Information Technology Specialist

For more information on eligibility requirements see: DEA Employment Eligibility Applicants must meet the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of the announcement. Basic Qualification Requirements: 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.

Decision Making - Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change. Information Management - Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organizes and maintains information or information management systems.

Interpersonal Skills - Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations.

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. Teamwork - Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.

Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues. AND Applicants applying for the GS-12 must meet one of the following requirements: A. Have at least one full year of specialized experience that is at least equivalent to work performed at the GS-11 grade level.

Specialized 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.

Qualifying experience must demonstrate at least four (4) of the following: 1) Providing advice and technical assistance in IT support; 2) Assisting with troubleshooting and resolving issues with workstations, network printers OR network related administration, computer capacity OR performance OR software capabilities evaluation and enhancement development; 3) Providing contractor performance feedback; 4) Recommending solutions relating to the complete life cycle for information systems, software and their components; 5) Assisting with conducting systems security evaluation, audits, OR reviews and certification.

Applicants applying for the GS-13 must meet one of the following requirements: A. Have at least one full year of specialized experience that is at least equivalent to work performed at the GS-12 grade level. Specialized 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.

Qualifying experience must demonstrate at least four (4) of the following: 1) Providing advice and technical assistance in IT support, to include, installations, equipment moves, system upgrades OR implementations including Cloud; 2) Troubleshooting and resolving issues with workstations, network printers OR network related administration, computer capacity OR performance OR software capabilities evaluation and enhancement development; 3) Evaluating contractor performance and recommending acceptance or rejection of contracts to senior management; 4) Providing solutions relating to the complete life cycle for information systems, software and their components; 5) Conducting systems security evaluation, audits, OR reviews and certification.

Additional information on the position qualification requirements are located in the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Qualifications Standards Handbook. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

As a Information Technology Specialist, your typical work assignments may include: Serves as the technical expert affecting IT systems Evaluates contractors and coordinates contract administration activities for long term, extensive software and technical service contracts Resolves problems of the server, network devices, storage, equipment, and support IT systems of all end users by monitoring and troubleshooting. Works with users to refine functional requirements, translate functional requirements to design specifications, and determine best approaches for implementation within the technical environment Assists in the identification, prioritizing and coordination of contractor efforts, using AGILE processes for software systems enhancement and development