QUALIFICATIONS

At all grade levels, applicants 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.

For GS-09: In order to qualify at the GS-09 level, applicants must have IT related experience as listed above, as well as specialized experience, or graduate education as defined below.
Specialized Experience: One year of appropriate specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service that demonstrates knowledge of computer requirements and techniques in carrying out project assignments consisting of several related tasks, such as typically is the case in development of minor modifications to parts of a system on the basis of detailed specifications provided. To be creditable, assignments must have involved completion of the following, or the equivalent: (1) Analysis of interrelationships of system components, (2) Planning the sequence of actions necessary to accomplish the assignment, and (3) Personal responsibility for at least a segment of the overall project. This level of work typically would have been performed following established methods and procedures or detailed instructions; using some judgment in applying analytical techniques and would have required a good general working knowledge of automated data processing principles and methods.
*OR
Graduate Education: A master’s or equivalent graduate degree in computer science, information science, information systems management, mathematics, statistics, operations research, or engineering, or course work that required the development or adaptation of computer programs and systems and provided knowledge equivalent to a major in the computer field.
*OR
Graduate Education: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education (36 semester hours, 54 quarter hours or the equivalent) leading to a master’s or equivalent graduate degree in computer science, information science, information systems management, mathematics, statistics, operations research, or engineering, or course work that required the development or adaptation of computer programs and systems and provided knowledge equivalent to a major in the computer field.
For GS-11: In order to qualify at the GS-11 level, applicants must have IT related experience as listed above, as well as specialized experience, or graduate education as defined below.
Specialized Experience: one year of appropriate specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service that demonstrates accomplishment of computer project assignments that required a range of knowledge of computer requirements and techniques; i.e., on the basis of general design criteria provided, experience in developing modifications to parts of a system that required significant revisions in the logic or techniques used in the original development. To be creditable, accomplishments normally would have involved the following, or the equivalent: (1) Knowledge of the customary approaches, techniques, and requirements appropriate to an assigned computer applications area or computer specialty area in an organization; (2) Planning the sequence of actions necessary to accomplish the assignment where this entailed coordination with others outside the organizational unit and development of project controls; and (3) Adaptation of guidelines or precedents to the needs of the assignment.
*OR
Graduate Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in computer science, information science, information systems management, mathematics, statistics, operations research, or engineering, or course work that required the development or adaptation of computer programs and systems and provided knowledge equivalent to a major in the computer field.
*OR
Graduate Education: 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education (36 semester hours, 54 quarter hours or the equivalent) leading to such a degree in computer science, information science, information systems management, mathematics, statistics, operations research, or engineering, or course work that required the development or adaptation of computer programs and systems and provided knowledge equivalent to a major in the computer field.
You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

EDUCATION

• 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.
• Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .

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.

• How to Apply
• -Applications (resume and application questions) for this vacancy must be received on-line via USAJOBS BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online resume, you will not be considered for this position. Requests for extensions will not be granted. Most libraries, employment offices, and all USGS personnel offices can provide access to the Internet. If applying online poses a hardship for you, you must speak to someone in the Servicing Human Resources Office listed on this announcement PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE for assistance.
• -Instructions for Applying Online for this Vacancy Announcement: 1)Click the blue “Apply Online” button. 2)If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile. 3)As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application. 4)Check the “Certification” box and click the “Apply for this position now!” button located at the bottom of the screen. 5)Address the eligibility questions as well as the questionnaire containing questions and/or task statements that address the knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies for this vacancy. 6)Submit required documents. 7) If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk.

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.
Help

AS AN IT SPECIALIST WITHIN THE NEW ENGLAND WATER SCIENCE CENTER, SOME OF YOUR SPECIFIC DUTIES WILL INCLUDE:

• Participate in the planning and delivery of a full range of customer support services to the organization.
• Install, configure, upgrade, and troubleshoot any hardware and software components.
• Receive, respond to, and ensure complete resolution of any help center calls, document actions taken, and give needed guidance or training to customers to prevent recurrences.
• Assist more experiences specialists in resolving very complex problems.
• Maintain problem tracking and resolution database.
• Identify and report problematic trends.
• Present formal and informal training and assistance to cutomers regarding hardware operations and applications software.
• Report, respond, and resolve customer requests.
  The USGS New England Water Science Center is committed to inclusive hiring practices that build a healthy workplace where diversity is our strength, and each staff member has the support they need to succeed.