Summary This position is located with the Technology Office at USDA Rural Development (RD). The Division Director provides strategic leadership for technology services and operations supporting RD's mission. The role oversees staff, budgets, contracts, and resources, ensuring sound financial stewardship, workforce development, operational excellence, and delivery of secure, efficient technology solutions aligned with agency priorities. USDA Employees: Please refer to the Next Steps section. Responsibilities Oversees the creation, promotion, and enforcement of IT application development methodology and end-to-end delivery of RD IT solutions. Anticipates and reacts to major industry technology trends and changes to ensure RD's technology solutions support current industry practices in the competitive landscape. Meets with involved parties to identify issues, explore alternatives, and arrive at acceptable solutions. As required, represents the Division in working with top contractor management staff and other government agencies. Manages relationships with major vendors and service providers to ensure they cost-effectively meet the needs of the agency. Participates in strategic plans for management services functions of the Office. Working knowledge of but not limited to: Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO), PMI (PMBOK) and Government Extension. The RD SDLC,RD IT policies, RD IT Governance Framework USDA IT Governance Framework PMI Standard. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. The U.S. Government utilizes Trusted Workforce 2.0 to implement Continuous Vetting (CV) as a-whole-of government approach to personnel security. If selected for this position, you will be subject to continuous automated record checks of criminal, financial, and public record databases throughout your period of eligibility or employment, replacing traditional periodic reinvestigations. 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 https://www.e-verify.gov/. Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions and specialized experience as defined below: Time in Grade GS-15: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level (GS-14) in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. Specialized experience is defined as: Performing direct supervision and through subordinate supervisors and team leaders, manages Division work force of IT specialists and supporting contractors. Defining objectives and general operating procedures; exercises related personnel management functions, which include the development and assignment of goals, objectives and policies for subordinate supervisors and organizations. Experience leading and managing cross-functional teams to cover IT related projects, Project Management Institutions (PMI) best practices, Stage-Gate management and cost and contract management. Manages project scope, resources, schedules, cost and adherence to stage-gate quality and control guidelines throughout the full Systems Development Life-Cycle. Experience in management of issues, risks, project change requests, project reporting, presentations and all other activities that ensures successful and on-time project delivery. Contributes to process improvement initiatives as it relates to improving project delivery and other activities as assigned. There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-15 level. 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 Qualifications are based upon meeting specialized experience only. Education cannot be used to qualify for this position. Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA). Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period. Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Refer to PUBLIC LAW 114-47-AUG. 7, 2015 for more information. If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy.
