IT Specialist 'End User SME', GS-2210-15 FPL GS-15 (ED only)

Department of Education Headquarters•San Francisco, CA

6d•Remote

About The Position

This position is in the U.S. Department of Education (ED), Federal Student Aid (FSA), Chief Technology Office (CTO), Technology Operations Division (TOD). The Technology Operations Division provides information technology operations services for all FSA systems, promoting the effective and secure use of technology to achieve FSA's strategic objectives through sound planning, investments, integrated technology architectures and standards, production support, and cybersecurity services. Duties APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 200 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 200th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first. We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application. This position is eligible for Remote/Virtual work. However, this position may fall under the Presidential Memorandum titled "Return to In-Person Work" which will require you to go into the office if you are located within 200 miles of a Department of Education facility in these locations: Washington, DC, Dallas, TX, San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, Kansas City, MO, Chicago, Il, Atlanta, GA, Philadelphia, PA, and New York City, NY,. Actual salary will be based on location of selectee. Locality pay tables available at www.opm.gov.

Requirements

Must be a US Citizen
Must complete a Background Investigation and Fingerprint check.
This position is subject to drug testing.
You may be subject to serve a one-year probationary period.
One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-14 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments: 1. Experience with architecture and design of enterprise network for multi-office site and Cloud Hosting Providers with considerations of unified communication, Network architectures and frameworks (ex. SD-WAN, ZTA, SASE) and Network protocols (ex. IPv4/IPv6). 2. Experience transitioning federal or enterprise-wide IT and telecommunications, such as contract vehicle and management/operation and maintenance of the contract. 3. Experience managing contractor performance as at least a FAC-COR Level III for large multifaceted IT investments in leading acquisition and procurement efforts such as authoring Performance Work Statement (PWS) and Independent Government Cost Estimate (ICGE's).
IT-related experience demonstrating each of the nine competencies: Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Information Management, Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Problem Solving, Teamwork, Technical Competence.
Skill in applying Interrelationships of multiple information technology (IT) specialties; agency IT architecture;new information technology developments and applications; emerging technologies and applications; information in IT security concepts, standards, and methods.
Knowledge of PKI/PKE, cryptographic and certificate-based authentication, including PIV/USAccess and token-based authentication; network security controls, ports, protocols, and services; and security configuration and compliance requirements.
Ability to develop and interpret strategies and policies governing the planning and delivery of services throughout the agency.
Skill in providing technical advice, guidance and recommendations to management, technical specialists and non-technical audiences on critical IT issues.
Ability to understand applicable Federal and Department network requirements, which includes regulations, standards, and guidelines governing network infrastructure, baseline secure configuration, security hardening, monitoring, encryption, and redundancy.

Nice To Haves

Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.

Responsibilities

Conducting research on network products, services, protocols and standards to remain abreast of developments in the networking industry.
Communicating complex technical requirements to non-technical personnel; and preparing and presenting briefings to senior management officials on complex and controversial issues.
Providing network and security support for the Department's information and communication's technology infrastructure for voice, mobility, video, and data services across the enterprise, including technologies such as Software Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN), Local Area Network (LAN) and Wireless LAN topologies, Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), and Internet Protocol Version IPv4 and IPv6.
Developing and maintaining plans to support the development of security measures, mitigation of controls for boundary defense, incident response planning.
Ensuring that the network solution complies with Federal and Department requirements to include, but not limited, baseline secure configuration, network security hardening, network security monitoring, network encryption, redundant connections, optimized network configuration, right sizing network bandwidth, Managed Trusted Internet Protocol Service/Trusted Internet Connections, and integration of cloud hosting providers to the network infrastructure.

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.
As an ED employee, you will also benefit from our family-friendly work environment.
excused leave for Parent/Teacher Conferences (3 hours)
excused leave for annual health screenings (4 hours)
matching leave for community volunteer service.
alternative work schedules.
recruitment incentive
relocation incentive
Student Loan Repayment Program as a recruitment incentive