Supervisory Information Technology Specialist (Operating Systems)

Summary

This position is located in the Production Support Operations (PSO) Branch under the Technology Office. Leads the PSO by directing system operations, ensuring reliability of RD production environments, and overseeing issue resolution. Guides staff, sets priorities, and coordinates with stakeholders to maintain secure, efficient IT operations and drive continuous and drive continuous improvement. USDA Employees: Please refer to the Next Steps section.

Duties

• Serves as the Production Support Operations Branch Chief; directly supervises the work of the federal staff and assigned contractors. Ensures organization's strategic plan, mission, vision, and values are communicated to the team and carried out.
• Supports Microsoft, Linux, AIX, and Solaris servers and applications in a virtual PaaS environment. Manages cloud technologies that include, but are not limited to, Salesforce, Mulesoft, Azure, and AWS platforms, server backups, cloud integration.
• Supports a variety of Operating Systems (OSs), applications, programs, and platforms as well as various infrastructure management tools. Provides HW/SW implementation, administration, and configuration support.
• Performs server and system configuration. Performs system engineering, roll-out implementation configuration, debugging, and support. Performs system patching, vulnerability remediations, OS and Common component upgrades, etc.
• Complies with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies, standards, and guidelines affecting information technology projects within RD, including periodic changes and amendments to those documents.
• Manages and/or represents the Branch in dealings with personnel internal and external to the office. Meets with involved parties to identify issues, explore alternatives, and arrive at acceptable solutions.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions and specialized experience as defined below: Time in Grade GS-14: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level (GS-13) in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience leading and overseeing the management of key Information Technology (IT) applications and infrastructure used by agency personnel and customers who do business with our agency. Knowledge of various IT platforms, including but not limited to Cloud, PaaS, Mainframe, and other technology platforms. Proven knowledge with tools and approaches for IT Service Management and best practices to deliver IT infrastructure services effectively and efficiently. Experience interfacing with developers to assist in successful integration and implementation of new applications and enhancements and to deploy applications properly into the Hosting environment to conform to applicable security requirements. Demonstrated leadership experience including strategy and execution of full system life cycle and ability to work cross functionally with internal and external customers. Experience coordinating project work plans, schedules, standard reports, and technical requirements. Experience coordinating release management services consistent with applicable security, change, and release management guidelines. Experience maintaining technical documentation (policies, procedures, templates, etc..), increasing employee and key stakeholder adoption and usage, and meeting objectives on time and on budget. There is no education substitution for this grade level. 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Qualifications are based upon meeting specialized experience only. Education cannot be used to qualify for this position.