Senior Information Technology Specialist (GS-14)

Summary

Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual CSALA and Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program are available. The position is in the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Center (AIIC). The AIIC provides policy and guidance on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its subsets to ensure the organization uses AI safely, securely, and responsibly, in line with federal policy.

Duties

Guide work from idea initiation through deployment as the senior technical expert across the AI development lifecycle; align data assets and machine-learning technologies to advance AI modernization. Direct the planning, execution, and full lifecycle delivery of AI products; establish product roadmaps, data-governance guidelines, federal security frameworks, and statutory/regulatory compliance requirements. Oversee solution delivery and enforce standardized methods, frameworks, tools, and platforms to ensure consistency and reliability. Coordinate with enterprise, technology, and data architects to ensure code reusability, cross-system integration, operational performance, and the manageability of deployed AI solutions. Present, justify, and defend complex architectural recommendations to OCIO executives, program areas, and external stakeholders. Direct initiatives and cross-functional working groups to design, implement, and deploy machine-learning, deep-learning, and advanced analytics solutions. Define standards for data preprocessing, model training/fine-tuning, production deployment, monitoring, and integration into operational workflows. Synthesize data, analytics, organizational knowledge, and AI systems; authorize codification of FSIS policies into rules/logic; ensure ethical safeguards, risk boundaries, and auditable compliance in decision flows. Oversee ontologies, knowledge graphs, and symbolic models to capture complex domain expertise and support integrated AI/ML architectures. Direct independent evaluations of foundational models/LLMs; identify limitations (e.g., hallucinations), assess compensating controls, conduct risk/outcome analyses, and monitor enterprise performance metrics. Collaborate with OCIO centers to develop/document/analyze proposals for feasibility, compatibility, and compliance; interpret recommendations to leadership and stakeholders to support business decisions. Maintain working relationships with technical staff and internal/external stakeholders; participate in special projects and stay current with industry best practices to inform continual modernization.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience as defined below. GS 14: Specialized Experience: In order to meet the specialized experience requirement, you must have completed 52 weeks of progressively responsible, specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS 13 grade level in the federal government. The specialized experience for this position includes all of the following: Leading a multidisciplinary team-such as database administrators, testers, and developers-to design, develop, and deliver AI/ML enabled enterprise solutions, ensuring alignment with architectural standards, mission needs, and federal requirements. Designing and enhancing enterprise architecture systems capable of performing AI/ML functions, including integration with cloud platforms, data pipelines, automated workflows, and decision support logic. Advising on, developing, and implementing enterprise AI/ML policies, processes, and technical standards to ensure safe, secure, and responsible deployment of AI capabilities across the organization. Identifying, analyzing, and resolving complex AI system challenges-including interoperability, data structure compatibility, workflow automation, and model lifecycle management-to advance rapid solution development. Conducting research and impact analyses on emerging AI technologies, tools, risks, and regulatory changes, and communicating actionable recommendations to agency leadership to guide modernization and innovation strategies. In addition to the above specialized experience requirements, applicants will undergo a structure resume review to determine whether they meet the Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) of the 2210 series. Successfully completing the 2210 series USAHire assessment with a passing score will be used as proof of possessing the necessary proficiency in the following competencies: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Interpersonal Skills Teamwork A panel of subject matter experts will review your resume to determine if you meet the minimum proficiency level (as defined by the 2210 series IOR) for the following competencies: Information Management Oral Communication Problem Solving Technical Competence 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

This job series does not have an education qualification requirement

How you will be evaluated

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy. Application rating will be based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent to which they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies: Accountability Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Information Management Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Oral Communication Problem Solving Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Technical Competence The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) your resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. NOTE: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to and including removal from the Federal service. Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13087422

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments, and required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. Resumes must not exceed two pages. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. Please verify that documents you are uploading from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Uploaded documents must be less than 5MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, TXT or Word (DOC or DOCX). Do not upload Adobe Portfolio documents because they are not viewable. Please ensure your resume does not exceed two pages. Applicants who submit a resume that exceeds two pages will be removed from consideration.

Other 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. Selectees may be eligible for Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual (CSALA). Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information please visit: PSLF Program. 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. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.