Summary
The United States Sentencing Commission is seeking an Information Technology Manager. The Information Technology Manager will be involved in all aspects of the Commission's computer information technology (IT) systems, networks, software, and hardware and will provide expert advice, assistance, and technical support to the Commission's staff in the area of IT.
Clarification from the agency
Open Until Filled. First cutoff date for review of applications: Thursday, July 6, 2023
Duties
ABOUT THE POSITION
This position is located in the Office of Technology and reports directly to the Director - Office of Technology. The incumbent is involved in all aspects of the Commission's computer information technology (IT) systems, networks, software, and hardware. The Information Technology Manager provides expert advice, assistance, and technical support to the Commission's staff in the area of IT. The incumbent is responsible for the continuous evaluation of potential technologies and service offerings for the judiciary and the Commission. The incumbent ensures compliance with the appropriate guidelines, policies, and approved internal controls.
DUTIES
- Assists the Director - Office of Technology in supervising and mentoring staff in the development of Commission infrastructure and IT maintenance functions.
- Assists in the direction, planning, implementation, and maintenance of the Commission's IT resources and assets.
- Formulates goals, strategic initiatives, and plans for IT projects and programs that relate to short- and long-range implementation strategy, as well as synthesizes mission, goals, objectives, initiatives, and plans to formulate into overall IT-related project and program objectives.
- Ensures the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the Commission's systems and data through the establishment and execution of policies. Implements safeguards to ensure Commission data and systems are protected against threats, internal and external, both man-made and natural.
- Communicates and collaborates with Commission stakeholders to define the scope, requirements, and deliverables by coordinating and integrating IT-related activities as well as assisting in the management and leading of IT staff.
- Keeps abreast of judiciary-wide changes and develops courses of action to ensure the highest state of IT readiness is maintained for IT infrastructure, systems, and services. Recommends policies and develops procedures governing potential and long-range logistics and readiness activities.
- Works with the Director - Office of Technology to establish, maintain, and execute a continuity of operation (COOP) and disaster recovery (DR) plan/procedures for the agency. Maintains connectivity to and manages all aspects of the Commissions remote disaster recovery site.
- Works in tandem with the database/programming team to deliver secure systems that ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
- Provides the infrastructure required to support the systems needed to run the Commission's mission critical systems, databases, and applications.
- With the Director - Office of Technology, guides and oversees the process of transforming development plans into existing infrastructure.
- Develops, manages, tracks, and reports on all IT projects, providing technical expertise for the acquisitions planning process which includes determining technical requirements, conducting market research, preparing purchase requests, drafting statements of work and cost estimates, conducting proposal evaluations, and monitoring vendor performance and work products.
- Serves as an integral part of various project teams to help bring the IT perspective to the table. Assists in the preparation of job requirements that involve IT. Serves as a Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) on projects as needed. Serves on vendor evaluation teams as needed.
- Ensures the implementation and continuation of all contracts for hardware maintenance, software licensing and support.
- Ensures the Commission has global connectivity and the resources required that will allow the Commission to interact successfully with other agencies and the public (e.g., 94 court districts submit cases electronically to the Commission, the agency websites, and email communication).
- Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with other agencies, as needed, to further the Commission's mission and accomplish interagency goals and objectives.
- Recommends changes and/or implements new actions by performing reviews of policy, procedures, and guidelines of IT programs and initiatives.
- Ensures the IT staff follows and complies with all documented procedures and policies.
- In consultation with the Director - Office of Technology, establishes performance expectations for IT team members. Provides guidance and direction to the IT team to further the work of the Commission. Provides feedback and evaluation of IT staff work and performance. Reviews and recommends staff participation in training that will help advance the Commission's goals.
- Ensures the staff of the Commission's IT team has the skills and resources to adequately fulfill its mission. Participates in the recruitment of new IT team members as needed.
- Contracts outside services to accomplish tasks that cannot be performed with existing internal talent or resources.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Conditions of Employment
ABOUT THE OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY
The Office of Technology supports all aspects of the Commission's mission from daily operation and business functions to long-term Commission projects. The Commission's IT infrastructure spans numerous data centers and leverages various commercial cloud services for different projects. In addition to other general services, the Office of Technology supports two major areas that are critical to the Commission's ongoing mission.
First, the office is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the Commission's computer networks, remote capabilities, cybersecurity, website, records management, and all end-user hardware and software. The majority of the Commission's servers are Linux-based but the Commission also utilizes Microsoft Active Directory and has a substantial deployment of Windows servers as well.
Second, the office develops and maintains the Commission's extensive information systems using a range of Oracle technologies such as the Oracle database, Data Warehouse, Oracle Analytics, Identity Management, Portal, Content Server, SOA, APEX/ORDS in addition to other technologies such as Elastic Search and OCR technologies. The information system includes both onsite and cloud-based applications in a high availability architecture. Some of the key information systems applications this office supports are the Electronic Submission System, which uses SOAP web services to receive federal sentencing data from the federal courts, the Commission's internal case processing system in which every federal felony and Class A misdemeanor offense is recorded. This case processing system allows the Commission's data unit to collect a wide range of data variables relating to these federal offenses, which is essential to the Commission research functions of analyzing and disseminating federal sentencing data to policymakers and the federal criminal justice community.
In fulfilling these functions, the Office of Technology support includes everything from the development, release, and maintenance of necessary back-end environments through front-end user support on related applications.
Qualifications
MANDATORY QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must have at least 7 years of demonstrated specialized experience which is directly related to the line of work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to carry out the duties of this position. Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level of the grade for which they are applying. For example, to qualify for the GS-15, one year of specialized experience must have been at the GS-14 level or equivalent. Applicants must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited university or college in technology or a related field of study. Applicants must have demonstrated expertise in analyzing data, to include the evaluation of large problems and distilling them into workable components, as well as the ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders while possessing excellent decision making, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Applicants must have demonstrated work experience related to the duties listed above and must address them and their qualifications in an attached cover letter or narrative.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Graduate degree from an accredited university or college in information technology or a related field of study.
- Industry certifications and continuing education in an information technology-related field of study.
BENEFITS
The Commission participates in the following federal benefits:
- Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program;
- Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP),
- Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program,
- federal retirement,
- Thrift Savings Plan (TSP),
- federal leave program.
In addition, the Commission participates in the Judiciary's Flexible Spending Program for dependent care, health care, and commuter reimbursement, and the government-wide Long Term Care Insurance Program, unemployment, and workers' compensation benefits.
The Commission is conveniently located next to Union Station on Capitol Hill, and is easily accessible by public transportation, including the Metro, and the MARC and VRE commuter trains. In addition to the federal benefits package, the Commission's location in the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building offers various amenities such as a health unit, credit union, day care center, cafeteria, and free on-site fitness center.
The Commission offers a monthly transit subsidy to employees who use mass transit to commute to and from work, subject to the availability of funds.
The Commission offers alternative work schedules (AWS), which are fixed work schedules that enable full-time employees to complete the basic 80-hour biweekly work requirement in 9 workdays.
The Commission offers regular telework (not full-time) to employees in positions deemed eligible by the staff director and who meet the requirements of an approved telework arrangement in which an employee performs official duties at home or at an approved telework site.
The Commission also offers training opportunities to employees through LinkedIn Learning, and the Judiciary's Online University, which offers academic credit and professional credit programs through web-based learning. These training tools assist Commission employees with taking online courses in a flexible way, by offering training courses in the areas of: staff training and development; credit toward undergraduate degree programs; continuing education and non-credit certificate programs; executive education; contract training; credit credentials courses for continuing professional education and credit for individuals who hold credentials and achieve certifications associated with several globally-recognized sponsored organizations.
Education
Applicants must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited university or college in technology or a related field of study. A graduate degree from an accredited university or college in information technology or a related field of study is preferred.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The Commission evaluates applicants through a structured interview process. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary video conference interview. Applicants who do not address the qualification requirements (mandatory and preferred) in his or her application materials as stated in the vacancy announcement are automatically disqualified from consideration and must re-apply before the closing date to be considered for employment.
The Office of Human Resources:
- Reviews the applicant's application to ensure the proper materials are submitted.
- Ensures that the application addresses all of the qualification requirements (mandatory and preferred) as stated in the vacancy announcement.
- Determines whether the applicant meets the qualification requirements for the particular position and notifies the applicant about the status of his or her application.
- Resume
- Cover letter that addresses all of the qualification requirements listed in this announcement
- If available, college transcripts
- If available, a recent job performance evaluation
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.
In order to be considered, all applicants must submit an electronic resume and cover letter that address all of the qualification requirements listed in this announcement, and if available, provide a recent job performance evaluation and college transcripts. Applicants will also need to complete the online occupational questionnaire. All applications must be submitted at www.usajobs.gov.
Next steps
Applicants who meet the mandatory qualification requirements will be considered and their application materials will be forwarded to the screening panel for review. Applicants who do not meet the mandatory qualification requirements for the position are automatically disqualified from consideration. In addition, some applicants may be tested using various assessment tools not listed on the vacancy announcement to verify an applicant's experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for consideration and selection.
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