These positions are located within Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Headquarters, at the Administrative and Financial Management Unit. The physical duty locations are University Park, PA and Grand Forks, ND. In this position, you will serve as a technical resource responsible for planning, developing, adapting, managing, and administering scientific data systems and operations in support of research-specific IT requirements.

Duties

Maintains an inventory of the location hardware, software, and a lifecycle calendar for IT equipment. Applies protocols, guidelines, standards, and policies in ensuring functionality and accessible user interfaces. Monitors, evaluates, and responds to systems’ compliance with cyber security requirements. As required, coordinates issues with the ARS security personnel. Provides support to users in a wide array of Microsoft products including MS Outlook, Excel, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, and telecommunication software. Supports Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. As required, tests and optimizes the functionality of systems, networks and data to ensure availability and to troubleshoot any issues or situations. Performs market research on hardware and software solutions and recommends products that meet the needs and advance ARS science capacities. As required, supports the integration of new technologies into existing scientific programs. Installs and manages hardware and related software on computers, printers, electronic scale systems, bar code equipment, and other scientific equipment. Works with scientists to support, operate, and manage local scientific data management systems, multi-site scientific data management aggregators, high performance computing systems, and data transfers. Maintains an understanding of the unit’s networking architecture and provides direct support in the hardware and software maintenance related to scientific endeavors. Assesses science IT needs and proposes plans for upgrading software, hardware, peripherals, and novel computing solutions. Monitors, evaluates, and responds to systems’ compliance with cyber security requirements. Provides the first stop for diagnosing and correcting anomalies with hardware and software. Uses current-generation programming languages such as C++, R, SAS, Java, Perl, Python, PowerShell, SQL, and other tools in data processing, data modeling, system administration, and data presentation. Provides first stop diagnosing and correcting anomalies with hardware and software. Provides support for physical and virtual Windows Servers.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Basic Requirements 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. AND In addition to the basic requirement above, all applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications: GS-11 Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-11 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-09 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience participating in the installation and maintenance of computer hardware and software and working with multiple computer platforms; providing data management support; and troubleshooting and resolving IT problems. OR Education: Completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a related major field of study; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in 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. GS-12 Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-12 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-11 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience recommending IT methods or procedural guidance; performing the installation and maintenance of computer hardware and software; supporting scientific equipment and scientific software; providing data management support; providing database management and support; and identifying, troubleshooting and resolving IT problems. 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 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

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 5601 Sunnyside Ave Beltsville, MD 20705 US
• Name: Juliana Hensley
• Phone: (571) 669-3483
• Email: [email protected]