IT Specialist

Federal Emergency Management Agency•Philadelphia, PA

25d

About The Position

This position is located in Region Three / Mission Support Division. The IT Specialist ensures that networks, servers, workstations, telecommunications equipment, and FEMA applications are available, secure, and functioning properly to support emergency response operations. The role includes support for classified networks and related equipment, configuring and troubleshooting LAN/WAN systems, monitoring performance, and applying software updates and security patches. All FEMA employees have regular and recurring emergency management responsibilities. This position is subject to recall at any time for emergency operations, which may involve irregular hours, work outside the official duty station, and duties beyond the standard position description. Deployments may be extensive, last weeks to months, and require little advance notice, including relocation to physically austere and operationally challenging sites. The selected employee must attend a three-week in-person training course in Emmitsburg, Maryland, within six months of onboarding.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Successfully pass and maintain a Top Secret / Special Sensitive background investigation; the investigation may include a credit check and review of financial matters and certain criminal or drug-related offenses.
Register for Selective Service, if applicable.
Current federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements, including 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band.
Be able to obtain and maintain a Government credit card.
Be able to deploy with little or no advance notice anywhere in the United States and its territories for an extended period.
Demonstrate IT-related experience in all ten listed competencies: Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Information Management, Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Problem Solving, Reasoning, Teamwork, and Technical Competence.
For GS-13: possess one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-12 in the federal government. Qualifying experience may be from federal, state or local government, or the private sector, and must include troubleshooting and resolving complex hardware, software, and system issues; configuring peripherals, standardizing solutions, and maintaining problem-resolution resources; and improving IT services, developing recommendations, and coordinating effective solutions with stakeholders.
Attend a three-week in-person training course in Emmitsburg, Maryland, within six months of onboarding.
Complete an Optional Form 306 and certify application information before entry on duty if given a conditional offer.
Comply with random drug testing if the position is designated as a Testing Designated Position.
A one-year probationary period is required for new federal competitive service employees and new supervisors and managers.

Responsibilities

Ensure networks, servers, workstations, telecommunications equipment, and FEMA applications are available, secure, and functioning properly to support emergency response operations.
Provide support to classified networks and related equipment.
Configure, install, and troubleshoot LAN/WAN equipment, including routers, switches, modems, cabling, servers, printers, and client workstations.
Monitor network and server performance.
Apply software updates and security patches.
Respond to, analyze, and resolve virtual and hardware system failures.
Apply information systems security principles and methods.
Manage customer accounts and network rights to computer systems and equipment.
Troubleshoot and resolve complex hardware, software, and system issues.
Configure peripherals, standardize solutions, and maintain problem-resolution resources.
Improve IT services, develop recommendations, and coordinate solutions with stakeholders.
Deploy to emergency operations, potentially with little or no advance notice, for extended periods and to locations across the United States and its territories.