Information Technology Specialist (SYSADMIN)

Summary

This position provides Information Technology support to Innovation and Information Technology (OIIT), Office of Research Services, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The Office of Innovation and Information Technology (OIIT) leads the management and development of information technology at the NIH by providing secure, well-managed operations and solutions for the 30 Divisions and 2500+ users of the ORS and ORF communities.

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Duties

• Serve as technical specialist and advisor in evaluating, planning, developing, implementing, and supporting hosting infrastructure technologies, especially in the hosting of enterprise-class systems and storage area networks (SANs).
• Propose, design, implement, and test modifications to security configurations designed to significantly enhance the secure functionality of applications hosting services.
• Design, implement, test, and install modifications to application traffic management appliance configurations to significantly enhance hosting services performance, functionality, security, and scalability.
• Play key role in diagnosing causes of complex, critical problems and devising innovative solutions for their resolution.
• Lead or participate in the investigation of new and improved server, storage, software, advanced file system and other hosting technologies and/or services and recommend adoption of developments that will enhance effectiveness.
• Support hosted applications security in a production environment, reviewing and evaluating hosted applications' security requirements, developing secure architecture and infrastructure configurations, and implement security controls to establish an auditable and FISMA-compliant environment.
• Lead efforts to diagnose significant software faults and troubleshoot problems involving complex technical issues related to the design, development, and administration of critical applications; design, and possibly implement, test, install, and/or document corrective modifications.
  
  

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
• Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
• Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
• The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.
• Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.
  
  

Qualifications

In order to qualify for an IT Specialist (Systems Administration), GS-2210 position at the GS-13 level, you must have: IT related experience demonstrated by paid or unpaid experience obtained in either the private or public sector, and/or completion of specific, intensive training that demonstrates that I possess each of the following four competencies:

• 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

One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector typically gained in the IT field or through performing IT related tasks such as: serving as an advisor to specialists and managers in developing and implementing hosting infrastructure technologies; reviewing and evaluating hosted applications' security requirements; building and installing upgrades to the Windows operating system and related utilities; serving as a technical consultant to customers in support of application systems hosted on an organization's servers, diagnosing causes of complex critical systems administration problems, and devising innovative solutions for their resolution; and analyzing server performance data and recommending changes/improvements as necessary.

You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay. Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Ensure you support your self-ratings with the information you provide in your application.? We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer.

Preview application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12434557

Education

Additional Information

• This position is designated as a Tier II " non-emergency/teleworker " position and the selected candidate will be considered a Tier II " non-emergency/teleworker " employee. In the event of a closure, you must be available to telework or request leave.
• At the supervisor's discretion, this position may offer work schedule flexibilities : Telework, Alternative Work Schedules, Compressed Schedules, Flexible schedules.
• A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.
• PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps should apply online to this announcement to receive consideration.
• We may make additional selections for similar positions within the commuting area(s) of the locations listed through this vacancy announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s). Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions.
• Visit our Applicant FAQs page for helpful information on the application process.
• Visit our Total Compensation page and this sample for a detailed look into the benefits, awards, leave, retirement, and other incentives employees may receive as part of a rewarding work environment.
• If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire .
  
  

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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. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

You Will Be Evaluated Based On How Well You Meet The Qualifications Listed In This Vacancy Announcement. Your Qualifications Will Be Evaluated Based On Your Application Materials (e.g., Resume, Supporting Documents), Your Responses On The Application Questionnaire, And Your Responses To All Assessments Required For This Position. You Will Be Assessed On The Following Competencies (knowledge, Skills, Abilities, And Other Characteristics):

• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Factor 1. Infrastructure Design
• Factor 2. Information Systems Network Security
• Factor 3. Network and Server Administration
• Factor 4. Application Support Consultant
• Flexibility
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork
  
  

The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

If You Meet The Minimum Qualifications For This Position, Your Application And Responses To The Online Questionnaire Will Be Evaluated Under Category Rating And Selection Procedures For Placement In One Of The Following Categories:

• Best Qualified - for those who are superior in the evaluation criteria
• Well Qualified - for those who excel in the evaluation criteria
• Qualified - for those who only meet the minimum qualification requirements
  
  

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Applicants determined to be Best Qualified will be referred for further consideration. Preference eligibles in the Best Qualified category are referred before all other applicants.

To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) , you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications by scoring at least an 85 on the assessment and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.