IT Specialist (CUSTSPT)

Clarification from the agency

All candidates who are: 1. Current USDA agency employees who are qualifying as Status Candidates, or currently serving on a permanent Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA); OR 2. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles.

As a/an IT Specialist (CUSTSPT), you will:

The following are the duties of this position at the GS-11. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties, and will receive training to help you grow in this position.

• Provide user network account support to include setup and configuration and troubleshoots user account problems and daily user support issues.
• Manage and deploy workstations through entire life cycle.
• Coordinate with network security staff to address, investigate, and resolve workstation security issues such as viruses, worms, and spyware.
• Support customers by assisting with information technology support for facility moves and renovations.

Conditions of employment

Key Requirements:

1. Please refer to "Conditions of Employment."
2. Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
3. All new hires will be required to comply with federal ethics laws. A review of financial or other interests may be conducted to determine if they create any real or apparent conflict of interests with official job duties.

Qualifications

This experience may be verified using technical and supervisory assessments.

Specialized Experience for the GS-11: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility at the GS-09 level in the Federal service or equivalent, which have equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience for this position includes:

- Completing assigned IT infrastructure project tasks that require knowledge of IT requirements and techniques with minimal levels of supervision; AND
- Experience independently providing various information technology and infrastructure customer services and support; AND
- Experience independently installing, troubleshooting and updating certified Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) and customized software on workstations and servers

OR

You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: 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 in one or a combination of the following fields: 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.

Specialized Experience for the GS-09: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility at the GS-07 level in the Federal service or equivalent, which have equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience for this position includes:

-Completing assigned IT infrastructure project tasks that require knowledge of IT requirements and techniques with moderate supervision; AND
- Assisting senior IT support with various information technology and infrastructure customer services and support; AND
- Experience following general guidance or assisting senior IT support with installing, troubleshooting and updating certified Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) and customized software on workstations and servers.

OR

You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Master's degree or equivalent graduate degree, or
2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree. Education should be 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.

or the GS-07 level, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-05 level.
Specialized experience includes:

- Completing assigned IT infrastructure project tasks that require knowledge of IT requirements and techniques with extensive supervision; OR
- Assisting senior IT support with various information technology and IT Infrastructure customer services and support; OR
- Experience following set guidance from senior IT support with installing, troubleshooting and updating certified Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) and customized software on workstation and servers.

Examples include:
Images, manages and deploys customer workstations and peripherals through the entire life cycle.
Provides workstation user network account support to include setup and configuration (e.g., user profile, email, peripheral access), and troubleshoot user account problems on a daily basis.
Identifies administrative and technical requirements associated with personnel, changes in office functions, office closures, etc. Works with management to ensure requirements can be met when needed by the customer.
Ensures users' files on workstations and servers are backed up.
Performs server system administration and support including monitoring and restoring backups.
Installs, troubleshoots and updates certified Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) and customized software on workstations and servers. Resolves workstation and server security issues.

OR

You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows:

- 1 full year of graduate level education; OR
- Superior academic achievement: Superior academic achievement is based on 1) class standing: upper third of graduating class; 2) grade-point average (G.P.A.): 3.0 out of 4.0 overall or 3.5 out of 4.0 in major; or 3) election to membership in a national scholastic honor society.

In addition to specialized experience, individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the 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. Decision Making - Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.

4. Information Management - Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organizes and maintains information or information management systems.

5.Interpersonal Skills - Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations.

6. 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.

7.Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

8.Teamwork - Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.

9.Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.

Time-in-Grade: In addition to the above requirements, you must meet the following time-in-grade requirement, if applicable:
For the GS-11, you must have been at the GS-09level for 52 weeks.
For the GS-09, you must have been at the GS-07level for 52 weeks.
For the GS-07, you must have been at the GS-05level for 52 weeks.

Time After Competitive Appointment: Candidates who are current Federal employees serving on a non-temporary competitive appointment must have served at least three months in that appointment.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., résumé, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position.

Rating: You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Accountability, Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reading Comprehension, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, and Teamwork

The USA Hire evaluation includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the evaluation. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an evaluation may also result in your removal from consideration

If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee (eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan(CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)) you must meet the definition of well-qualified below to receive priority selection.To be considered well qualified at the GS-11, GS-9, and GS-7 grade level, and in addition to meeting specialized experience, the applicant must have documented in his/her resume:

• Having a solid and comprehensive understanding of the position. Can perform the required tasks efficiently and is proficient in applying the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the job.

It is anticipated that there will be significant interest in the announcement. As a result, the announcement will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on the date of receipt of the 75th application or at 11:59 p.m. ET on DATE OF CLOUSRE; whichever occurs first. Any required documents should be submitted at the time that you apply as documents will not be accepted after the vacancy closes.

A complete application includes:
1. A résumé: All applicants are required to submit a résumé either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing. (Cover letters are optional.)

• Please limit your resume to two pages. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.
• To receive full credit for relevant experience, please list the month/date/year and number of hours worked for experience listed on your résumé.
• It is suggested that you preview the online questionnaire to ensure that your resume thoroughly describes how your skills and experience align to the criteria defined in the Qualifications section of this announcement and support your responses to the online questionnaire.
• For resume writing guidance, please visit USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job?

CURRENT AND EMPLOYEES - Documentation Relating to Your Federal Employment:

• Submit a copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows your current (or most recent) grade and competitive service status. (The "position occupied" block on the SF-50 should show a "1" and your "tenure" block should show a "1" or "2".)
• Note: If you are applying under Schedule A your SF-50 must be the SF-50 showing the original appointing authority when you were selected for the Schedule A position.
• If you are currently on a Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA), submit a copy of an SF-50 showing that. Also, you must submit a copy of your DD214 or other documentation showing dates of service and type of discharge and any other applicable documents such as SF-15, VA letters, etc.
• Indicate on your application the highest permanent grade you have held; if this grade is different from your current grade, submit a copy of an additional SF-50 showing this grade.

PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL:

CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (CTAP) OR INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP) DOCUMENTATION: If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee, click CTAP/ICTAP for eligibility and a detailed list of required documents you must submit in order to be eligible.

If you are applying under a special hiring authority (e.g. Schedule A Disability, etc.), please see applicant guide for required documentation. In order to be eligible under one of these authorities, you must submit all required documentation as outlined in the applicant guide.

Next steps