This vacancy is for a IT Specialist (Applications Software) Recent Graduate position in the Associate Director for Decennial Census Programs area located at the U.S. Census Bureau Headquarters in Suitland, Maryland. The Census Bureau is accessible from the Metro Rail Green Line - Suitland Station. This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other IT Specialist (Applications Software), GS- 2210, 7/9, FPL GS-9 positions within the Census Bureau in the same geographical location.

Duties

Plans and designs systems and software application architecture; designs user interfaces; integrates several hardware, software, and /or computer related services to provide integrated information systems. Develops complex and detailed sequences of internal program logic; writes, tests, debugs, and maintains complex software programs and applications. Monitors and tracks progress of software development projects. Communicates, coordinates and/or monitors development efforts and schedules.

Requirements

• Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• You must be a U.S. Citizen
• You must successfully complete a background investigation.
• A one-year probationary period may be required. If non-competitively converted, the time spent as a Recent Graduate will count towards the probationary period.
• This position is in the excepted service.
• You must sign a Pathways Agreement.
• This position is eligible for telework; additional criteria will be required (e.g., supervisory approval).

Qualifications

If hired for this position with the Census Bureau, at its headquarters office located in Suitland, Maryland, you will be expected to temporarily telework to maximum extent while the headquarters building is being renovated. Once permitted to return to the office building, you will be expected to do so within 30 calendar days of receiving notification. At that time, you may be eligible to continue to telework or work remotely two or more days a pay period consistent with the Census Bureau's flexible telework and remote work policies and approval from your supervisor. Telework policy (https://uscensus.sharepoint.com/sites/CensusCentral/SitePages/Telework.aspx) The U.S. Census Bureau's Telework Policy was signed in January 2023 and supersedes all previous policies. The policy allows for up to 8 days of telework per pay period with supervisory approval, and employees must physically report to the agency worksite at least 2 days per pay period. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: You must be a Recent College Graduates from a qualifying institution within two years of degree or certification (Veterans precluded by their military service obligation, will have up to six years to apply). Individuals 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. An experience indicator at this level includes planning, prioritizing, and organizing one's own work. 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. An experience indicator at this level includes orally presenting information and ideas in an understandable manner. 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. An experience indicator at this level includes orally presenting technical information in an effective, professional, and understandable manner in formal settings; engaging in discussions and sharing of information with co-workers or team members. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations. An experience indicator at this level includes resolving simple or routine situations that impact one's own work; gathering and applying information from standard materials or sources; investigating and collecting needed information to outline a proposed solution to a simple problem; utilizing various sources to conduct research to acquire information sufficient to support decisions and problem resolution recommendations; gathering and analyzing facts and drawing logical conclusions. AND For the GS-07: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience for this position at the GS-7 includes: applying knowledge of programming, software development, or problem solving to support software and system development; and develops software systems, procedures, and processes such as data structures, service oriented architecture and software engineering. OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-7 BASED ON EDUCATION: 1 full year of graduate level education in in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or a 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. OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-7 BASED ON SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement is defined as:(1) Class standing -- You must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision based on completed courses, (2) Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- You must have 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum, or(3) Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- You are a member of one of the national scholastic honor societies recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achshonor.org/) OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-7 BASED ON A COMBINATION OF EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: You may qualify on a combination of education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the educational requirement must equal at least 100 percent. For the GS-09: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience for this position at the GS-9 includes: assist with planning proposing and or designing segments of IT programs; design modifications to internal program structure of files and records; codes, test debugs IT programs; and supports the integration of hardware and software components. OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-9 BASED ON EDUCATION: Master's degree or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or a 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. OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-9 BASED ON A COMBINATION OF EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: You may qualify on a combination of education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the educational requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education. Students graduation date MUST be indicated on your resume. 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.

Education

To be eligible for the Pathways Recent Graduate program you must be a:

• Recent graduate who has completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution.

-OR-

• Preference eligible veteran who was precluded from applying due to their military service obligation begin their two-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty. Eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed six years after degree or certificate completion. You MUST submit a copy of the DD214 showing the duration and dates of service that precluded you from applying due to the military service obligation.

You must submit transcripts with your application for proof of education with degree conferred or expected date. If substituting education for specialized experience, you must submit proof of your qualifying education. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

Contacts

• Address Associate Director for Decennial Census Program 4600 Silver Hill Road Washington, DC 20233 US
• Name: Census Pathways Recent Graduate
• Phone: 301-763-3705
• Email: [email protected]