It Specialist (Plcypln)

• Contribute extensive substantive input to organizational goals and vision statements official policies or directives strategic artifacts and other materials that impact the Department and the broader industry and public spheres while ensuring proper compliance with relevant requirements.
• Review service performance reports to identify significant issues or variances initiate corrective actions and ensure outstanding issues are followed up.
• Develop methods to monitor and measure risks compliance and assurance efforts.
• Provide expert-level technical policy and planning guidance as well as technical direction and oversight to offices executing IT software and automation information assurance information security technology investments and initiatives.
• Direct and streamline IT guidance and provide oversight of all technical activities affecting the organization including the development of IT and security policies technical and strategic plans system and network integration plans engineering plans and information assurance designs in support of OITs critical systems.
• Evaluate program resourcing levels identify poorly performing systems or contracts and recommend corrective actions including reorganization or reassignment.
• Lead and coordinate cross-functional interagency or Department-wide working groups to support program optimization and new program implementation.
• Coordinate and manage the overall service provided to a customer end-to-end.

This is a Non-Bargaining Unit Position.

This position is primarily aligned to the following NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework work roles:

NCWF Codes:

805 IT Program Auditor - Conducts evaluations of a IT program or its individual components to determine compliance with published standards.
801 Program Manager - Leads coordinates communicates integrates and is accountable for the overall success of the program ensuring alignment with agency or enterprise priorities.

For more information about these work roles where they fit within the larger Cyber Workforce and how they can support your unique career journey please visit the Cyber Career Pathways tool on the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies website: Description/PD#: It Specialist (Plcypln)/PD19825A
Travel Required: Occasional travel may be required as needed for this position.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8 am-4:30 pm
Compressed/Flexible: As determined by the Agency Policy.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Telework: Ad Hoc as determined by Agency Policy.

Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary although some slight physical effort may be required.

Working Conditions: Work is normally performed in an adequately lighted heated and ventilated. The work environment involves everyday risk or discomforts that require normal safety precautions.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Selectee is subject to background/suitability investigation.
• Selected applicant will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment if required.
• To be considered for this position applicants must complete all required steps in the process.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 10/02/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-15 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-14. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade as required by the this instance you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement.

You must meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements Specialized Experience to qualify for this series as described below.

Minimum Qualifications Requirements

EXPERIENCE: To qualify for this position you must have information technology-related experience demonstrating all of the four competencies listed below. Ensure that this experience is clearly described in your resume:

1. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and to make recommendations.

-AND-

Specialized Experience for GS-15: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. 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 and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Such experience is typically gained in the IT field or through the performance of work where the primary concern is IT.

Specialized experience is defined as: Extensive senior-level experience advising and supporting the executive leadership on enterprise-wide IT strategy policy development and program execution. Mastery in leading high-visibility cross-functional initiatives directly influencing organizational effectiveness vision and mission objectives within an Information and Technology office. Expert ability to develop interpret and implement complex IT and security policies strategic plans technical architectures and governance frameworks across a Department. Additionally provides authoritative guidance on portfolio development decisions oversees major enterprise projects resolves complex issues and delivers recommendations with department-wide impact.

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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those who have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Required Experience:

IC