NATURE OF THE APPOINTMENT: This is a Recent Graduate opportunity under the DOT Pathways Program. Appointment is in the Excepted service not-to-exceed one (1) year. Upon successful completion of the one year developmental program, the position may be converted into the Competitive service as a term or permanent (career/career conditional) employee. Conversion is not guaranteed and is based on the needs of the agency. If converted, the full performance level of the position will be GS-13.

Duties

The work of this position primarily involves program audits. The incumbent, an information technology specialist trainee, works with a team leader in a developmental capacity, to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of organizations, programs, and activities applicable to financial and information technology systems programs. The audits may cover the relevance or appropriateness of program objectives; the extent to which a program achieves a desired level of results; factors inhibiting satisfactory performance; alternatives for carrying out the program; the adequacy of management controls; and the validity and reliability of reported program effectiveness.The incumbent of this position applies professional IT and auditing knowledge, standards, and principles in performing an objective and systematic examination of pertinent information and documentation such as records, management reports, management controls, and policies and practices affecting the outcomes and results of financial and information technology systems programs. The incumbent researches pertinent laws, legislative history, regulations, contracts, and management controls to ascertain the purpose, scope, and objectives of the assigned program or function; the manner in which the program or function is conducted; and the nature and extent of management authority and responsibility for the program or function. As a member of an audit team, the incumbent assists in all phases of audit work - planning the audit, conducting the audit, and preparing the final product.The incumbent assists higher level auditors and/or analysts with examining and testing (using statistical and/or judgmental sampling) records and management controls to determine the degree of efficiency, economy, and effectiveness of assigned programs. The incumbent conducts all assigned phases of the audit in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS). The standards require the incumbent to study and evaluate the existing system of internal control to determine the level of system reliability; determine those audit procedures required to answer audit objectives in view of the system reliability; and obtain sufficient reliable evidence through inspection, observation, inquiries, and confirmation to provide a reasonable basis for an opinion regarding the program under examination. These tasks are performed under the direction of a higher-level auditor/analyst.The incumbent assists higher-level auditors/analysts in conducting interviews with employees of the program or activity under review. The incumbent also prepares working papers using Pentana, interview summaries, and briefing materials covering findings for use by team members. This position may also be required to research and assemble supporting documentation.Long distance travel for moderate periods of time is required for this position.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship
• This position is subject to a background investigation
• Submit complete application online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date
• Males Born after 12-31-1959 must be registered for Selective Service
• Must sign Recent Graduates Program Participant Agreement

Qualifications

An applicant may qualify based on education or experience as described below. Degree must be conferred or completed by June 30. 2024.  To qualify solely based on Education:  1. GS-09: Conferred (completed) 2.7 GPA Masters degree, within the previous two years, in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management AND a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above.  OR 2.GS-07: Conferred (completed) 3.0 GPA Bachelor's degree, within the previous two years, 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. To qualify based on Specialized Experience: 1. Conferred (completed), within the previous two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate with a GPA of 2.7 from a qualifying educational institution in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours.  AND Have 1 year of specialized experience at the GS-07 or GS-09 level.  MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS for GS-07: Specialized Experience: To qualify at the GS-07 grade level, you must have one year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the GS-05 grade level. Specialized experience includes: providing assistance to higher level staff with researching laws, regulations, or policies; researching and assembling supporting documentation gathered to develop a concise and coherent message; reviewing material for completeness and consistency; and writing portions of documents summarizing the findings. Knowledge of wide range of IT concepts, theory, computer techniques, practices, methods and procedures and knowledge of applying cyber-security and information security principles and concepts sufficient to plan, coordinate, and assess IT security operations and initiatives to ensure protection of data, networks, systems and applications. OR Education: Completed one full academic year of graduate education in a related field such as computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or 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 Combination of Education and Experience: Applicants that possess a percentage of the required specialized experience and a percentage of the required graduate level education such that, when the percentages of the required graduate education and specialized experience are added together, they equal 100%. (Only graduate education and only professional experience equivalent to the GS-5 or higher is creditable.) OR Superior Academic Achievement: You possess a degree that is qualifying for this position that meets the criteria for eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement provision through one of the following methods. No more than 10% of academic credit can be based on pass/fail or similar non-traditional grading systems. * 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on the official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum * 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) 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. (Grade-point averages will be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9) * Upper 1/3 ranking in graduating class (you must submit proof with your application) * National Scholastic Honor Society. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. (You must submit proof with your application) MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS for GS-09:Specialized Experience:To qualify at the GS-09 grade level, you must have one year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the GS-07 grade level.  Specialized experience includes: providing assistance to higher level staff with researching laws, regulations, or policies; researching and assembling supporting documentation gathered to develop a concise and coherent message; reviewing material for completeness and consistency; and writing portions of documents summarizing the findings.Knowledge of wide range of IT  concepts, theory, computer techniques, practices, methods and procedures and knowledge of applying cyber-security and information security principles and concepts sufficient to plan, coordinate, and assess IT security operations and initiatives to ensure protection of data, networks, systems and applications. OREducation: 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 a related field such as computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or 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. ORCombination of Education and Experience: Applicants that possess a percentage of the required specialized experience and a percentage of the required graduate level education such that, when the percentages of the required graduate education and specialized experience are added together, they equal 100%. (Only graduate education and only professional experience equivalent to the GS-7 or higher is creditable.) Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have as much as six years after degree completion to apply.NOTE: APPLICANTS MUST MEET QUALIFICATIONS BY JUNE 30, 2024. ALL APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT A COMPLETE COPY OF THEIR TRANSCRIPTS. DEGREE AUDITS ARE NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SUBSTITUTE FOR OFFICIAL/UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS.  IF SELECTED, AN OFFICIAL/SEALED TRANSCRIPT WILL BE REQUIRED PRIOR TO AN APPOINTMENT DATE BEING ESTABLISHED. IF YOU HAVE EARNED A DEGREE FROM A FOREIGN INSTITUTION YOU MUST SUBMIT WITH YOUR APPLICATION EVIDENCE THAT ANY EDUCATION COMPLETED IN A FOREIGN INSTITUTION WAS APPROPRIATELY ACCREDITED BY AN ACCREDITING BODY RECOGNIZED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS EQUIVALENT TO U.S. STANDARDS. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, REFER TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WEB SITE AT http://www.ed.gov.

Education

Undergraduate or Graduate Education: Conferred degree in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or conferred 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.

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 four competencies listed below. 

1. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

Contacts

• Address DOT, OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL 1200 New Jersey Ave SE West Building, Room W71-123 Washington, District of Columbia 20590 United States
• Name: Myra Clemens
• Phone: 202-366-1490
• Email: [email protected]