IT SPECIALIST (PLCYPLN) (Title 5) Job in Fort Smith, AR

Vacancy No. AF-25-013-12590034 Department Air National Guard Units
Salary $73,286.00 to $95,270.00 Grade 11 to 11
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/30/2024 Close Date 11/14/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Fort Smith, AR


Summary

THIS IS A NATIONAL GUARD TITLE 5 EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION

This National Guard position is for a IT SPECIALIST (PLCYPLN) (Title 5), Position Description Number T5718000 and is part of the AR ANG 188 CMN FT, National Guard.

Duties

1. Performs studies and independently establish plans for improving the efficiency of information technology and communications processes. Performs studies of all aspects of the installation's information technology and communications programs, processes, and methods. Evaluates existing systems and capabilities and initiates feasibility studies to determine ways and means necessary to enhance mission performance. From those studies, derive cost benefits and /or required investment and recommends a best course of action along with proposed alternatives. Evaluates the impact emerging technology will have on organization capabilities, customer needs, and mission readiness, while considering the organization's resources. Develops short and long range plans designed to meet changing IT needs of the organization. Prepares justification to facilitate the prioritizing of current and future funding to support IT enhancements. Prepares documentation and briefs management officials on specifics of requirements, both hardware and software, and outlines procedures to obtain and organize enhancements. Produces system and program specifications and coordinates milestones, processing steps, program layouts, and interrelationships with management and other specialists of the IT Team. Establishes methods necessary to integrate new technology into existing architecture identifying conflicting system interface problems, and developing solutions.

2. Interprets a variety of technical requirements making independent judgments to determine organizational compliance with applicable instructions, procedures and practices. Audits IT programs, processes and projects. Continually assesses policy needs and interprets broad DoD, AF, and other higher headquarters guidance and applies it through development of policies for the area of responsibility. Establishes metrics to measure and evaluate systems and process performance, identifying workforce planning and management issues, e.g., proficiency, retention, and training. Provides organization management with factual, objective assessments of the unit's ability to perform the mission, ensuring the rigorous application of information security/information assurance policies, principles, and practices in the delivery of analysis services. Accomplishes needs analysis and feasibility studies of IT operations, consulting with process owners to specify requirements, and define opportunities to improve business processes. Provides management with information needed for direction of programs to include reports identifying limiting factors, opportunities, and availability of assets.

3. Evaluates mission effectiveness, using standardized and locally developed evaluation programs and processes. Manages the scheduling and accomplishment of managerial, personnel, technical and special evaluations. Collectively evaluates management effectiveness, performance and technical proficiency of assigned personnel, equipment, and systems condition. Coordinates and/or conducts management studies of organization, staffing, work measurement, methods, or procedures. Monitors unit standardization/evaluation programs ensuring adherence to applicable directives. Responsible for ensuring military duty position standards are established. Defines metrics and measures progress toward accomplishment of unit plans, programs, goals, and objectives.

4. Advises supervisors and managers on the evaluation of programs, policies, regulatory requirements, and procedures. Recommends the establishment of quantity or quality criterion. Develops baseline for use in measuring and analyzing organizational productivity and effectiveness. Develops process, management, administrative and technical evaluation plans for implementation. Notes deficiencies, identifies necessary resources, and recommends corrective actions. Reviews work processes to ascertain where procedures can be combined, distributed, or simplified to increase productivity, efficiency, or effectiveness. Recommends internal reporting and status tracking procedures to ensure adequate control in terms of deadlines, progress reports, and follow-up reports. Manages the evaluation program to ensure required actions are tracked and completed. Prepares and maintains files and publications IAW current directives to include both paper and electronic media.

5. Coordinates with HHQ elements, Program Management Offices, Specific System/Hardware Support Elements, OEM Vendors and Vendor Contracted support facilities for issue resolution. Research includes using various means and media to obtain needed information to accomplish the task. May require the use of various stand alone (e.g., paper based, CD, DVD, etc.) or on-line (network or web based) methodologies to obtain needed information.

7. Performs other duties as assigned

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation.
May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.
Information Assurance Certification is a condition of employment. Per DoD 8570.01-M. The required certification for this position is one equivalent to an IAT Level II certification. The incumbent must achieve the appropriate IA certification within 12 months of assignment of these duties.
Must be able to obtain/maintain appropriate security clearance
This position is covered by the Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Amendment (30 Sep 96) of the Gun Control Act (Lautenberg Amendment) of 1968. An individual convicted of a qualifying crime of domestic violence may not perform the duties of this position.
Ability to establish effective professional working relationships with coworkers and customers, contributing to a cooperative working environment and successful accomplishment of the mission.
Irregular and/or overtime (compensatory) hours may be required to support operational requirements or contingencies or may be required to work hours outside of the normal duty day.
The duties and responsibilities of your job may significantly impact the environment. You are responsible to maintain awareness of your environmental responsibilities as dictated by legal and regulatory requirements, your organization, and its changing mission.
THIS POSITION CONDUCTS INFORMATION ASSURANCE FUNCTIONS. THE INCUMBENT SHALL COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM AND WILL BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATION. CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS ARE OUTLINED IN DOD INSTRUCTION 8570.01-M.
This position is designated as Essential Personnel and may be subject to duty in preparation for, or in response to, a state emergency or disaster declaration. This designation will not exceed 14 calendar days per year unless otherwise approved in advance by the TAG.

Qualifications

GENERAL EXPERIENCE:
Experience, education, and/or training that has provided a basic knowledge of data processing functions and general management principles that enabled the applicant to understand the stages required to automate a work process. Experience may have been gained in work such as computer operator or assistant, computer sales representative, program analyst, or other positions that required the use or adaptation of computer programs and systems.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
1-year specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade. Experience, education, or training that approaches techniques and requirements appropriate to an assigned computer applications area or computer specialty area in an organization. Experience 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. Experience that required adaptations of guidelines or precedents to meet the needs of the assignment. Experience preparing documentation on cost/benefit studies where is involved summarizing the material and organizing it in a logical fashion.

Additional information

Veteran Preference may apply if the first area of consideration are not met.

Veterans Information: Veterans' information must be validated by formal submissions including all necessary supporting documentation. You must provide acceptable documents for eligibility. Acceptable documentation may be:

1. A copy of your DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions.
2. A "certification" that is a written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed.
3. You may obtain a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center or online. If claiming over 30% disability a SF-15 is required to be submitted with your letter.

NOTE: Prior to appointment, an agency will require the service member to provide a copy of the DD-214.

If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency (https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx).

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.

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.

Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, general and specialized experience):

  • Expert knowledge of IT and communications system architecture, integration techniques, system analysis, and testing methods. Knowledge of a wide range of IT principles, concepts, methods, advancements, policies, design, development, testing and applications, both hardware and software sufficient to assess the organization's IT business requirements. Knowledge of the principles of information assurance, network security, and techniques to ensure serviceability, safe operation, proper configuration, accountability, and sustainability of systems to meet mission requirements. Knowledge of computer security concepts to guarantee authenticity and confidentiality of digital communications messages and transmissions, communication security principles, infrastructure security concepts, cryptography, access controls, attack prevention, encryption key generation and use, as well as operational and organizational security.
  • Knowledge of emerging technologies, reviews technical periodicals, publications, commercial standards, and attends seminars. Knowledge of a wide range of communications concepts, principles, and practices. Work encompasses complex and uncommon interfaces and policies and practices; sources of technical data to evaluate new devices, proposals, and approaches; and a practical understanding of contracting procedures and legal requirements. Knowledge of DoD and Air Force communications regulations, services, and instructions to ensure telecommunications services are in compliance with applicable regulations and instructions.
  • Knowledge of operational and performance characteristics of telecommunications to develop procedures/policies/practices for local use. Knowledge of commonly used practices, guides, and a broad range of operating techniques concerning both standard and unique communications systems design installation and concept of operations.
  • In-depth knowledge in conducting interviews and evaluations, analyzing findings, and developing recommendations for corrections or improvements in the evaluated program. In-depth knowledge of organization mission, objectives, and current processes, for preparation of IT policy and plans. Knowledge of Air Force (USAF) and Air National Guard (ANG) policies, procedures, regulations, and precedents. Knowledge of AF and ANG personnel, training and administrative programs, principles, and practices.
  • Ability to modify existing systems and relate all aspects of the work to overall system requirements, advise on and implement new technology, and offer alternative approaches in operating systems development and/or problem resolution.

Required Documents

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

1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates (including Month and Year, e.g., 02/2017, Feb 2017, etc.) of employment and duties performed.

2. The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application.

a. A copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify)
b. SF-50's (current/former Federal employees)
c. DD-214
d. Other Veterans Document
e. SF-15 (VA Disability Form)
f. SF-50 (Mandatory for Internal Announcements)


RESUME REMINDER-
Your resume must include the following information for each job listed: Job title Duties (be as detailed as possible) Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008) Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week) Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions in the assessment by addressing your work experience in detail. Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.

DO NOT COPY THE SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS WORD FOR WORD AND PLACE INTO YOUR RESUME; YOU MUST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS IT PERTAINS TO EACH STATEMENT.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.

To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.

Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.

You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Agency contact information

AR HRO Customer Service
Address
AR ANG 188 CMN FT
Bldg 7300-Camp Robinson
North Little Rock, AR 72199-9600
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.


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