IT SPECIALIST (POLICY AND PLANNING/ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE) Job in McChord AFB, WA

Vacancy No. WA-12812304-AF-25-0414 Department Air National Guard Units
Salary $83,104.00 to $108,029.00 Grade 11 to 11
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/9/2025 Close Date 11/9/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
McChord AFB, WA


Summary

This is a Washington National Guard Title 5 Excepted Service Technician position:
IT SPECIALIST (POLICY AND PLANNING/ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE)
Location: 225th Support Squadron
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington 98438
Air National Guard Units
Appointment Type: Permanent, excepted service
Advertised as: Title 5
May be used to fill one or more vacancies.
*Ensure you read this announcement in its entirety, complete all application requirements, and your USA Jobs profile name is accurate*

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens - Nationwide

Duties

A GS-2210-11, IT SPECIALIST (POLICY AND PLANNING/ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE):

  • Implements IT programs and special projects and supports air defense mission assurance.
  • Reviews project plans and specifications to ensure adequate analysis and justification of requirements, realistic cost estimates, scheduling, and consideration of all associated constraints and restraints.
  • Provides guidance on capabilities, limitations, and peculiarities of the solutions under consideration.
  • Keeps abreast of emerging technologies and develops plans, designs, and specifications for various types of communications and computer systems projects considering facility and infrastructure of the organization.
  • Provides IT expertise in estimating the installation, modification, maintenance, operation, and support of both existing and new IT systems.
  • Recommends solutions to resolve difficult and controversial issues arising from unusual IT and mission assurance requirements.
  • Works with customers to assess and help refine mission requirements in terms of capability gaps.
  • Performs analysis of capability gaps and evaluates various equipment for feasibility and compatibility.
  • Prepares plans, drawings, manuals, and technical evaluations/specifications.
  • Resolves unusual emergency problems, researches trends and patterns to deviate from traditional methods, and to implement new or improved communication methods and procedures.
  • Creates and maintains local Configuration Management plan along with associated documents.
  • Applies current directives for operating networks, executing missions, and controlling cyberspace operations activities.
  • Performs duties to develop and enhance cyberspace capabilities to defend IT and special mission systems from cyber-attack.
  • Conducts DCO using established tactics, techniques, and procedures to achieve Service, Combatant Command and national objectives.
  • DCO includes passive and active cyberspace defense operations to preserve the ability to utilize friendly cyberspace capabilities and protect data, networks, net-centric capabilities, IT and special mission systems.
  • Assists in IT and special mission system DCO risk and vulnerability assessments; ensures IT and special mission system DCO policies fully support all legal and regulatory requirements and ensures DCO policies are applied in new and existing IT resources.
  • Assists in identifying DCO weaknesses and provides recommendations for improvement.
  • Monitors IT and special mission system DCO policy compliance and provides recommendations for effective implementation of IT security controls.
  • Responsible for IT DCO oversight during all phases of the IT life cycles, which include but not limited to installation, maintenance, updating…etc.
  • Assesses policy needs and reviews, revises, and develops policies to govern IT activities and presents recommendations to higher-level management.
  • Analyzes IT system development as it relates to the organization and ensures policy and guidance are available for its use, that necessary controls are in place, and systems operate as intended and provide all necessary capabilities.
  • Independently plans the methods to portray and prepares engineering drawings involving original and complex designs.
  • Works from engineers' sketches, marked up prints, and verbal instructions.
  • Translates ideas, rough sketches, specifications, and calculations of engineers, architects, and designers into complete and accurate working drawings for use in structure and system maintenance, repair, or new construction.
  • Performs material estimates/takeoffs from construction drawings.
  • Makes arithmetic computations by using standard formulas for dimensions, scale, and area.
  • Prepares drawings for major contractual projects utilizing computer design software.
  • Uses software and associated equipment to prepare sets or groups of drawings for new construction, modification, alteration, or renovation of base facilities.
  • Monitors the performance of computer design system(s) to ensure it is operating properly and makes adjustments to resolve minor software problems.
  • Prepares drawings for visual presentation programs using computer programs.
  • Mounts drawings and sets up appropriate presentation tools.
  • Based upon findings, recommends IT funding priority adjustments to meet new business needs.
  • Conducts periodic analysis of projects and their funding for consistency with overall IT architecture and infrastructure and how they contribute to meeting business requirements.
  • Makes definitive budget recommendations to higher-level management to enable the organization to improve its IT status.
  • Assists management and senior IT specialists in developing SOW and PWS (statements of work/performance work specifications) for contracts involving IT systems or service.
  • Reviews completed solicitation packages and serves as advisor to the Contracting Office on technical aspects of contracts.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation.
  • May be required to successfully complete a trial period.
  • Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.
  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • A resume and supporting documents must be submitted (see "How to Apply").
  • This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program.
  • Work may require access to classified information, must be able to obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET security clearance, within 1 year of appointment.
  • 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.
  • Position requires 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.
  • Duties and responsibilities 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.
  • Position designated as Essential Personnel and subject to duty in preparation for, or in response to, a state emergency or disaster declaration. Requests to exceed 14 days in a calendar year, must be approved in advance by NGB-J1.

Qualifications

GENERAL EXPERIENCE:

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.


SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
Must have at least 36 months experience or 1-year specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Such experience is typically gained in the IT field or through the performance of work where the primary concern is IT. Experience includes, 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.

Education

Education Requirements:
None

If you are using Education to qualify for this position, you must provide transcripts or other documentation to support your Educational claims. To receive credit for Education, you must provide documentation of proof that you meet the Education requirements for this position.

Substitution of Education for Specialized Experience:
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

-OR-

3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

Degree in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems or networks.

Additional information

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).

- Certain incentive(s) may be available pending funding and approval but are not guaranteed.

- Incumbent is required to satisfactorily complete the appropriate training and obtain the required certification/recertification for this position as outlined in DOD Publication 8570.01-M Information Assurance Workforce Improvement Program, dated 19 December 2005 (incorporating change 3, 24 Jan 2013 or current version).Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002, Clinger Cohen Act of 1996 and obtain Special Experience Identifier (SEI) 264, IAW current AF directives. Information Assurance - Technical Level II (IAT II), IAW current AF directives.) Personnel assigned to this position must obtain the appropriate certification within six months of being assigned. Failure to satisfactorily obtain and/or maintain updated certifications in accordance with publication listed are grounds for termination.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY:
The WA National Guard is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor.

If you are unable to upload a document online please send the document via email to our WA HRO Distro Box.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

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. You may also be excluded from consideration if you indicate that you are unwilling to accept the lower grade and a determination is made that you are not qualified at the higher grade. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Verbiage displayed on your resume or application must contain your own words. You may refer to position descriptions, as well as the general and specialized experience located within the vacancy announcement, to assist with describing work experiences; however, resumes or applications received in verbatim will not be considered. In your resume you will need to address the general and specialized experience listed above. Please use as much detail as needed, giving dates (months and years) of the experience, position title and how the experience was gained. This information is needed to determine if you are qualified for the position.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics). NOTE: You do not have to respond to the KSA's separately but your resume should contain sufficient information to demonstrate possession of the KSA's.

  • 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 configuration management methods and techniques for integrating information system components sufficient to install and maintain software and hardware, optimize functionality of systems, and diagnose and recover failed systems.
  • Knowledge of the DoD and Air Force configuration management principles, documents and tactics, techniques and procedures.
  • Knowledge of the organization's policy and planning formulation process along with its missions, goals, and objectives to prepare IT polices and plans.
  • Knowledge of management requirements sufficient to render recommendations on development of new software versus purchase of off-the-shelf programs.
  • Knowledge of systems architecture, integration techniques, and testing methods sufficient to conduct feasibility studies.
  • Ability to develop IT policies and plans and to assess impact of changed policy on the organization's current IT plans and programs.
  • Ability to perform feasibility studies, perform cost analysis review, develop investment plans, and recommend a best course of action along with suitable alternatives.
  • Knowledge of a full range of drafting techniques to produce engineering drawings involving original, novel, and/or complex designs.
  • Knowledge of organizational acquisition requirements, budgetary techniques, and financial status sufficient to identify needs and recommend adjustment of IT funding priorities.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you are required to submit a complete application package. If you fail to provide this documents/information, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and will not be considered any further. Resumes must be in your own words. Resumes that are verbatim, from this announcement, will not be considered.

A complete application package includes:

  1. Resume must NOT exceed two (2) pages, IAW Merit Hiring Plan and must include:
    • Contact information
      • Full Name
      • Email Address
      • Phone Number
    • Relevant work history that demonstrates specialized experience for the position you are applying to
      • Position Title
      • Organization/Department/Unit
      • Hours worked per week
      • Dates (format should include Month and Year) of employment
      • Duties performed
      • Series and grade for federal positions, if held
    • Resumes exceeding 2 pages will not be considered. For more guidance please see new resume guidance.
    • If your resume includes the below listed content, it will not be used to make an eligibility/qualification determination, and you will not be considered for this vacancy.
      • Classified or government sensitive information
      • Social Security Number (SSN)
      • Photos of yourself
      • Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
  2. Do not include encrypted and/or digitally signed documents because they become corrupted and you will not receive credit for submitting them.
  3. If you are claiming Military Spouse Preference, you MUST include a copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP.
    • Acceptable documentation of your preference eligibility includes at a minimum:
      • A copy of the PCS orders
      • Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist
      • Your marriage certificate or license (if you are not on the PCS Orders).
  4. If you are claiming Veteran's Preference, you MUST provide supporting documentation to receive preference.***
    • Completed SF15, etc. (SF15 is required for 10-point preference) You will not receive 10 point preference without a completed SF15
      • DD-214
      • VA Disability Letter
  5. Other support documentation (optional or required based on the vacancy announcement)
    • Cover Letter
    • SF-50
    • Transcript (s)
***For current National Guard/Reserve members, please document your military work experience as follows: (You may adjust the format, so that you do not exceed the two (2) page resume limit, as long as your resume clearly reflects your military employment history.)

List month joined (to/from) based on your enlistment contract (DD4) or (Oath) for Officers. If you have gaps in service, list them separately.

Example:04 Sep 2019 to 03 Sep 2023
Washington Air National Guard
Traditional Member
20 hours per month
POSITIONS TITLE MOS/AFSC
Personnel Superintendent 3S091
Duties

Military Orders During this period: (list multiple periods if everything else is the same: Order Type, Duties, & Purpose

04 Nov 2019 to 03 Dec 2019
40 hours per week
15 Mar 2020 to 14 May 2020
40 hours per week
Type of Order: ADOS/AT/ST/AGR
Order Purpose:
Duties:

***If there are multiple purposes on a single order (ie. BMT then Tech Training/AIT), list specific periods. Example: Order cover 02 Sep 2020 to 12 Mar 2021:

List 02 Sep 2020 to 01 Nov 2020 as BMT and 02 Nov 2020 to 12 Mar 2021 as Tech Training/AIT

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/Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To view the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12812304

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

WA HRO Staffing Section
Address
225th Support Squadron
Bldg 852 Lincoln Blvd
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA 98438
US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. You are encouraged to reach out to our office to verify that all required application materials have successfully been uploaded prior to the announcement closing. 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.


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