IT Specialist (Appsw)
What you'd do
This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Information and Technology (OIT) within this services: Software Product Management, Product Engineering Service, Chief Technology Office, Compliance, Risk and Remediation. The incumbent will serve as Senior Information Technology (IT) Specialist. The purpose of the position is to develop, coordinate, and monitor, assess and elevate development schedules for applications assigned to OIT.
Major duties
OIT Mission: The mission of the Office of Information and Technology (OIT) is to collaborate with our business partners to create the best experience for all Veterans. OIT Vision: To become a world-class organization that provides a seamless, unified Veteran experience through the delivery of state-of-the-art technology. Major Duties: Provide ongoing optimization and problem-solving support. The incumbent defines the nature and scope of problems, identifies alternatives to overcome problems and directs their implementation. Participate in the acquisition process as necessary. Lead and oversee budget, staffing, and contracting. Provide feedback to leadership and other project stakeholders through appropriate reports, meetings, briefings and information papers, both formally and informally. Regularly brief senior leadership and management staff on project status and significant developments. The incumbent has mastery knowledge and experience in all facets of procedures and protocols of the system lifecycle development process, including project/risk management and mastery ability to communicate successfully. Manage program/project management and systems life-cycles to include: Acquisition, development, modification, enhancement, deployment or decommissioning of a product, service or system which may be COTS or internally developed. Develop and communicate project plans and schedule system scope based on cost estimates for new or modified application systems on a clear understanding of customer requirements and information on project costs, schedule, quality, and performance. Provide expert oversight of cost resource estimates. This position is primarily aligned to the following NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework work roles: Cybersecurity Code: 802 (IT Project Manager) NICE Framework Tasks: T0277: Ensure that all acquisitions, procurements, and outsourcing efforts address information security requirements consistent with organization goals. T0407: Participate in the acquisition process as necessary. T0493: Lead and oversee budget, staffing, and contracting. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Yes-as determined by the agency policy. Telework: Ad-hoc telework may be authorized at management discretion. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: IT Specialist (Appsw)/PD18421A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Physical Demands: Work is primarily sedentary but involves use of a personal computer so a degree of dexterity and visual acuity sufficient to utilize these tools is required. Some physical effort is required to lift and carry reference books, working papers and similar items to and from meetings. A moderate amount of standing and walking is required in getting to and from meeting places away from the work site. The work does not require any special physical effort. Working Conditions: Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office setting or remote teleworking via computer and telephone. There is occasional noise from normal office equipment. Some unscheduled work hours are required. Occasional travel is required to attend meetings, conferences and specialized technical training. Designated Drug Testing Position: Not applicable.
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/27/2026. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Basic Individual Occupational Requirements: 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. For all positions individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the five competencies listed below. The employing agency is responsible for identifying the specific level of proficiency required for each competency at each grade level based on the requirements of the position being filled. 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 Selective Placement Factor: In addition to the minimum qualifications described above, you must meet the following requirement(s) to be considered qualified for the position: Experience serving as a product owner or product manager on an agile software development team by evaluating project schedules and developer resource allocations to ensure successful development of approved software applications, that supported the development or enhancement of a digital product for a federal benefits program, including experience conducting user research with the product's end users and using data to inform product decisions. AND Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-13 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience in serving as a product owner or product manager on agile software development teams by tracking, analyzing and coordinating multiple, complex applications development projects; Facilitating cross-functional and cross-team planning sessions; Managing multiple contractor tasks; Conducting user research with end users; Experience in development of digital products that assist Veterans in navigating benefits-related processes (including claims processing, decision and evidence reviews, and benefits applications) by helping streamline complex workflows, improve access to essential services, and enhance the overall Veteran experience; and Using data and analytics for continuous improvement of the Veteran 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; religions; 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. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. 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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