Clarification from the agency

Open only to employees currently employed by USDA/OIG in the office of Audit.

• Present topics of a highly technical nature to a variety of audiences.
• Research trends and patterns and propose new work for ITAO, as well as maintaining an IT security skill base to put an appropriate context around proposed work and effectively scope proposed engagements.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of the ITAO IT lab.
• Install application and operating system software or evaluate software.
• Develops and maintains the ITAO IT lab to include creating, configuring, evaluating, updating, managing, and using virtual and cloud servers, reconfiguring, upgrading, or using physical servers (e.g., hard drives, networking hardware).
• Advances the work of IT Audit Operations by executing the audit/inspection plans approved by the DAIG/A in a manner consistent with applicable standards (e.g., GAGAS, CIGIE Blue Book).

Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, basic requirements, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

Time in grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level. For example, 52 weeks at the GS-9 level for consideration for the GS-11; 52 weeks at the GS-11 level for consideration for the GS-12.

Applicants are responsible for providing all applicable SF 50s for verification of time in grade and career status, the resume is NOT an official document and therefore will not be used when determining time in grade or career/tenure status.

Basic Requirements: Individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below. 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. The agency has identified the specific level of proficiency required for each competency based on the on the requirements of the position being filled. Your resume must demonstrate that you meet the following competencies:

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. 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. Written communications are well-organized, understandable, complete, and in good form.
4. Problem Solving - Proactively identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-11: Candidates must meet one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level in the Federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as experience providing support and assistance conducting audits and inspections of an agency's information systems nationwide and specializes in technical IT and cybersecurity evaluations of information system security programs, policies, procedures and tools, particularly those that ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of an agency's systems, networks, and data (e.g., government-owned servers, contractor-owned systems run on behalf of the government, personally identifiable information).
OR

Possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR have completed 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. NOTE: Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. NOTE: Transcripts are required to substantiate possession of the claimed education.

OR
Have a combination of graduate level education and specialized experience that together meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position. NOTE: Transcripts are required to substantiate possession of the claimed education.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-12: Candidates must meet one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as experience conducting audits and inspections of an agency's information systems nationwide and specializes in technical IT and cybersecurity evaluations of information system security programs, policies, procedures and tools, particularly those that ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of an agency's systems, networks, and data (e.g., government-owned servers, contractor-owned systems run on behalf of the government, personally identifiable information).

*There is no education substitution at the GS-12 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

For more information on the occupational requirements for this series, please visit Information Technology (IT) Management Series 2210 (Alternative A) (opm.gov)

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 your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below:

• Information Assurance
• Communication
• Writing
• Infrastructure

DesignYour application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities need only meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

Note: If after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12912194

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

Resume that includes: Personal Information: name, address, contact information; Education; Work Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); other qualifications. Resume cannot exceed 2 pages.

If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, official transcripts will be required prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

Current and former Federal employees:

• Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade held (or promotion potential) on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND
• Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. A performance plan is not an acceptable substitute.

Next steps