IT Specialist (Applications Software) Job in Suitland, MD

Vacancy No. 25-ADEP-12609908-DE-MG Department U.S. Census Bureau
Salary $117,962.00 to $153,354.00 Grade 13 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/21/2024 Close Date 12/21/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Suitland, MD


Summary

This vacancy is for an IT Specialist (APPSW) position in the Associate Director for Economic Programs located at the U.S. Census Bureau Headquarters in Suitland, Maryland. The Census Bureau is accessible from the Metro Rail Green Line - Suitland Station.

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other IT Specialist (Applications Software), 2210-13, FPL GS-13 positions within the Census Bureau in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Duties

  • Analyze/perform work necessary to plan, design, develop, acquire, document, test, implement, integrate or deploy, maintain, or modify data driven web and cloud-based applications and information systems.
  • Coordinate development and maintenance of IT standards, guidelines, or policy.
  • Plan, organize, and direct team study and research work geared toward new technical innovation and modern IT solutions.
  • Negotiate effectively with management and other IT subject matter experts to accept and implement recommendations.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
  • U.S. Citizen.
  • Suitable for Federal employment.
  • Registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
  • A one-year probationary period may be required.
  • A supervisory probationary period may be required.
  • This is a NON-BARGAINING unit position.
  • The initial cutoff date for referral is 12/5/24. After this date, the final cutoff date for referral is 12/21/24.

Qualifications

This vacancy is advertised under 2 different announcements. Please read the 'Who May Apply' section carefully to determine your eligibility. If you are not eligible under this announcement, please see 25-ADEP-12609907-ST-MG.

Specialized Experience: For the GS-13, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Experience for this position includes: Planning, managing and leading others in developing web and cloud-based applications as well as big data processing and analysis; Utilizing modern program language and frameworks (e.g., Python, PySpark, Node.js, FastAPI, Django, Flask, Vue, PHP, Laravel, Angular), AWS Cloud Services (e.g., AWS S3, AWS Redshift, AWS SQS, AWS Lambda, AWS Glue, AWS EC2, Amazon API Gateway), data storage (e.g., AWS S3, AWS Redshift, Postgres, Oracle, AWS DynamoDB) and containerization (Docker, AWS EKS, AWS ECS) to ensure software projects meet standard requirements; Consulting with customers and subject matter experts to refine requirements

In addition to specialized experience, individuals 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.

Education: Education cannot be substituted for this grade level.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). 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.

Additional information

If hired for this position with the Census Bureau, at its headquarters office located in Suitland, Maryland, you will be expected to temporarily telework to maximum extent while the headquarters building is being renovated. Once renovations are completed for your area, you will be notified when to return to the office. At that time, you will be expected to work from your duty station, and you may be eligible to telework, up to 8 days a pay period depending on your respective work schedule, with approval from your supervisor.

The following links provide information on various hiring authorities that do not fall under competitive examining procedures; however, they may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.

The Department of Commerce provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Human Resources Office. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. TTY users can contact the Human Resources Office via the Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.


Your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. You will be evaluated against your responses to the online questionnaire and the use of a Structured Resume Review. Your resume will be evaluated to measure your responses to the online assessment questions. We will compare your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions. Your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire. If you rated yourself higher on the questionnaire than what is supported by your resume, your overall qualifications assessment score may be lowered.

During the Structured Resume Review, a Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. Applicants passing the structured resume review will move on to the next phase of the assessment process.

Upon completion of the Structured Resume Review, candidates identified as "best qualified" will be referred to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.


CTAP and ICTAP candidates:
CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf.


How you will be evaluated for preference eligibility: Within each category, those entitled to veterans' preference will be listed at the top of the pre-defined category for which they are placed.

Preference eligibles with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category (gold).

The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:

  • IT POLICIES, REGULATIONS, AND PROCEDURES
  • ORAL COMMUNICATION
  • SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
  • TECHNICAL AWARENESS

For more information on category rating, please go to: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Category-Rating .

We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process.

Do NOT include the following types of information in your application:

  • Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Date of Birth (DOB)
  • Photos of yourself (if included on your resume you will not be considered for this position)
  • Personal information: such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
You may view the https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12609908 for this vacancy.

Required Documents

A complete application consists of the following:

  • Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. Your resume must list your educational and work experience including the dates (mm/yy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week. Your resume may be used to validate your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire. Your resume should also indicate your citizenship and if you are registered with the Selective Service System if you are a male born after 12/31/59.
  • Veterans' Preference Documentation: Please indicate on your resume the type of veterans' preference you are claiming and provide the appropriate supporting documentation (DD-214 stating disposition of discharge or character of service, VA letter, SF-15, etc.) to validate your claim. For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please go to: Veteran's Resource Page.
  • Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documentation, if applicable:
    • CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
      1. A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
      2. A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" noting current position, grade/band level, and duty location;
      3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
      4. Any documentation from your bureau/operating unit that shows your current promotion potential.
    • ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
      1. A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a work-related compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement.
      2. A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", documenting your RIF separation, noting your position, grade/band level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc.;
      3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
      4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
  • Education Documentation: If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. This also applies to Census Bureau employees. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to OPM's Qualification Policy for more information.

You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course-by-course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration. For further information on the evaluation of foreign education, refer to the U.S. Department of Education's web site at Academic and Professional Mobility | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

NOTE: You will not be considered if you fail to provide all required documents.

  • Resume

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

Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 12/21/2024.
To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at https://www.usajobs.gov.

  1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
  2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
USAJOBS Help Center | How to see your application and job status

To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at https://www.usajobs.gov/ and click on "Applications." Click on the position title, and then select "Update Application."

Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online; however, if you are unable to apply online, please contact:

Michelle Gamble- Michelle.gamble@census.gov

Agency contact information

Michelle Gamble
Address
Associate Director for Economic Programs
4600 Silver Hill Road
Washington, DC 20233
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at https://usajobs.gov and clicking on "Applications." The status will be visible next to the corresponding positions. The four points of notification are:

  1. Application Received or Application Incomplete;
  2. Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Requirement Not Met;
  3. Referred or Not Referred; and
  4. Selected or Not Selected.

By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.).


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


© 2006-2024, exclusive of U. S. government job opportunity announcements