Clarification from the agency

U.S. Department of State CTAP employees.

• Resolves complex technical issues and problems that have a major impact on the security of Department networks in contacts with DOS senior managers and technical experts, foreign affairs community officials and representatives of other agencies.
• Directs and conducts periodic evaluations of NPA activities and operations in relation to its overall goals and objectives , and initiates changes in division goals, objectives and activities as indicated by results of the evaluations.
• Assures reasonable equity of performance standards and rating techniques developed by subordinates and assuring equity in assessment of contractor completed work.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements, including education and any selective placement factors described below by the closing date of this announcement.

If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application.

Applicants applying for the GS-15 grade level must meet the following requirements: Have IT-related experience demonstrating EACH of the four competencies AND specialized experience listed below:

1.    Attention to Detail - Leading others by setting the standards for the quality of work, even in the most difficult and/or high pressure circumstances; reviewing and editing work completed by others to ensure that the quality of work meets acceptable work standards.

2.    Customer Service - Using expertise and experience to address complex problems, questions, or complaints; anticipating customer needs and modify a team's work activities, processes, and practices to meet these needs; collaborating outside of own team to organize planning sessions that elicit ideas for improving customer service and support.

3.    Oral Communication - Clearly explaining and defending complex ideas, appropriately adapting to each audience's level of knowledge; using well-constructed, fact-based arguments to persuade stakeholders/officials to take action on suggestions for improvement.

4.    Problem Solving - Providing precedent setting solutions to unique problems not previously encountered; helping team make decisions which are complicated by the number and nature of existing policy, guidelines, and organizational goals; identifying the root causes of problems; developing systemic solutions to address them and prevent them from reoccurring. 

AND

Have at least 1 full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level in the Federal service which provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

• Experience directing enterprise cybersecurity, telecommunications, and IT infrastructure programs, including policy development, system lifecycle management, and alignment with mission and strategic objectives.
• Experience managing enterprise IT operations and services, including provisioning, patching, and lifecycle management across network and infrastructure systems, with responsibility for perimeter and cloud security, WANs, and secure architecture.
• Experience providing technical leadership and architectural guidance to enhance interoperability, reliability, and efficiency in complex environments, including multi-level security and zero trust frameworks.
• Experience administering IT contracts, contractor performance, and cross-organizational collaboration, while supervising multidisciplinary teams, coordinating deliverables, resolving technical and personnel issues, and ensuring alignment with organizational requirements.

NOTE: In order to qualify for this position, your 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.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-15 position.

In addition, applicant's experience must also demonstrate that the candidate possesses the following qualities:

• Ability to assign, review, and supervise the work of others;
• Objectivity and fairness in judging people on their ability, and situations on the facts and circumstances;
• Ability to adjust to change, work pressures, or difficult situations without undue stress;
• Willingness to consider new ideas or divergent points of view; and
• Capacity to "see the job through."

How you will be evaluated

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

All required documents listed below, that are applicable to you, must be submitted to our automated system by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

1.  Resume limited to two pages showing relevant work/volunteer experience, education and training. Include the start and end dates (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours per week worked/volunteered. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must support your answers to the completed online assessment questions. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further.

2. Most recent SF-50s (Notification of Personnel Actions) that show: effective date, position title, series, grade, salary, tenure, position occupied, full promotion potential, and name of agency. Multiple SF-50s may be needed to show all required information (e.g., promotion, within-grade increase, and separation SF-50s). Award SF-50s often do not show the required information. 

3.  Performance appraisal. Submit your most recent (i.e., usually within the last 18 months) final (not a mid-year review) official (i.e., signed by the rating official and in original format) annual performance appraisal.

4.  CTAP eligibility documentation (e.g., reduction-in-force (RIF) separation notice, certification of expected separation, etc.).

Next steps