IT Specialist (APPSW)

Summary This position is located in OIG, OIT, Business Intelligence and Analytics Division (BIAD). The position description number for this position is PD4F1320. A summary of the major duties is listed below. You may also view the full position description on the Agency intranet at the following link: PD Search

The incumbent serves as an IT Specialist providing comprehensive and authoritative technical advice, consultation, and assistance on a full range of complex and sensitive systems in OIG. Duties Plans, directs, and/or conducts complex, sensitive and/or confidential studies that involve resolving critical problems in existing or future systems and that require innovative solutions in many aspects of the studies. | Serves as a principal planner and advisor to Executive management, working with senior technical and managerial representatives in the development of integrated systems directives, standards, specifications, policies, and implementation. | Provides leadership in the development of new software applications, emphasizing the use of the most efficient and productive technology and architecture. | Serves as a technical advisor to senior management and is the recognized technical expert and advisor in the development of policies as they relate to the use of developed applications. | Represents OIG in meetings and discussions with industry representatives and private organizations in specialized areas of Information System Architecture. | Leads the technical efforts in implementing new technologies and data manipulation techniques within OIG that are coordinated with SSA and contractors. | Determines suitability for automation, conducts feasibility studies and cost/benefit analyses, and determines methodology for execution of proposals. | Develops and reviews system design approaches for new or redesigned systems, conducts code inspections for new or modified code, and oversees the preparation of test and validation criteria. | Serves as technical lead and principal liaison in communicating with contractors/vendor(s) in specifying systems requirements, platform implementation, hardware/software requirements, and technical support issues.

Qualifications

This position is located in the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Office of Information Technology (OIT), Business Intelligence and Analytics Division (BIAD).

Applicants must qualify for the series and grade of the posted position. 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. Your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, abilities, and proficiency of any required competencies to perform the specific position for which you are applying.To qualify for the 2210 IT Specialist series, the applicant must demonstrate the following competencies:

• 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; know about available products and services; and 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.

Minimum Qualifications: Grade 14: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-13 level, or equivalent, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled and has equipped applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience must include three of the following four experience statements:

• Mastery of understanding and applying gathered requirements, producing clear documentation artifacts, and translating business needs into data assets that support Management Information/Business Intelligence deliverables;
• Mastery in analyzing data streams and pipelines and developing optimized, innovative approaches to enhance throughput, reliability, and overall system performance in various environments;
• Extensive experience in effectively communicating and collaborating with other stakeholders, contractors, and vendors on key technical topics, including system requirements, solution architecture, database design, data management and governance, and automation;
• Advanced experience applying programming languages (e.g., SQL, SAS) to process and integrate heterogeneous data sources (e.g., relational tables, JSON, XML, CSV), enabling the development of scalable, high-quality data solutions that drive Business Intelligence deliverables.

Qualification standards and additional information for this position can be found here: Competency-Based Qualification Standard for the Information Technology Management Series, 2210

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Applicants for promotion must have 52 weeks at GS-13.

Time in grade requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Education There is no substitution of education for experience at this grade level. How you will be evaluated

Applicants will be rated based on the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Reading Comprehension
• Decision Making
• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Teamwork
• Reasoning

The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. Cheating on the online assessment may result in your removal from consideration. How to apply Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience is subject to verification by the selecting official. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience to support your answers, or you may be required to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task.

Notice Concerning Materially False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Statements

Anything you claim in the occupational questionnaire or in your SSA-45 may be subject to verification. By completing the electronic application process, you are certifying that any statements you make are true, complete, and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief and are made in good faith. Materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations are subject to disciplinary action.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• SSA-45
• The Occupational Questionnaire: Click on the Apply Online button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account and follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire.
• Additional Required Documents, if applicable (See Required Documents section).

The complete Application Package must be submitted before 11:59 p.m. (EST) on 11/25/2026. Failure to upload any required documents will disqualify your application from consideration.

If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact HR Staffing - Team Eight at HR.Staffing2.Team8.Mailbox@ssa.gov.

Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities may use the listed email or 7-1-1 for TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services to call the listed phone number. Additional Telecommunications Relay Services options are available in each state: https://www.fcc.gov/general/trs-state-and-territories

APPLYING FROM A PERSONAL COMPUTER OUTSIDE OF WORK

SSA employees may access Internal Vacancies On-Line (IVOL) postings and apply for vacancies from locations outside of SSA (e.g., from home, public computer, etc.). Please use the following link: https://www.ssa.gov/careers/ivol. Be sure to forward the link and other application materials (such as the SSA-45) to an email source accessible from outside of SSA (e.g., your personal computer, etc.).

Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email, standard mail, or facsimile sent directly to the Servicing Personnel Office. Applicants are required to file through the online application process. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.

To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account. Other information

NONCOMPETITIVE CONSIDERATION DUE TO SPECIAL HIRING AUTHORITY

Applications for noncompetitive consideration will be accepted from SSA employees in the area of consideration who are currently serving under the following types of appointments: Schedule A, Reg. 213.3102 (U) appointments for individuals with disabilities and time limited appointments for veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Applicants serving under these provisions do not need to submit copies of your disability or Veteran's documentation. However, you must submit a current SF-50 that provides information on the appointment authority under which you were hired. Otherwise, you will not receive non-competitive consideration.

NOTE: Excepted service employees serving under Schedule A appointments for Attorney positions or Pathways Programs appointments (Presidential Management Fellows, Recent Graduates, and Interns) are not eligible for consideration.

This is a non-bargaining unit position to be filled under the provisions of the Management Officials Promotion Plan. The best-qualified list for this vacancy may be used to fill the same or similar positions in a component(s) under the same Deputy Commissioner. Additional selections may be made within 6 months of the date the best qualified list is issued.

LOCALITY PAY: Salary will be set in accordance with locality pay provisions. Candidates currently receiving a higher locality pay than the office applied for are advised that should they be selected, they will lose entitlement to the higher locality pay.

OTHER NOTES:

This position may be eligible for telework; flextime and/or alternative work schedules as determined by policy.

Relocation expenses will not be paid.

This is a high risk public trust position. The selected employee will be required to complete a Standard Form 85P, Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions, in order to have the appropriate investigation conducted, unless the employee has been previously certified eligible to occupy a position at this level.