IT Specialist

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ EDUCATION: There is no positive education requirement for this position.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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; knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

To qualify for the 2210 series: IT COMPETENCIES: For all positions individuals qualifying based on experience must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below. The employing agency is responsible for identifying the specific level of proficiency required for each competency at each grade level based on the requirements of the position being filled. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.

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.

Oral 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.

Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations. -AND- To qualify at the GS-11 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the IT Competencies above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Monitoring real-time data flow and data processing in an operational computing environment; Maintaining Information Technology (IT) systems and equipment used to observe, collect, convert, process and communicate data and information; and Providing support and guidance to customers on IT data products and services.

OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems or networks or 3 full years of progressively higher graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

As an IT Specialist, you will perform the following duties: The working title of this position is Observation and Data Specialist. As an Observation and Data Specialist, monitor Information Technology (IT) software related to environmental observations and services. Maintain problem tracking and resolution systems, including the management of customer service performance requirements.

Ensure effective around-the-clock/24x7 operational support of the National Weather Service (NWS) switching system, surface observation systems, web infrastructure, and other operational distributed architecture systems. Provide 24 x 7 operational support for observational data inquiries, problems, and corrections for meteorological oversight of the numerical weather and climate processing.

01CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Rotating shift work is required. This position has been designated as an Emergency Employee. Incumbent may be required to relocate to an alternate facility out of the local commuting area.