Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Office of Inspections, within the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The Office of Inspections (ISP) is responsible for conducting inspections of overseas missions and domestic bureaus or operating units. ISP also conducts subject-specific inspections that focus on a single high-risk area or program.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The incumbent serves as an inspector in the Information Management Division. The incumbent is responsible for coordinating and conducting the information technology (IT) portions of inspections, reviews, or compliance follow-up reviews. The incumbent also analyzes and reports on systemic IT issues and undertakes special projects related to IT operations in the Department. In all inspections, the incumbent plans the work, performs necessary fieldwork, coordinates findings with team leadership, and drafts findings and recommendations for inclusion in the final report. The incumbent keeps abreast of IT advances and shares that information with other IT colleagues and the office at large. All work is conducted in accordance with the Quality Standards for Inspection and Evaluation of the Council of Inspectors General for Inspection and Evaluation (CIGIE).

Other responsibilities include:

-Define the scope and objective for assigned inspections while preparing the appropriate sections of the inspection work plan in order to advise team leadership of the areas of focus.

-Coordinate and conduct interviews with inspected entities and relevant bureaus, programs, and technical officials as well as review relevant information management and information security regulations, directives and policies.

-Write clear and succinct draft reports for team leadership while ensuring reports include important information management and information security problems and issues along with sound recommendations for improvements.

-Advise office, team leadership and team managers on matters relating to inspecting or evaluating information technology operations at missions and domestic bureaus

-Represent the Office of Inspector General, Office of Inspections at meetings, conferences and training courses related to information technology areas.

-Based on inspection findings, the incumbent is responsible for bringing significant IT deficiencies to the attention of the team leadership and drafting IT segments of inspection reports. The incumbent's findings lead to recommendations for corrective action to address deficiencies and changes in Departmental policies, procedures, practices, and operations.

-The incumbent conducts briefings for OIG and Department principles on the results of inspections.

-As required, the incumbent prepares technical articles and instructional materials on IT inspection techniques for the guidance of staff. The incumbent also performs other duties as assigned.

Travel Required

25% or less - While travel is normally 25% or less, it could increase to 30% of the year.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• One year probationary period, unless excepted by regulation.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
• Verification of employment eligibility in the United States is required.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements, including education, and any selective placement factors described below by the closing date of this announcement. If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application. NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F.

Applicants applying for the GS-13 grade level must meet the following requirement's: Have IT-related experience demonstrating EACH of the four competencies AND specialized experience listed below:

IT Management-Understands IT operations and security principles, including the process of collecting and evaluating an organization's information systems, practices, and operations information. Also, ability to assess IT operations and their associated businesses holistically.

Attention to Detail - Thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.

Oral and written 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

Have at least 1 full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

Experience in using evaluation and analysis methodology.

Experience in utilizing interview techniques, administrative law, organizational and management theory, and Inspector General functions.

Experience in being objective in creating inspection reports.

Experience in preparing clear, accurate, concise, logical, and coherent reports that portray the facts, emphasize the significant details and substantiate all recommendations made.

Experience in making oral and written presentations, selling ideas, negotiating points of view and resolving conflicts.

NOTE: In order to qualify for this position, your experience MUST be IT-related; the experience may be demonstrated by paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (for example, IT certification), as appropriate. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position.

Applicants applying for the GS-12 grade level must meet the following requirements: Have IT-related experience demonstrating EACH of the three competencies AND specialized experience listed below:

Attention to Detail - Thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.

Oral and written 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

Have at least 1 full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service which provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

Experience in using evaluation and analysis methodology.

Experience in keeping current with developments in IT management functions and procedures.

Experience in preparing clear, accurate, concise, logical, and coherent reports that portray the facts, emphasize the significant details and substantiate all recommendations made.

Experience in making oral and written presentations, selling ideas, negotiating points of view and resolving conflicts.

NOTE: In order to qualify for this position, your experience MUST be IT-related; the experience may be demonstrated by paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (for example, IT certification), as appropriate. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-12 position.

Education

See the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements, if applicable.

Additional information

For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at (202) 663-3474 or ReasonableAccommodations@state.gov .

If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs) and other characteristics that are relevant to the duties of this position and must be fully supported by information in your resume:

Professional knowledge of the Department's mission, programs, organization, and structure.

Knowledge of trends and current developments in IT management functions and procedures.

Professional knowledge of evaluation and analysis methodology.

Skill in preparing clear, accurate, concise, logical, and coherent reports which will portray the facts, emphasize the significant details and substantiate all recommendations made.

Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity. 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). Your resume must include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week. For assistance with creating a resume, please click here .

Qualified candidates are assigned a score between 70 and 100. Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) candidates must be rated "Well Qualified" for the position and earn a score of at least 85 (when applicants are rated in a range of 70 to 100) to receive consideration for special priority.

If, after reviewing your resume and self-assessment questionnaire responses and a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, a score will be manually determined that reflects your documented experience. This may result in a lower score, which may also eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements and submit any required supporting documentation by the closing date of this job opportunity. Applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview.
To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Top Secret

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

All required documents listed below, that are applicable to you, must be submitted to our automated system "Gateway to State" by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

1. Resume - your resume or any other written format you choose should contain the required information as specified in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section. Insufficient information will result in an ineligible rating.

2. A completed online job specific self-assessment questionnaire through the Department's automated system "Gateway to State".

3. Transcripts - if applicable, see the Qualifications section of the announcement. If selected, an official/sealed college transcript(s) will be required to verify education prior to employment.

4. If you are qualifying based on other criteria listed under the Qualification Section of this announcement, you must submit the required supporting documentation (certificates, certifications, etc.) with your application by the closing date.

5. Performance Appraisal - All current Federal employees and reinstatement eligible applicants must submit a copy of your most recent completed annual performance appraisal that includes the final rating. If a performance appraisal does not exist, is incomplete or unavailable, a Form DS-1812 (Applicant Appraisal) or equivalent form from another agency signed by the current supervisor is acceptable. Mid-year progress reviews will not be accepted.

6. Current, former, and non-competitive Federal employees must submit SF-50s (Notification of Personnel Action) that show: effective date, position title, series, grade, salary, tenure, position occupied, full promotion potential, and name of agency. Examples include promotion & within-grade increase actions. Award SF-50s often do not show this information. Multiple SF-50s may be needed to show all information.

7. Veterans who are preference eligibles OR who have been separated from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions (honorable or general discharge) after 3 or more years of continuous active service may apply under the Veterans Employment Opportunities act (VEOA). You must submit a DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4 is preferable) showing the dates you served as well as your type of discharge and qualifying service campaign medals OR if you are still on active duty, you MUST submit a certification on letterhead from your military branch which contains your military service dates, expected date of discharge or release, and the character of service to show that your military service was performed under honorable conditions. The expected date of discharge or release must be no later than 120 days after the certification is submitted for consideration for this job announcement.

Current Federal employees applying under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) must submit a qualifying SF-50 to show you meet time-in-grade requirements.

If you are applying as a preference eligible with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more, in addition to the DD-214 or certification, you must also submit a current version of the SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference), dated October 2013, and the required supporting documents listed on that form. Previous editions of the SF-15 will not be accepted. For more information on veterans' preference, click here . To gain access to your DD-214 online, please visit: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/get-service-records.html.

For more information on Veteran Authorities, consult the Vet Guide .

8. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must submit a copy of the appropriate documentation with their application. See links below:

ICTAP Considerations
CTAP Considerations

9. If you are applying under a special hiring authority you MUST submit proof of eligibility with your application. For information related to special hiring authorities for severely disabled persons visit: http://www.opm.gov/disability/PeopleWithDisabilities.asp

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.