• Job Description

  Req#: 822531700
  View common definitions of terms found in this announcement.
  
  This announcement is issued under the Direct Hire Authority (DHA) to recruit for positions for which there is a critical hiring need. Selectee(s) will receive a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service and may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
  
  Duties
  
  
  Typical work assignments include, but are not limited to:
  
  
  Requirements
  
  
  
  
  Qualifications
  
  
  Do NOT copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
  
  To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required education or experience for the respective grade level in which you are applying:
  
  EDUCATION: Degree in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or degree 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.
  
  All academic degrees and coursework must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions.
  
  A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing your qualifications on education. Applications submitted without this information may not be considered.
  
  GS-11
  Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
  
  OR
  
  EXPERIENCE: Experience must be Information Technology (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.
  
  You must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below:
  1. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
  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.
  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.
  4. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
  AND
  
  SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the qualification requirement listed above, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower GS-grade level (or equivalent). Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Such experience is typically gained in the IT field or through the performance of work where the primary concern is IT.
  
  GS-11
  You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level (or equivalent) performing the two following duties:
  1. Assisting in conducting needs analyses to identify opportunities for improving digital services within customer agencies.
  2. Supporting development of user stories and specifications based on functional requirements.
  3. Participating in usability testing and gathering user feedback to inform design decisions.
  4. Participating in team discussions to evaluate project direction based on user feedback and research findings.
  GS-12
  You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level (or equivalent) performing the three following duties:
  1. Serving as a knowledgeable resource on human-centered design and user experience best practices.
  2. Conducting needs analyses and identify opportunities for improved cybersecurity processes, products, and services.
  3. Conducting usability testing to evaluate the user-friendliness of cybersecurity systems, providing recommendations for improvement.
  4. Employing human-centered design methods to improve government digital services based on user needs assessments.
  5. Providing technical advice and direction on system analysis, customer experience, and design-related issues.
  GS-13
  You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level (or equivalent) performing the following duties:
  1. Serving as a subject matter expert on human-centered design and user experience best practices.
  2. Creating and maintaining design systems and style guides to ensure consistency and usability across cybersecurity products and solutions.
  3. Utilizing the most effective human-centered design methods to improve government digital services based on user needs assessments.
  4. Employing a variety of research methods, including interviews, surveys, usability testing, and heuristic evaluations.
  5. Preparing and delivering presentations and reports to communicate design concepts, research findings, and project updates to stakeholders.
  National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
  
  All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

• About the company

  The United States Department of Homeland Security is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior or home ministries of other countries. Its stated missions involve anti-terrorism, border security, immigration and customs, cyber security, and disaster prevention and management.

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