IT Specialist (APPSW)

About the role

This position is located in the Resilience Federal Insurance Directorate Insurance Acquisition & Technology Division. Ideal candidate for this position will be a automation specialist with experience researching emerging technologies and prototyping low-code tools, AI workflows, dashboards, and scripts to improve NFIP operations and services.

What you will do

• What will I do in this position if hired?
• In this position, you will be an IT Specialist.
• Typical assignments include: Supporting the identification and analysis of opportunities for automation and AI enabled workflow improvement across NFIP business operations, customer facing services, map modernization support, underwriting, and other program areas in coordination with business SMEs, analysts, UX, engineering, and data stakeholders.
• Assisting in configuring, prototyping, and testing low code/no code solutions, AI agents, workflow automations, dashboards, forms, lightweight applications, and scripts (for example Python) or utilities to query, transform, create, or validate data and workflow outputs using approved enterprise platforms such as Power Platform, GCP enabled tools, DHSChat, Python libraries, or similar technologies.
• Helping convert approved business and user requirements into working technical implementations by supporting workflow logic development, automation and AI agent configuration, data input and output definition, integration analysis, prototype documentation, and technical hand off materials for engineering, security, and operational teams.
• Conducting market, technology, and policy research on emerging automation, artificial intelligence, digital service, geospatial, insurance technology, and AI governance trends to help the Innovation Branch remain current and identify practical modernization opportunities.
• Supporting evaluation of prototypes and AI enabled workflows for feasibility, usability, accuracy, operational fit, and governance alignment through functional testing, user feedback, AI output review, exception testing, human in the loop validation, responsible AI practices, and coordination with engineering, cybersecurity, data, UX, geospatial, and business teams.
• What else do I need to know?
• At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters, and every employee at FEMA has a role in emergency management.
• Every FEMA employee has regular and recurring emergency management responsibilities, though not every position requires routine deployment to disaster sites.
• All positions are subject to recall around the clock for emergency management operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official position description.
• Travel requirements in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically austere and operationally challenging conditions.

Requirements

• To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy.
• To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo, successfully pass, and maintain a background investigation for High risk as a condition of placement into this position.
• This may include a credit check after initial job qualifications are determined, a review of financial issues, such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs (please visit: Mythbuster on Federal Hiring Policies for additional information).
• For more information on background investigations for Federal jobs please visit OPM Investigations.
• The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees.
• If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
• Please ensure you meet the qualification requirements described below.
• Key Requirements: You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• Selective Service registration required.
• Current federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements.
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a Government credit card.
• You must be able to deploy with little or no advance notice to anywhere in the United States and its territories for an extended period of time.
• Please review the Additional Information section for additional key requirements.

Education

No Educational Substitution: There is no educational substitution for this position, and you must meet the qualifications listed in the "requirements" section of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements.

If you meet the basic qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using USA Hire Assessment that is based on the following competencies needed to perform this job: Communication Customer Service Representing the Agency Teamwork & Collaboration Technical Proficiency Accountability Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork This announcement uses the Rule of Many method under 5 CFR § 332.402.

All qualified applicants who either exceeded the cut number/percentage or tie with other qualified applicants at the cut number/percentage will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. We will provide the selecting official with a sufficient number of names, when available, to consider at least three candidates per vacancy.

If fewer than three eligible and available candidates per vacancy result, we will expand the group in accordance with our pre-announced supplement strategy and OPM policy.

We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process. *** Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed at the top of the referral list, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher.

This position is not considered scientific/professional. Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles with the same score. View information on veterans' preference.

Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP/CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP/CTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP/CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.

To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet eligibility criteria for CTAP or ICTAP; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and, 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility (see "Required Documents" section of this announcement).

Well-Qualified is defined as those applicants who are rated with a minimum score of 80.00 for this position. After FEMA completes its hiring, the resumes of the remaining candidates referred for selection consideration may be shared with other DHS Components and other federal agencies.

During the application process, you may choose to opt-in if you would like your name, application material, and assessment results to be shared. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you continue to explore other job opportunity announcements. Interview Requirement: Interviews may be required for this position.

Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration

Documents you must provide

• Do not include photos, personally identifying information (PII) (including birthday and social security numbers), or personal information such as age, sex, medical history, etc. Resumes that include any of this information will be disqualified.
• You must provide the following supporting documentation for your application package, including: Resume.
• Limit your resume to no more than two pages.
• The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.
• Your responses to the job questionnaire - You will be directed to the online job questionnaire once you begin the application process for this position.
• Submit Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) or other acceptable documentation such as a certification letter from your Command reflecting rank, dates of service, and type of discharge, which verifies veteran's status and type of discharge prior to the closing date of this announcement.
• Those applying for 10-Point preference may fill out the SF-15 and/or provide documentation that demonstrates preference eligibility.
• If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty service under honorable conditions, within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant.
• This must indicate your dates of service, expected release dates, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable or general conditions.
• View more veterans' information.
• (Note: for the purpose of verifying length and character of service, a letter from the VA will not suffice.
• A letter from the VA can only be used to determine disability rating.) Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)?
• Submit: a copy of your agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location Are you a current or former federal employee?
• Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that demonstrates your eligibility for consideration, e.g., length of time you have been in your current grade; your highest grade held; your current promotion potential and proof of permanent appointment if applying based on an interchange agreement.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, within-grade increases and accessions.
• Note 1: Examples of applicable SF-50's for submission include appointment, promotion, and with-in-grade/range increases - award SF-50's will not be accepted.

Benefits

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays.

Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities.

For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service- connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

What to expect next

Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best-qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interviews. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. If you are selected, you will be notified by phone or email with a tentative job offer.

If you fail to respond, fail to meet the conditions of employment, or fail any other pre-employment requirements (such as the background investigation), we may rescind a tentative job offer. For information on the Federal employment application process, please visit the USA Jobs Help Center.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance and U.S. Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

Additional information

If selected for this position, you will be required to attend a three-week, in-person training course in Emmitsburg, Maryland within six months of onboarding. FEMA will cover all travel expenses.

Failure to participate may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty.

False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment. The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment.

In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to ***.

DHS uses E-verify, an internet based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707.

Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs.

To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

A one-year probationary period is required for new Federal competitive service employees and new supervisors and managers.

Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions. During the application process you will have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions.

Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This is a Non- Bargaining Unit position.