IT Specialist (SYSADMIN/INFOSEC)

Clarification from the agency

U.S. citizens or U.S. Nationals; no prior Federal experience is required. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.

The Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office works to discover, integrate, and mature technology solutions to enhance the nation's energy foundation and protect the environment for future generations. Through forward-looking research and technology development, our team of talented and diverse experts provides technology solutions for today and options for tomorrow.

We are truly honored that DOE has been named America's #1 Best Employer for Veterans in 2023 by Forbes-not only among Government agencies, but among employers across the U.S. We are so proud of this ranking which reflects our commitment to the employment of veterans. As so many veterans at DOE renew their service to our Nation, we are deeply committed to their success and advancement. Veterans shape the future of energy

As an IT Specialist (SYSADMIN/INFOSEC), at the full performance GS-13 level, you will

• Serve as Service Manager directing the planning, configuration, preventive maintenance, and operational oversight of NETL Data Centers, private cloud, and externally hosted solutions across multiple sites to ensure maximum availability and energy efficiency.
• Conduct complex feasibility and infrastructure studies to design, evaluate, and establish IT operational policies, procedures, and long-term architecture strategies aligned with agency objectives.
• Direct the implementation of system security controls, sensor deployment, and vulnerability management to ensure compliance with federal mandates (FISMA, FITARA, NIST 800-53, DISA STIGs) and maintain system Authorizations to Operate (ATO).
• Serve as Project Manager and Technical Performance Monitor (TPM) for site support contracts, defining technical requirements, drafting Statements of Work (SOWs), evaluating proposals, managing budgets, and approving contractor work plans.
• Act as the senior technical authority to resolve escalated, complex hardware/software interoperability issues, operational engineering challenges, and cybersecurity incidents.
• Serve as the approval authority for staff IT acquisition requests, managing third-party maintenance contracts and enforcing federal compliance mandates such as EPEAT environmental purchasing standards.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.
• If selected, your appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• This position is not included in a Bargaining Agreement.
• Occasional travel may be required.

Qualifications

You must meet both the Basic Requirement and the Specialized Experience to qualify for this series as described below.

BASIC REQUIREMENT:

Applicants must have IT-related education and experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below at a proficiency level equivalent to the next lower grade level in federal service.

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.

GS-12 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting ALL of the following:

1. Supporting on-premises enterprise data center infrastructure and cloud operations, including assisting with configuration, monitoring, and availability of data-center systems, server infrastructures, or cloud-hosting environments.
2. Contributing to infrastructure modernization projects or contractor coordination, such as helping develop technical requirements, reviewing work products for accuracy, or tracking project schedules and costs to support modernization activities
3. Providing Tier-2 to Tier-3 support for escalated infrastructure issues, including troubleshooting hardware, software, or interoperability problems and assisting in implementing data-lifecycle processes, cloud services, or foundational AI-enabling infrastructure.

GS-13 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level. Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting ALL of the following:

1. Leading the operations and administration of enterprise on-premises data centers and cloud hosting environments, overseeing configuration, capacity planning, availability management, and compliance with security and governance requirements.
2. Managing technical infrastructure initiatives and contractor performance, including drafting technical requirements and Statements of Work (SOWs), developing cost estimates, reviewing engineering deliverables, and evaluating performance against measurable technical metrics.
3. Providing Tier-3 engineering expertise for infrastructure issues, including resolving escalated hardware, software, or interoperability problems and architecting cloud solutions, structured data-lifecycle systems, and AI-enabling infrastructure that advance mission-aligned modernization

How you will be evaluated

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

This position is announced under a government-wide Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) for IT Specialist (SYSADMIN/INFOSEC) positions in the 2210 series. Under the DHA, applicants who meet the Education and Qualification requirements listed in this announcement will be referred for consideration. Veteran's Preference, category rating, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply under the DHA process.

USA Hire: Your application will be assessed based on your responses to an online assessment that measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The assessment 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 fail to meet the established proficiency threshold or fail to complete the assessment.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., two-page resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, the result of the USA Hire assessment, and a minimum qualification review.

Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.

• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Information Systems/Network Security
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Problem Solving
• Project Management
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Strategic Thinking
• Stress Tolerance
• Systems Integration
• Teamwork

To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes:

• Your RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
• Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume.
• Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement.Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements.
• CTAP/ICTAP Eligible Applicants: To receive selection priority, you must submit the following documentation with your application:
• Proof of Eligibility: A copy of your agency-issued Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice, a copy of your separation SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) noting transition/displaced status, or other official agency documentation confirming your eligible status.
• Proof of Performance Rating: A copy of your most recent performance appraisal/rating of record, which must include:
  • Your final rating (must be at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent); and
  • The rating scale/guide (explaining what each level/numeric score means), unless the rating scale is clearly defined on the appraisal document itself.
  • Note: While a formal performance appraisal is highly recommended and requested to expedite your evaluation, if your agency-issued RIF separation notice or other official separation documentation explicitly states that your performance was at least "Fully Successful" (or equivalent) and notes your rating of record, it may be accepted in lieu of a formal performance appraisal. Failure to provide any documentation proving a rating of at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent will result in the loss of your priority consideration. For more information see the OPM Guide to Career Transition.

Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Do not provide photos or list a Social Security Number or date of birth on any attachment.

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