U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Logo
Position Title
IT Specialist (CUSTSPT)
Agency
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Announcement Number
R10-23-11964681-JMJ-MP Opens in new window
Open Period
Monday, May 22, 2023 to Monday, June 5, 2023
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2. You are eligible for this hiring category if you:

(1)  The spouse of a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty for more than 180 days other than for training
-OR-

(2) The spouse of a 100 percent disabled service member injured while on active duty
-OR-

(3) The un-remarried widow or widower of a service member who was killed while performing active duty

Supporting documentation: You are required to submit acceptable documentation of your eligibility for E.O. 13473 which includes:

All military spouses must submit documentation verifying marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage)
AND

If you are married to an active-duty service member, documentation verifying active-duty status
OR

If you are a spouse of a 100% disabled service member, documentation showing the member of the armed forces retired, or was released or discharged from active duty, with a disability rating of 100 percent.
OR

If you are an un-remarried widow or widower of a service member killed while on active duty, documentation showing the member was released or discharged from active duty due to his or her death while on active duty; documentation verifying the member of the armed forces was killed while serving on active duty; documentation verifying the widow or widower's marriage to the member of the armed forces (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage); and a statement certifying that the individual seeking to use the authority is the un-remarried widow or widower of the service member.

For more information please see OPM's Questions and Answers for Noncompetitive Appointment of Certain Military Spouses
 
(limit characters)
3. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position?

If yes, confirm:
• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
(limit characters)
4. Please select YES to this eligibility if you are ANY of the options below:
 
  1. A Current or Former Federal Employee who has held or currently holds a career or career conditional appointment in the competitive service and has never held the full performance level of the position being announced. OR
  2. Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) Eligible
(limit characters)
5. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:
• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent. For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center. 

To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
(limit characters)
6. Are you a current or former employee of a Land Management Agency and are serving or served under a time-limited competitive service appointment?  You may be eligible to compete under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, P.L. 114-47.

Current land management agency appointees must have initially been hired under competitive procedures for a time-limited appointment; must have served under one or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling  more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service.

Former land management agency employees must have initially been hired under competitive procedures for a time-limited appointment; must have served under one or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service; must have been separated (with respect to their most recent separation) for reasons other than misconduct or performance, and must apply for a position covered by these provisions within two years of their most recent date of separation.

You must provide documentation showing all required periods of service (All SF-50s) and acceptable performance (performance appraisal ratings or references from supervisors if employed for periods of time too short to require an appraisal.)
(limit characters)
7. Please select YES to this eligibility if you meet ANY of the eligibilities listed below: 
 
  1. A Current or Former Federal Employee who has held or currently holds a career or career conditional appointment in the competitive service and has held a permanent (non-temporary) position in the competitive service at the same or higher full performance level as the position being announced
  2. A Veteran who has a service connected disability of 30% or more
  3. Certain Overseas Family Members (A family member of a federal employee, or uniformed service member, who has completed 52 weeks of service in a federal position overseas.)
  4. Peace Corps/VISTA Eligible
  5. A Foreign Service Employee
  6. Miscellaneous Authorities not regulated by OPM (Postal Career Service Employee; Postal Rate Commission Employee; Government Accountability Office (GAO) Employee; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Employee)
  7. DOI or FWS Authorities not regulated by OPM (e.g. Directorate Fellowship Program)
  8. Interchange agreement with other merit systems Eligible 
 
(limit characters)
8. Do you have a severe physical, psychiatric or mental disability that qualifies you for a Schedule A Disability appointment? For more information, review USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities resources

To verify your eligibility, you must provide appropriate medical documentation, i.e., a letter signed by a licensed medical professional or licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist stating your condition and restrictions.
(limit characters)
9. Please select YES to this eligibility if you are a former Public Land Corps (PLC) Member who meets all the requirements below for non-competitive eligibility:
  • Served as a qualified youth, ages 16 to 30 years inclusive, or a veteran age 35 or younger, on an appropriate conservation project completing a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service that included at least 120 hours on a PLC project as defined in 16 USC 1723(d); and 
  • Completed the PLC service within the last two (2) years, and 
  • Possess a copy of the "Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Competitive Hiring Status (PLC)" signed by a bureau PLC Coordinator. 
To verify your eligibility, you must provide:  a copy of your "Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Competitive Hiring Status (PLC)".  
 
(limit characters)
10. Reasonable Accommodations for taking the online assessments are provided on a case-by-case basis only to qualified individuals with a disability covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

Do you have a disability (physical or mental) that you believe will interfere with completing the online assessments and require a Reasonable Accommodation?

(limit characters)
11. Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions AND you:
• recently separated (within the past 3 years); OR
• are a disabled veteran; OR
• served on active duty during a war, campaign or expedition; OR,
• received an Armed Forces Service Medal?

NOTE:  Eligible veterans may be appointed without competition to positions at any grade level through General Schedule (GS) 11 or equivalent. (The promotion potential of the position is not a factor.) 

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. If claiming disability preference, you must also submit the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.

 
(limit characters)
Assessment 1
Minimum Qualifications for GS-11 grade level (limit characters)
For each question, choose the response that best describes your experience and training. Mark only one response for each question. Please note that your answers will be verified against the information you provided in your resume or application and information provided by your references. (limit characters)
1. Choose the response that best describes your qualifications for the GS-11. (limit characters)
Knowledge of, and demonstrated skill in applying IT and IT customer support concepts, principles, methods, and practices; IT security principles and methods; a wide variety of applications, operating systems, protocols, and equipment used in customer organizations; methods and practices for troubleshooting, recovering, adjusting, modifying, and improving IT systems in order to provide advice and assistance to customers; troubleshoot complex problems; and provide support in a manner that minimizes interruptions in customers' ability to carry out critical business activities. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
2. Interact and succeed in situations where frequent modifications, delays or unexpected events arise that change priorities, timetables or assignments.
(limit characters)
3. Apply a high degree of individual initiative and judgment, in problem solving, exerting technical program leadership.
(limit characters)
4. Work with personal computers including troubleshooting and problem solving associated software programs.
(limit characters)
5. Troubleshooting and making recommendations to management concerning best practices and problem resolutions.
(limit characters)
6. Resolves customer access issues by troubleshooting technical problems related to connectivity and computer hardware/software compatibility.
(limit characters)
Skill in communicating presentations, to provide guidance to customers, prepare and present reports and technical recommendations, provide effective documentation, provide customer training, and participate on functional teams. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
7. Prepare various types of written communication ranging from technical documents, reports and/or presentations relating to customer service concepts and methods.
(limit characters)
8. Work effectively with others using organizational and communication skills to carry out duties.
(limit characters)
9. Resolve internal and external customer problems, along with teammembers as needed, to achieve customer satisfaction using listening, communication, and problem solving skills.
(limit characters)
Knowledge of, and skill in applying, IT security principles and methods and IT security protocols and requirements. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
10. Ensure adherence to established information security policies, procedures, and controls.
(limit characters)
11. Provide guidance to other information technology (IT) specialists regarding IT security matters, guidelines, policies and regulations.
(limit characters)
12. Communicate through briefings, presentations, meetings and training classes to convey all relevant information on functional workload topics including process and policy.
(limit characters)
13. Provide technical support to staff to manage computer and database needs including training, troubleshooting and solving user problems.
(limit characters)
14. Provide advice to customers on information technology (IT) security related issues and concerns.
(limit characters)
15. Interact and succeed in situations where frequent modifications, delays or unexpected events arise that change priorities, timetables or assignments.
(limit characters)
16. Keep supervisor and customers informed of work progress to allow for open communication and transparency of workload assignments.
(limit characters)
Knowledge of test and evaluation methods and procedures; performance tuning tools and techniques; and systems diagnostic tools and fault identification techniques in order to provide support in a manner that minimizes interruption to customer business activities (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
17. Ensure all IT services comply with IT customer support methods and practices.
(limit characters)
18. Conduct systems maintenance (e.g., upgrading, debugging) for continued system operability.
(limit characters)
19. Apply computer-related software and hardware to install, test, upgrade, configure, diagnose, and maintain proper functionality.
(limit characters)
Knowledge of and skill in installing, configuring, troubleshooting, and maintaining the IT end user devices used in the customer environment. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
20. Installing, testing, maintaining, upgrading and troubleshooting hardware, software and various operating systems , including Windows and Mac OS.
(limit characters)
21. Provide technical support to staff to manage computer and database needs including training, troubleshooting and solving user problems.
(limit characters)
22. Resolves customer access issues by troubleshooting technical problems related to connectivity and computer hardware/software compatibility.
(limit characters)
23. Resolves customer issues by troubleshooting technical problems both in person and in remote situations.
(limit characters)