Duties
As an Information Technology (IT) Specialist, you will:
- Develop risk-based institution-specific examination plans (for large, complex, or high-concern institutions) that comply with all applicable guidelines and include procedures for evaluating an institution's unique IT-related risks.
- Conduct IT examinations in accordance with generally accepted IT audit standards and guidelines to ensure that the institution's information technology and business systems are adequately secured, controlled, monitored, and assessed.
- Provide technical support to OE examiners and management during IT examination activities.
- Plan and manage IT examination activities for institutions ranging from low to highly complex.
- Recommend new or improved IT examination techniques or methods to enhance future examinations.
- Conduct meetings with institution officials to discuss examination findings, obtain their feedback, and communicate expectations for corrective actions or regulatory guidance.
- Develop examination letters and reports, internal and external correspondence related to examinations or projects, Enforcement Action Memoranda (as needed), and other materials essential to the reporting process and ongoing communication with institution personnel.
A key distinction in the duties for the VH-38 and VH-39 band levels is the authority to act and level of supervision.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Must be a U.S. citizen.
- Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
- Resume and supporting documents (See How to Apply)
- Suitability for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
- May be required to successfully complete a probationary or trial period.
- Submission of a financial disclosure report may be required.
Qualifications
Desired Qualifications:
Experience conducting bank examinations of financial institutions and leading meetings with member banks and associations to discuss operating results/performance, regulatory guidance, and examination conclusions and recommendations.
You may qualify at the VH-38 (GS-12) band level if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the VH-37 (GS-11) band level. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position includes performing information technology (IT) examinations or audits as a financial regulator, consultant, or internal IT specialist and preparing written reports describing controversial, contentious, or negative findings.
You may qualify at the VH-39 (GS-13) band level if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the VH-38 (GS-12) band level. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position includes leading information (IT) examinations or audits as a financial regulator, consultant, or internal officer; developing IT policy for either a financial regulator or private institution to enhance adherence to laws, regulations or acts; and providing guidance and training to others in federal regulations, laws or acts, such as IT security and governance, cybersecurity framework, business continuity, systems development, change management, hardware/software configuration standards, etc.
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 experience.
Education
Education may not be substituted for experience at the VH-38 or VH-39 band level.
Additional information
- If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans.
- Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. For more information visit: https://www.sss.gov/verify/. Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed.
- To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.
- Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
- All FCA employees are subject to the conflict of interest laws and Standards of Ethical Conduct imposed upon all employees of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and may be required to file a Financial Disclosure Report.
- FCA's supplemental ethics regulations restrict certain FCA employees concerning their direct or indirect interests in, or connections with, Farm Credit System institutions. These rules also require all employees to obtain approval for outside employment or business activities. Please contact the HR Division for additional information on these rules.
- FCA uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.
- This announcement may be used to fill similar vacancies.
- Applicants are encouraged to apply to all band/grade levels for which believe they are qualified for and wish to receive consideration.
- Salary Rate Ranges:
- Base Salary Range for the VH-38: $78,504 - $129,532
- Base Salary Range for the VH-39: $89,815 - $148,195
- Locality pay is added to base salary using on the following duty station locality rates: Bloomington, MN, 27.62%; Irving, TX, 27.267%; McLean, VA, 33.74%; Greenwood Village, CO, 30.52%; Sacramento, CA, 29.76%; and Rest of the United States, 17.06%.
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019, with some exceptions, prohibits the Farm Credit Administration from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, visit our website at (
Careers at FCA | Farm Credit Administration) for information on filing a complaint.
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.
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, a review of your résumé and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your résumé and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your résumé and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
Influencing/Negotiating, Oral Communication, Project Management, Risk Management, Technology Awareness, and Writing
The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of Veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the VH-35 (GS-09 equivalent level) or higher.
- Highly-Qualified Category: In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, applicants must fully demonstrate proficiency in all major aspects of the position.
- Well-Qualified Category: In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, applicants must demonstrate proficiency in some but not all of the major aspects of the position.
- Qualified Category: In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, applicants must demonstrate a basic level of knowledge, skill and ability of the position.