Summary Securing Travel, Protecting People - At the Transportation Security Administration, you will serve in a high-stakes environment to safeguard the American way of life. In cities across the country, you would secure airports, seaports, railroads, highways, and/or public transit systems, thus protecting America's transportation infrastructure and ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce. Responsibilities This IT Specialist (Operating Systems) position is located within Information Technology (IT), End User Services Division (EUSD), Operational Communications Branch, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Duties include but are not limited to: Supports a variety of information technology (IT) infrastructure operations, engineering, and system projects such as installation on new operational technical environments or engineering support of various systems capabilities, patches, upgrades and releases using advanced knowledge and experience. Performs technical analysis and reviews a wide range of information systems in terms of design, development, implementation, approval, and periodic evaluation as well as providing a variety of operational systems to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) with minimal supervision. Monitors contractor progress, policies, procedures, techniques, methods and management controls affection TSA hardware, software and the overall concept of operations. The incumbent may be required to interface with the Contracting Officers and certify as the COP for related programs. Coordinates and manages the overall service provided to a customer end-to-end and works with other service managers and product owners to balance and prioritize services to meet overall customer requirements, constraints, and objectives. The major duties described above reflect the full performance level of this position. Typically, the lower pay band (H Band) performs the same duties but will receive more guidance and training; and/or projects/work assignments may be less complex. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National. You must have reached the minimum age (18) at the time of application. Selective Service registration is required. You must complete a favorable Background Investigation (BI). You must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance. You may be required to work outside of normal business hours. Employees must possess a FAC COR Level 2 certification or obtain certification within 18 months of appointment. If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for TSA to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions. Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change. Qualifications FOR ALL IT POSITIONS: To qualify, you must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below. 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. In addition to the requirements for all IT positions, to qualify for the SV-H Pay Band (equivalent to GS-11/12), applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-G (GS-9) in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all the following: Experience in Communications Security (COMSEC) management and OTAR operations; and Experience in customer relations management including, but not limited to understanding customer needs, communicating technical information, tracking milestones activities, as well as identifying and recommending solutions; and Experience designing and delivering radio solutions (e.g., trunking, Project 25 (P25) specifications; tower, repeater and base station installation and code plug definitions; administrative laws, policies, regulations and precedents applicable to control, management, radio services, and frequency requests; frequency / spectrum management, radio policies, switching technology, inter-connectivity principles, encryption, ordering services, commercial market and physical inventory control; and Land Mobile Radio (LMR) interoperability policies and requirements). OR A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited college or university. OR Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. UNDERGRADUATE OR GRADUATE EDUCATION: Degree in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems, or networks. In addition to the requirements for all IT positions, to qualify for the SV-I Pay Band (equivalent to GS-13), applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-H (GS-12) in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all the following: Conducting manual and over-the-air rekeying (OTAR) and encrypting of radio equipment; and Experience in IT data and system security, network infrastructure, IT governance processes, applying project management principles, methods and practices, developing plans, estimating resource requirements, defining milestones and deliverables, monitoring activities, documenting, and reporting accomplishments; and Served as a Project Lead for Land Mobile Radio (LMR) Systems and Experience designing and delivering radio solutions (e.g., trunking, Project 25 (P25) specifications; tower, repeater and base station installation and code plug definitions; administrative laws, policies, regulations and precedents applicable to control, management, radio services, and frequency requests; frequency / spectrum management, radio policies, switching technology, inter-connectivity principles, encryption, ordering services, commercial market and physical inventory control; and Land Mobile Radio (LMR) interoperability policies and requirements). Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement. Education For positions requiring positive education requirements, or if you are using education to meet all or part of the qualification requirements, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or an itemized list of college courses from an accredited college or university, which includes equivalent information from the transcript (course title, semester/quarter hours, and grade/degree earned) in your resume. The information must be provided with the application by the closing date of the announcement. If selected, the applicant must supply a transcript or certification of degree. Additional Information Eligibility to apply for other Federal positions: TSA is an Excepted Service agency exempt from most of Title 5 United States Code, including regulations which apply to displaced Federal employees (CTAP/ICTAP) of other agencies, and employment with TSA does not confer "Competitive Status" that generally results from selection and service in Competitive Service agencies. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has established an Interchange Agreement, which allows most permanent TSA employees to apply and be considered for vacancies in Competitive Service agencies. Information from OPM on this or other Interchange Agreements is available at: www.opm.gov/ To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation as a condition of placement into this position. DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities. If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment. TSA employees who are absent for the purpose of performing military duty may apply for any vacancies announced in their absence. More than one position may be filled from this announcement. If you are entering TSA employment on an appointment without time limitations, you must serve a basic trial period unless you have already met the requirement. DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more. Employees who transfer to TSA from an agency that allows employees to maintain an annual leave balance higher than the maximum accumulation for the appointed position will have their leave ceiling set to the maximum accumulation for the appointed position (e.g., United States duty location - 240 hours, foreign duty location - 360 hours, or TSES position - 720 hours). TSA will not make a monetary payment for any leave forfeited under these circumstances.