IT Specialist (Policy and Planning)
What you'd do
Join VA's Infrastructure Operations (IO) to deliver and maintain secure, high-availability IT and cloud solutions. Help protect and modernize mission-critical systems and support quality services for Veterans. Work in a dynamic, innovative environment as an Apply Now! Located in the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS)/Infrastructure Operations (IO)/Enterprise Service Management (ESM)/Product Services & Platform Management(PSPM).
Major duties
Leads engineering services and technical oversight for critical, national initiatives related to enterprise hardware platform and operating system solutions, shaping VA's IT architecture. Performs comprehensive hardware platform and OS needs assessments; develops short- and long-term growth plans to ensure the VA's evolving business needs are met securely and cost-effectively. Initiates and leads engineering studies, modeling, and analysis for the introduction of new technologies and solutions to address problems with national-level impact. Coordinates and collaborates with stakeholders and cross-organizational entities to ensure end-to-end integration and optimal technological outcomes for enterprise hardware and operating system solutions. Acts as senior engineer and technical authority for all aspects of enterprise IT hardware platforms, operating systems, management tools, provisioning, security, and usage/capacity planning. Develops and evaluates standardized enterprise hardware and OS solution configurations; provides technical oversight throughout the solution life cycle, from implementation through disposal. Provides mastery-level technical guidance and oversight for Reliability, Maintainability, and Availability (RMA) analyses of integrated IT solutions, supporting platform efficiency, reliability, and resource aggregation. Reviews IT platform acquisition proposals, prepares technical analyses and recommendations for executive management, and provides consultation on complex or unusual problems and integration of new technologies. This is a Bargaining Unit Position. This position is primarily aligned to the following NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework work roles: NCWF Code: 651 Category. Work in this category includes performing OPM GDS Cybersecurity Category / Specialty Area: Research and Development Specialist [SPTRD- 001] tasks, as defined by the NIST SP 800-181 National Cyberskills Workforce Framework (NCWF). Develops and maintains business, systems, and information processes to support enterprise mission needs; develops information technology (IT) rules and requirements that describe baseline and target architectures. For more information about these work roles, where they fit within the larger Cyber Workforce, and how they can support your unique career journey, please visit the Cyber Career Pathways tool on the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies website: https://niccs.us-cert.gov/workforce-development/cyber-career-pathways Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8 am-4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: Upon supervisor discretion. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: IT Specialist (Policy and Planning)/PD18758A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/23/2026. You must meet the Basic Requirements, Specialized Experience, and Selective Placement Factors to qualify for this series as described below. Basic Qualifications Requirements EXPERIENCE: To qualify for this position, you must have information technology-related experience demonstrating all of the four competencies listed below. Ensure that this experience is clearly described in your resume: 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. -AND- Specialized Experience for GS-14: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-13 level in enterprise platform and telecommunications engineering. This experience must include expert level design, integration, and life-cycle management of large scale IT infrastructure supporting mission critical healthcare and benefits systems; mastery of engineering policies, processes, standards; best practices for compute, data, storage, networking and telecommunications, and platform services; demonstrated leadership of cross functional infrastructure projects from requirements through implementation and operations; applying capital investment and business case analysis such as cost benefit, total cost of ownership, and return on investment to enterprise infrastructure solutions; aligning recommendations with capital planning regulations, policies, cyber-security requirements, and strategic business needs; translating complex technical options into clear, risk informed, business focused recommendations for senior leadership. -AND- Selective Placement Factor: In addition to the basic qualifications and specialized experience described above, you must meet the following requirement(s) to be considered qualified for the position: Experience with expert-level design, integration, and life-cycle management of large-scale IT infrastructure supporting mission-critical healthcare and benefits systems, as well as demonstrated mastery of engineering policies; experience with enterprise infrastructure engineering-including platforms, storage, hybrid cloud, cloud, data center, and telecommunications engineering-within a large organization or government agency (over 200,000 employees, over 100 facilities, and over 20,000 servers). 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
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