Information Technology Specialist - Direct Hire Authority

Summary This serves as public notice for the use of OPM's Direct Hire Authority. Applicants who meet the qualification requirements will be forwarded to the selecting official for consideration. We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies. The position is located in the Office of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (R), Office of Policy, Planning, and Resources, Technology Unit (R/PPR). Responsibilities This position is advertised as a term appointment NTE 2 years may be converted to a permanent appointment without further competition. Conducts research to identify opportunities for leveraging AI to enhance operational efficiency, improve decision-making processes, and drive innovation to advance the practice of Public Diplomacy. Develops and executes plans for integrating AI solutions to perform human -like intelligence functions (e.g., neural networks, deep learning, natural language processing, robotics, image recognition, etc.) within existing and new IT platforms. Oversees the components of the IT project lifecycle, including technical strategy, collection of user and business requirements, stakeholder engagement, development of project objectives. Plans milestones, resource management, agile development software development, and program evaluation. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. Applicants applying for the GS-14 grade level must meet the following requirements: Have IT-related experience demonstrating EACH of the four competencies AND specialized experience listed below: Attention to Detail - Ability to establish metrics and analyze systems to ensure actions are timely and reviewed at critical points. Customer Service - Ability to develop short- and longer-term projects to enhance network operations, upgrade equipment, applications, and/or database tools, or improve information security, user services, and customers' IT operations. Oral Communication - Ability to represent R/PPR and/or client organizations in conferences and negotiations with Bureau or Department officials, representatives of other USG agencies, intergovernmental groups, or professional organizations on a wide variety of IT issues. Problem Solving - Ability to resolve controversial, costly, and/or precedent setting technical and/or resource issues/problems and present recommendations for approval by senior management. AND Have at least 1 full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service which provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience working with AI and other emerging technologies and their applications to business processes in order to design systems that perform and apply human-like intelligence functions. Experience designing software to support the work of marketing and communications professionals, preferably solutions that support strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation, and execution of public outreach programs. Experience coordinating the work of software developers to use programming languages to script and automate tasks; develop prototype models and simulations for training, testing, and evaluation; predict behavior and phenomena; evaluate design alternatives; and to visually communicate concepts and/or validate requirements. NOTE: In order to qualify for this position, your 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. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-14 position. Education Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement. Additional Information · For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at (202) 663-3474 or OAA@state.gov. · If eligible, telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. · Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to similar positions in any Bureau/Office listed on this announcement for approximately 240 days. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.