Duties
*This position is approved to work remotely full time, but the employee will be expected to reside within 125 miles from the DOE worksite (Portland, OR or Vancouver, WA).*
As an IT Specialist, you will:
- Develop and interpret policies, procedures, and strategies governing the planning and delivery of Geographic Information System services throughout the BPA.
- Plan and coordinate projects that involve multiple stages in the systems development life cycle process, including systems analysis, requirements development, design, software development & testing, implementation, and customer support.
- Oversee support of installed systems and services and resolve a wide range of technical issues.
- Review, plan, prioritize and schedule GIS team work items.
- Provide expert technical advice, guidance, and recommendations to management and other technical specialists on critical IT and Geographic Information System issues.
- Apply new developments to previously unsolvable problems; and make decisions or recommendations that significantly influence important BPA IT and Geographic Information System policies or programs.
- The position involves ensuring the integration of information systems and Geographic Information System programs and services and developing solutions for to integration/interoperability issues and designing, developing, and managing systems that meet current and future business requirements and extend, enhance, or optimize the existing IT and Geographic Information System architecture.
- Support the BPA in the acquisition, specification-creation and analysis of geospatial data, data visualization and presentation of utility-industry geospatial data, and BPA's continued data collection and mapping responsibilities.
- Develop production data flow, data acquisition, data-format standards and procedures for converting spatial and tabular information in order to generate the required formats and derived products such as maps, reports and GIS applications.
- Provide guidance to BPA IT and business teams on geospatial standards, architectures, data models, modeling and simulation, and certification related matters.
- Provide technical expertise to programs that will rely on the availability and usability of geospatial information.
- Serve as a subject matter expert and use knowledge of Geographic Information Systems, Global Positioning Systems, Utility Engineering, Asset Management & Operational systems; Remote Sensing, cartography, information systems and management in planning and supporting projects related to Geospatial Solutions and Geospatial Intelligence.
- Formulate GIS guidance to shape BPA senior leader decisions to satisfy BPA FERC / NERC and other compliance related requirements.
- Recommend, implement and support prototyping, developing, publishing and disseminating maps and geospatial / temporospatial data using a variety of mapping platforms (such as ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Field Maps, etc.).
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- When you apply you will be asked a series of questions to determine your eligibility for employment and your qualification for this position specifically. You must answer all of these questions completely and truthfully.
- Occasionally called outside regularly scheduled hours for consultation related to computer operations, equipment failure or program revisions.
- At times must come in to give assistance in correcting problems.
- May be required to participate in an after-hours on-call rotation.
Key Requirements:
- You must be a United States Citizen.
- This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
- Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
- Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
- May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
- This position is approved to work remotely full time, but the employee will be expected to reside within 125 miles from the DOE worksite (Portland, OR or Vancouver, WA).
- Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations.
Qualifications
BASIC REQUIREMENT: 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.
For all positions individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below. The employing agency is responsible for identifying the specific level of proficiency required for each competency at each grade level based on the requirements of the position being filled.
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.
To meet this requirement, you must demonstrate proficiency in each of the four competencies listed above as follows:
GS-13: Advanced - You can perform the actions associated with each of these competencies without assistance. You are recognized within your immediate organization as "a person to ask" when difficult questions arise regarding each of these competencies. Focus is on broad organizational/professional issues; You have consistently provided practical/relevant ideas and perspectives on process or practice improvements which may easily be implemented; You are capable of coaching others in the application of each of these competencies by translating complex nuances relating to each competency into easy to understand terms; You participate in senior level discussions regarding these competencies; You assist in the development of reference and resource materials in these competencies.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidate's resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as applying the principles, concepts, and objectives of geospatial information management and information technology, including hardware, software, data, and applications to 1) improve the delivery of technical and support functions for installing, operating and maintaining geospatial software applications on IT infrastructure, 2) provide geospatial system and software application administration support, including planning, implementing, testing, operating and supporting of hardware and software. and 3) evaluate and verify the impact of change on the current and planned IT architecture and develop and implement solutions to ensure the availability and functionality of geospatial software applications.
"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.
CTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.
Education
There are no specific education requirements or substitution of education for experience for this position.
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.
The Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate the responses you provide in the applicant assessment questionnaire to place you into an initial quality category via OPM's Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified. Then, the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to ensure you have been placed into the appropriate quality category.
Your application is rated based on the extent and quality of your experience, education (when applicable), and training as described in your resume and applicant assessment. Your credentials are measured against the established duties of the position at the grade level(s) being advertised.
If you are eligible for career transition assistance plans such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the definition of "well qualified" which is defined as scoring in the Well Qualified category (or higher).
If you are a Veteran Preference eligible candidate, you will be listed at the top of whichever quality category your rating places you in. CP/CPS veterans are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except professional and scientific positions at GS-9 and higher.
If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your responses to the self-assessment questions (True/False, Yes/ No, Multiple Choice questions) will be evaluated and you will be placed into one of three pre-defined quality categories under Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
- Database Management Systems
- Planning and Evaluating
- Software Development
- Systems Integration
- Technical Problem Solving
Application of Veterans' Preference: If you are a preference eligible candidate, you will be listed at the top of whichever quality category your rating places you in. CP/CPS veterans are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except professional and scientific positions at GS-9 and higher.
Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified", which is defined as scoring 85.0 or higher.
You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (12/10/2024) of this announcement.
To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12612701
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration.
The application process is as follows:
- You must have a login.gov account to sign into USAJOBS: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/.
- To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.
- You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.
You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account, select Update Application:
https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; 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/.
If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center:
https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/
If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible, to aid technical support.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. The status of your application will be updated in USAJOBS as it is evaluated.
You can check the status by logging into USAJOBS. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application changes by logging into your USAJobs Account and editing the Notification Settings.
You will be contacted directly if an interview is required.
Please check that your USAJOBS profile contact information is current and correct each time you apply to a job--this will ensure we are able to contact you as quickly as possible.
In addition to changing your status online, we will send you e-mail notifications at each major step in the process, to include: application received, eligible or not eligible, referred or not referred, selected or not selected.