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Foreign Service Information Management Technical Specialist - Unified Communications (2882 IMTS - Un

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Montevideo, D.C
Closing date
May 21, 2021
Duties

Summary

The U.S. Department of State is developing a rank-order list of eligible hires for a limited number of Information Management Technical Specialist - Unified Communications (IMTS-UC) positions/vacancies based on the needs of the Department.

Learn more about the Department of State and a career in the Foreign Service at https://careers.state.gov .

There is more to joining the Foreign Service than just salary . Refer to the Benefits section for more information on total compensation.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Essential duties of this position include:
  • Providing IT solutions including, installing, and maintaining various classified and unclassified telecommunications and computer networks in order to provide reliable, modern digital and voice information processing, distribution, and storage for formal and informal communications.
  • Providing applications support including remote and on-site IT support for Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) applications and Department of State and post-specific applications.
  • Supporting the Department's IT projects involving its global IT infrastructure (e.g., Enterprise Integration & Remediation, telecommunications circuit upgrades, IT Modernization, etc.) in order to meet the IT demands of the Department.
  • Serving as technical advisor to the IT management and other offices and bureaus concerning technical specialty, equipment selection, installation, and maintenance programs to provide cost-effective, user-friendly communications solutions to the Foreign Affairs community abroad.
  • Performing frequent, intensive international travel to provide regional support, VIP travel support, and global crisis support, including planning travel, filing trip reports, and escorting classified equipment.
  • Supporting building, moving, and renovation of diplomatic posts, including gathering requirements, performing site surveys, producing a statement of work, generating cost estimates, developing Bill of Materials, and supporting or installing communications infrastructure backbone.
  • Deploying new communications solutions such as communications products and support worldwide connectivity, including leading installation teams and training IT professionals and end users.
  • Providing on-going technical support by maintaining resource kits, maintaining parts inventory, performing preventative maintenance, maintaining standard operating procedures, identifying and resolving problems (including both initial and in-depth support), replacing equipment and parts, and tracking problems.
  • Providing customer/post support including upgrading communications, coordinating circuit restoration, maintaining correct operating environment, promulgating best practices, negotiating contracts, performing acceptance testing, monitoring communications contracts, and assisting local procurement.
  • Monitoring and implementing security controls including protecting classified material, auditing, assessing information security, reviewing telecommunications security, maintaining internal controls, reporting incidents, counseling users, and researching incidents.
  • Serving as a member of the information management team including supporting organizational performance, managing individual performance, maintaining inventory, keeping records, instructing junior staff, and representing the Department.
  • Performing other duties such as observing safety regulations and gaining and maintaining certifications in the specialty.

Physical Requirements:

Some of the essential functions of the job have a physically demanding component. IMTS-UCs may periodically perform work that requires regular and recurring periods of prolonged standing, bending, and stretching. At times, they may perform work at construction sites with ambient noise and other environmental factors. They may frequently be required to:
  • Work in confined areas such as crawlspaces, attics, utility pits, tunnels, manholes and other confined spaces.
  • Work from heights to include rooftops, ledges, bucket trucks, scaffolding, and extension ladders.
  • Perform manual installation operations to include hammer drilling, core drilling, pulling wire and cable, running and installing conduit and terminating various cables.
  • Move and handle heavy objects such as crates, equipment racks and other building materials as required.
  • Open shipping crates; perform proper inventory of the contents while noting/reporting deficiencies.
  • Follow established safety regulations, and NEC electrical codes work in and around electrical service panels and Uninterruptible Power Source (UPS) units. These duties include changing batteries, taking electrical measurements, and making appropriate electrical connections.
  • Withstand challenging physical stress involved with lack of sleep, extremes of heat or cold, and extensive travel.

IMTS-UCs must be able to work independently without supervision, often act as their own technical engineers and be innovative, especially at isolated overseas posts. Frequently, they make on-site repairs or devise novel solutions to equipment problems in the field. They may be required, to work on equipment outside their area of specialty, such as radio equipment, and are required to travel frequently, often on short notice. They may be required to travel more than 50 percent of the time from a regional office to constituent posts and may also be required to travel to locations where unhealthful and hazardous conditions exist.

Travel Required

75% or less - A Foreign Service Specialist generally spends the majority of his/her career assigned to the Department of State's overseas missions and at times, lives away from family and/or in difficult or isolated conditions. Selected applicants will be notified of an Oral Assessment (OA) requirement in Washington D.C. For the selected applicants, all travel and other expenses incurred in connection with the OA are the sole responsibility of the applicant.

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
MC

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Be a U.S. citizen and available for worldwide service.*
  • Be able to obtain a Top Secret - SCI Security Clearance.
  • Be able to obtain an appropriate Foreign Service Medical Clearance.
  • Be able to obtain a favorable Suitability Review Panel determination.**
  • Be at least 20 years old to apply; at least 21 years old to be appointed.
  • Be appointed prior to age 60 (preference eligible veterans excepted).***


Foreign Service Information Management Technical Specialists - Unified Communications (IMTS-UC) are responsible for the installation, repair, and maintenance of a wide range of digital and telephone equipment, circuits and datacryptors.

To find out more specifics about the IMTS-UC program, please click here for the IMTS-UC Career Track Quiz .

Qualifications

* U.S. law requires companies to employ only individuals who may legally work in the United States - either U.S. citizens, or foreign citizens who have the necessary authorization.

**The Department of State Suitability Review Panel and standards are defined in Chapter 3 of the Foreign Affairs Manual. For more information please visit: https://fam.state.gov/ .

***For more information about Veteran's Preference and how it is applied in the FSS Selection Process, please visit: http://careers.state.gov/faqs/faqs-wiki/are-veterans-given-hiring-preference-

Experience must have been acquired within the last five years.

Individuals in these positions need to have specialized experience in applying broad technical knowledge and have hands-on experience in one or more areas on specific systems or applications. The work requires knowledge of customary approaches, techniques, and requirements appropriate in evaluating, analyzing, planning, installing, operating, maintaining, managing, or improving one or more of the following: LAN/MAN/WAN environments, communications protocols to include TCP/IP, VPN, VoIP and Ethernet, high-speed circuits (T1, E1), commercial satellite terminal, Cisco and Juniper switches and routers, CSU/DSU, modems, fiber optics, peripheral devices (laser printers, scanners, digital senders) and associated cryptographic systems, and traditional telephone PBX systems. These include Avaya/Nortel PBX systems, VoIP systems and peripherals (call accounting, voice mail and threat recording systems). Individuals must be knowledgeable in the use of associated test equipment for testing and trouble resolution.

IMTS-UC must have in-depth technical knowledge of VoIP and other computer-based, office telephone exchanges and systems, an understanding of fiber optical cables, media cables such as CAT5 and CAT6, and be able to install and terminate all in accordance with building industry standards.

Desired Experience

Experience on AT&T, Avaya/Nortel, or similar digital telephone switching equipment is desirable. Experience installing and repairing cryptographic equipment, and knowledge of Tempest Standards and Red/Black installation criteria. Applicants should possess a working knowledge of current Windows Server and Windows 10 client technology, MS Office Suite MS Exchange (Outlook), MS BackOffice, and UNIX. Microsoft certified professionals (MCP/MCSE) are preferred. UNIX, SQL, Oracle and Citrix experience. Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI) Installer Level 2, BICSI Registered Communications Distribution Designer, and familiarity with EIA/TIA grounding systems standards is also desirable.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Expert knowledge of complex digital and voice communications systems to include classified and unclassified computers, printers, modems, multiplexers, fiber optic isolation devices, Local and Wide Area Network (LAN/WAN) systems, satellite communication systems, cryptographic systems, and building electrical wiring, power distribution boxes, and electrical codes.

Knowledge of information technology, including processes, design, technical specifications, diagnostic tools, repair techniques, safety principles, security, problem/resolution tracking procedures, customer service techniques, laws and regulations, and instruction techniques.

Specialized skill in problem recognition, rule application, troubleshooting and problem solving, providing technical assistance over a variety of media, customer service, self-management, stress tolerance, learning and keeping abreast of a rapidly changing field, electrical work, inductive reasoning, and deductive reasoning.

General skill in systems evaluation, equipment selection, installation, repairing, equipment maintenance, troubleshooting, systems analysis, operations analysis, operations monitoring, quality control analysis, mathematics, science, technology design, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, writing, active learning, critical thinking, complex problem solving, judgment and decision making, instructing, persuasion, coordination, time management, service orientation, management of material resources, and management of personnel resources.

Ability to maintain attention for extended periods or work long hours; tolerate heat, cold, noise, or pollution; bend, stretch, stoop, twist, or reach; lift, push, pull, carry, climb ladders, or balance; perform movements repeatedly or continually, including the ability to stand for extended periods or take frequent extended trips by plane or car; and hear speech or other sounds at construction sites with ambient noise and other environmental factors that are typical for such sites.

Other requirements include: the ability to adapt to changing physical environments, work with differing levels of technology, and keep abreast of the latest developments and innovations in the IT field, cross-cultural awareness, tolerance of intensive world travel, tolerance for working overseas, worldwide availability, tolerance of living away from family, tolerance of varying work environments, attention to detail, dependability, teamwork and cooperation, flexibility in changing work team roles, and integrity.

Successful Foreign Service Specialists must consistently meet a high standard for English, both written (overall structure as well as grammar, spelling and punctuation) and spoken (overall structure as well as delivery, clarity and succinctness).

Education

At the time of application, applicants must possess one of the following:

Associate's degree in Information Technology* and two years of technical communications or IT work experience in the last five years. No technical/product certification is required.

* Required IT majors for Associate's or Bachelor's degrees: Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, Electronics Engineering, Electronics Engineering Technology, Computer Science, IT Management, Telecommunications Management, Information Systems, Information Security, Cybersecurity and Network Engineer, Network and Telecommunications, or related fields.

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology* and one year of technical communications or IT work experience in the last five years. No technical/product certification is required.

U.S. Military IT- or Technical Communications-related training and three years of technical communications or IT work experience in the last five years. No technical/product certification is required. At the time of application, you must provide your DD-214, clearly showing one of the U.S. military branches specialty codes or designators and specialty title, and your Military training report with the title of training. A list containing U.S. military occupational specialty codes or designators is provided for your reference only - please note that this list is not all-inclusive.

You must submit a copy of your university transcript(s) and/or U.S. military training report and DD-214 with your application. If you do not submit this documentation to demonstrate your educational achievements, your candidacy will not be continued.

Official or unofficial transcripts may be submitted with your application. Your transcript must include your name, the school's name, and, if applicable, the degree and date awarded and have no missing pages. A transcript missing any of these elements will not pass the minimum qualifications and the candidacy will not continue. Copies of diplomas may not be submitted in lieu of transcripts for education above high school level.

Education from a program or institution within the United States must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation , in order to be credited towards qualifications or your candidacy will not be continued.

Education completed in foreign high schools, colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Only accredited organizations recognized as specializing in the interpretation of foreign education credentials that are members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE) are accepted. If documentation from an accredited organization is not provided, your candidacy will not be continued.

For further information on the evaluation of foreign education, please refer to the Office of Personnel Management and the U.S. Department of Education . The U.S. Department of State neither endorses nor recommends any individual evaluation service.

OPM: www.opm.gov
U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov

Additional information

*EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION PROGRAM (E-Verify) - Verification of employment eligibility in the United States is required.

U.S. law requires companies to employ only individuals who may legally work in the United States - either U.S. citizens, or foreign citizens who have the necessary authorization. This agency utilizes E-Verify to compare information from the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) records to confirm employment eligibility. If the employee's information does not match DHS and/or SSA records, the employee is given an opportunity to resolve the problem. If eligibility cannot be verified, employment will be terminated.

**The Department of State Suitability Review Panel and standards are defined in Chapter 3 of the Foreign Affairs Manual. For more information please visit: https://fam.state.gov/ .

***For more information about Veteran's Preference and how it is applied in the selection process, please visit: http://careers.state.gov/faqs/faqs-wiki/are-veterans-given-hiring-preference-

No applicant will be considered who has previously been separated from the Foreign Service under sections §607, §608, §610 or §611 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, or who resigned or retired in lieu of separation under these provisions. In addition, no applicant will be considered who has previously been separated for failure to receive a career appointment under section §306 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, or who resigned or retired in lieu thereof.

A Foreign Service Specialist separated for failure to receive a career appointment under section 306 may not re-apply to be a Foreign Service Specialist in the same skill code but may apply for another skill code or to be a Foreign Service Generalist.

Executive Branch agencies are barred by 5 US Code 3303 as amended from accepting or considering prohibited political recommendations and are required to return any prohibited political recommendations to sender. In addition, as mandated by 5 US Code 3110, relatives of federal employees cannot be granted preference in competing for these employment opportunities.

It is the policy of the Federal Government to treat all employees with dignity and respect and to provide a workplace that is free from discrimination whether discrimination is based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity or pregnancy), national origin, disability, political affiliation, marital status, membership in an employee organization, age, sexual orientation, or other non-merit factors.

The Department of State provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for any part of the application or hiring process should so advise the Department at ReasonableAccommodations@state.gov, within one week of receiving their invitation to the oral assessment. Decisions for granting reasonable accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Candidates will be evaluated on their total background including experience, education, awards, training, and self-development as it relates to the position. Selection for this position will be made only from among candidates possessing the best qualifications. Part-time work experience will be prorated.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure all required documents are uploaded and the application is complete before the closing deadline of this announcement. Any missing required documents or incomplete applications will result in the application not being considered further.
  • Résumé from USAJobs Résumé Builder, the only résumé format accepted for this Vacancy Announcement.
  • Complete online application, including the required Accomplishments Questionnaire and Statement of Interest narratives.
  • All required supporting documentation, including proof of educational achievements, certifications, professional licenses, or completed forms as required in this Vacancy Announcement.
  • Veteran's Preference documentation for applicants aged 60 to 65. If claiming a 5 pt. Veteran's Preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or Certification of service at the time of your application. If claiming a 10 pt. Veteran's Preference, you must submit your VA letter and SF-15, in addition to your DD-214 or Certification of service at the time of your application. A Certification must be from the armed forces certifying the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions within 120 days after the Certification is submitted by the applicant and should include military service dates, date of expected discharge or release, and character of service and disability rating, if applicable.

  • Accomplishments Questionnaire and Statement of Interest

    These required questions provide an opportunity to describe examples and accomplishments from your education, life, and/or work experience that demonstrate your qualifications for becoming a Foreign Service Specialist. Examples can be drawn from any part of your professional or personal experience. Each response is limited to 300 words or fewer (maximum length 2,000 characters) for each item. You should compose your replies carefully, as one of the skills necessary to succeed as a Foreign Service Specialist is the ability to write clearly and concisely. Answers to all of the items in the Accomplishments Questionnaire and Statement of Interest are required and must be completed in the online application.

    Practical Problem Solving: Using your technical knowledge of networks and voice communications, describe what you consider to be the best example of a situation where you found an innovative solution to a practical problem. Indicate who was affected by the problem and in what way, and the nature of the difficulties faced.

    Organizing Your Own Work: Give an example of a situation that shows your ability to think logically, analyze problems, communicate with others, and apply sound judgment, particularly where you had to meet tight deadlines or work long hours. Indicate the complexity of the task you were organizing and the consequences if you had failed to meet your deadline.

    Handling Conflicting Priorities: Give one example which best illustrates a situation where you had to handle several different tasks at once and where it was important to ensure the quality of your work performance was maintained at a high standard. Indicate any resources you had to organize, and the pressure you were under to change the order of priority.

    Statement of Interest

    Required narrative Statement of Interest which discusses your:
    • Motivation for joining the Foreign Service.
    • Relevant work experience, including any unique strengths not previously mentioned, such as special skills (e.g., computer, cybersecurity) current licenses, certifications, honors, awards, special accomplishments, and/or training (with date completed) relating to this position.
    • Experience living or working in a multicultural environment, overseas or in the United States.


    If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

    Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

    Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

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