please see the Qualifications section for further instruction in developing your TQ narratives. All applicants are required to submit TQs specific to this vacancy.

(3) Current Federal Employees - Please submit a copy of a recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, that indicates Federal status, grade/step (e.g., a Within-Grade Increase or Promotion/Reassignment), tenure, and type of service. Please remove your social security number and date of birth.


INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP): ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority for competitive service vacancies. To receive selection priority, candidates must meet the requirements for the Well Qualified category as described in the vacancy announcement. Candidates must also provide:

  • proof of eligibility with your application. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation Notice of Personnel Action, (SF-50); and
  • proof of your most recent performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent.
For more information visit http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE: If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your military discharge certificate (DD-214 member 4 copy preferred) or an official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty. To be acceptable, the document must contain dates and show Character of Service. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, you must also submit an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF 15) and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Applicants claiming derived preference must submit the SF-15 and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Preference will be granted based on the documents received.

Note: If you are a current active duty military member who does not have a DD-214 and are claiming preference under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating that you will be discharged or released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days of the date on the certification. Certifications must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information: military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, the character of service, military rank, type of discharge, and date when terminal leave will begin. Certifications must be signed by or under the direction of military members' military personnel offices, unit commanders, or higher headquarters.

For more information visit the Vet Guide.

You must submit supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement to claim certain types of preference.

How to Apply

Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience is subject to verification by the selecting official. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience to support your answers, or you may be required to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task.

Notice Concerning Materially False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Statements
Anything you claim in the occupational questionnaire or in your resume may be subject to verification. By completing the electronic application process, you are certifying that any statements you make are true, complete, and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief and are made in good faith. Materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations are subject to disciplinary action.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

  1. Your Resume
  2. The Occupational Questionnaire
  3. Additional Required Documents, if applicable (see Required Documents section)

The complete Application Package must be submitted before midnight (EST) on 12/02/2024.

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.

If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact Daniel Sharfstein at daniel.sharfstein@ssa.gov or (410) 965-9899.

Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities may use the listed email or 7-1-1 for TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services to call the listed phone number. Additional Telecommunications Relay Services options are available in each state: https://www.fcc.gov/general/trs-state-and-territories

Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email or standard mail. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.

To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account.

Extraneous documents provided with your application package will not be considered.

Agency contact information

Daniel Sharfstein
Address
OCIO Front Office
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21235
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once you have successfully submitted your application materials, you can expect to receive at least two or more of the following email notifications concerning your application status: (1) Receipt of application; (2) Qualifications status and whether your application has been Referred/Not Referred to the selecting official; and (3) Selection status for the position.

Highly qualified candidates will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration and possible interview. Selection interviews may be conducted with one or more of the candidates, but there is no requirement that interviews be conducted. The hiring office will contact candidates directly for interviews.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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