Summary About the Position: The U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command, headquartered in North Chicago, IL, is a jointly staffed command, staffed by representatives of all branches of the Armed Forces. The command, through its 66 military processing locations (Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS)/Remote Processing Stations (RPS)), determines whether applicants are qualified for enlistment based on standards set by each of the services. This position will be filled as TERM NTE 2 years. Responsibilities As an Information Technology Specialist (Customer Support), you will be responsible for the following: Providing technical support to Information Technology (IT) customers. Communicating issues and outages following established information technology policies/procedures. Training customers/users in use of computer systems and applications. Preparing documentation on hardware, software, networks, solutions or workarounds. Analyzing data to troubleshoot computer hardware, software, and network problems. Troubleshooting hardware and software problems. Installing computer hardware and software using established information technology procedures. Following security policies to ensure a secure computing environment. *** These duties are described at the full performance level GS-09. The position is being filled at the GS-07 or GS-09 level. If selected at the GS-07 level the position will be developmental and eligible for non-competitive promotion to GS-09. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications APPOINTMENT INFORMATION: Position may be filled as a time-limited promotion, reassignment or change to lower grade not to exceed (NTE) 2 years by a current permanent Army employee. Time-limited promotions may be extended up to a maximum of five years. Time-limited reassignments and changes to lower grade may exceed five years, however return rights may be impacted. Employees currently located in OCONUS (foreign or non-foreign) are not eligible for a detail to a CONUS position. This position will NOT be made permanent. DEVELOPMENTAL: Management may select at any of the grade levels announced. This recruitment provides promotion opportunity to the target grade of the position without further competition when selectee is eligible and recommended by management. Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. Current Department of Army Civilian Employees In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or education requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas: Customer Service Network Management Problem Solving Technical Competence Basic Requirement for GS-7 level: Specialized and Other Experience: To qualify based on your experience, your resume must clearly describe at least one year of specialized experience which prepared you to do the work in this job. Specialized experience is defined as experience that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled including: Providing technical support to customers on resolving computer issues (such as issues with operating systems, applications, network, and hardware; Troubleshooting customer computer problems with the use of remote assistance tools; Configuring enterprise email accounts and creating active directory accounts; Logging computer problem events/resolutions into IT trouble/problem tracking database. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05). OR Education: One full year of graduate level education from an accredited or pre-accredited institution in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management; or, graduate level education from an accredited or pre-accredited institution 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 Superior Academic Achievement: Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited or pre-accredited institution in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management; or, bachelor's degree from an accredited or pre-accredited institution 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. Superior Academic Achievement is based on: (1) Class Standing - You must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR (2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - You must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your 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; or (b) 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.; OR (3) Honor Society Membership - You may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achsnatl.org/). Basic Requirement for GS-9 level: Specialized and Other Experience: To qualify based on your experience, your resume must clearly describe at least one year of specialized experience which prepared you to do the work in this job. Specialized experience is defined as experience that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled including: Providing hands-on and phone Information Technology (IT) support to customers on resolving computer issues (such as issues with operating systems, applications, network, and hardware); Troubleshooting customer computer problems with the use of remote assistance tools; Configuring enterprise email accounts and creating active directory accounts; Documenting known IT issues, workarounds and/or repairs for use by IT technicians and/or customers; Conducting vulnerability remediation using cyber security tools. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07). OR Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree from an accredited or pre-accredited institution in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management; or, two full years of graduate education from an accredited or pre-accredited institution 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. AND for both grade levels: THIS SECTION APPLIES TO BOTH GRADE LEVELS: The specialized experience must include, or be supplemented by, information technology related experience (paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training, as appropriate) which demonstrates each of the four competencies, as defined: (1) Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail. Examples of IT-related experience demonstrating this competency include: completing work independently that rarely requires editing or review by others. Qualifications continued under Education section below: Education Continuation of Qualifications Section: (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. Examples of IT-related experience demonstrating this competency include: resolving simple and routine problems, questions, or complaints and providing support and guidance to customers on non-routine issues; serving as a primary resource for customers, requesting assistance with complex issues when necessary; and participating in meetings and providing advice to customers in own area of expertise. (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. Examples of IT-related experience demonstrating this competency include: expressing facts and ideas in a clear, concise, convincing, and organized manner; clearly conveying moderately complex ideas, concepts, and information to customers; exhibiting active listening by demonstrating understanding of audience comments and/or questions. (4) Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations. Examples of IT-related experience demonstrating this competency include: identifying and solving problems by gathering and applying information from a variety of materials or sources that provide several alternatives; recognizing and taking action to address non-routine problems; soliciting feedback from multiple stakeholders to understand an issue or problem and accurately assess its root causes and potential solutions; seeking supervisory review where appropriate. Time in Grade Requirement for GS-07: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-05). Time in Grade Requirement for GS-09: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-07). If you are a current, Federal employee, you must include your pay plan, series and grade in your work experience(s) on your resume submission and/or upload supporting documentation (within-grade increase SF50) to show that you meet the time-in-grade requirement. In addition, if your step reflects '00', you must include your current salary for each position. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. In order to qualify for this position, based on your education, education substitution, or combination of education and experience, you must have either completed the education requirement, or will complete this requirement within 30 days from the closing date of this announcement. If you will not complete this requirement within 30 days from the closing date of this announcement, you will be rated as Not Qualified for this position. You must provide appropriate documentation to reflect when you will meet the education requirement. Appropriate documentation includes: (1) Resume indicating your projected completion/graduation date; (2) Transcripts indicating your projected completion/graduation date; (3) A letter signed by the institutions registrar indicating your projected completion/graduation date. Additional Information Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. One year trial/probationary period may be required. Direct deposit of pay is required. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. This is a Career Field (CF) Digital Technology position. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Recruitment/Relocation incentive may be authorized if determined to be in the best interest of the Federal Government and requirements are met. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest. This position is in the AFGE Bargaining Unit. This is not a drug testing position. This is not an emergency essential position. Equal Employment Opportunity Policy: The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. To learn more, please consult the following resources: Equal Employment (EEO) Office at OPM or Office of Equal Opportunity.
