It Specialist (Digital Advisor)

It Specialist (Digital Advisor)

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Salt Lake City, Utah, Seattle, Washington, Phoenix, Arizona, Los Angeles, California, San Francisco, California, Denver, Colorado, Washington, District of Columbia, Miami, Florida, Atlanta, Georgia, Chicago, Illinois, Indianapolis, Indiana, New Orleans, Louisiana, Boston, Massachusetts, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Kansas City, Missouri, Albuquerque, New Mexico, New York, New York, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Portland, Oregon, Austin, Texas

Salary Range: $147945 - $192331 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is located within the CTO, PDS, and SPM Services - Office of Information and Technology ( OIT) The incumbent serves as an IT Digital Specialist and reports directly to an SES position or a position one level below. The incumbent is responsible for developing and executing a wide variety of IT initiatives in support of VA strategic priorities that span across the enterprise and require the use of modern digital delivery best practices.

Major Duties:

• OIT Mission: The mission of the Office of Information and Technology (OIT) is to collaborate with our business partners to create the best experience for all Veterans. OIT Vision: To become a world-class organization that provides a seamless, unified Veteran experience through the delivery of state-of-the-art technology. Major Duties: Uses their expertise to spearhead efforts in the use of modern technology development and management approaches through the application of intensive/expert and diversified knowledge of advanced digital delivery practices, theories and concepts. Lead the transformation of critical services using best practices and new approaches to support government modernization efforts. Document how the implementation of a new system or new interface between systems impacts the current and target environment including but not limited to security posture. Serves as a nationally recognized and respected authority and Agency spokesperson on a diverse range of issues related to technology, digital service delivery, and/or technology policy. Build, iterate, and deliver digital products to evolve and deliver modernization efforts to include agile iterative development and continuous delivery. Leverage research and development centers, think tanks, academic research, and industry systems. Provides advice on project costs, design concepts, or design changes. Conceptualizes new methods, principles, and concepts to resolve broad systemic programmatic problems to deliver better government services to the American people through technology and design. Provide expert advice on the impact to the agency's programs and activities. Define objectives, develop metrics, measure results, identify solutions for continuous improvement. Provide consultation on systems or policy proposals, expanding adoption of modern technology and approaches to enable rapid execution against agency missions in improving the Veteran digital experience, and/or provide technical, policy, and programmatic guidance to VA leaders at the most senior level. The incumbent is responsible for independently planning, designing, directing, and overseeing the work to be done. Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Adhoc telework may be authorized at management discretion" Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: IT Specialist (IT Digital Advisor)/18493A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Physical Demands: The work is largely sedentary. The incumbent must process the flexibility and versatility of mind necessary to defend and negotiate matters involving significant controversial issues. May be required to work under stressful conditions, such as long hours, to complete sensitive and urgent work assignments.

Qualifications: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, May 1, 2026. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement. You must meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements, Specialized Experience and Selective Placement Factors to qualify for this series as described below. Minimum Qualifications Requirements EXPERIENCE: To qualify for this position, you must have information technology-related experience demonstrating all of the four competencies listed below. Ensure that this experience is clearly described in your resume: Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail. 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. 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. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations. AND Selective Placement Factor: In addition to the minimum qualifications described above, you must meet the following requirement(s) to be considered qualified for the position, Experience leading software projects and serving as the primary technical decision-maker, including hands-on work as both an individual contributor and a lead developer using modern MVC web frameworks, as well as experience working with Ruby and JavaScript as core programming languages. Specialized Experience : In addition to the minimum qualifications described above, you must meet the following requirements to be considered for the position: This position requires that the candidate has hands on experience as an individual contributor programmer on projects that target both Android & iOS mobile platforms as well as experience as a full-stack programmer developing back-end systems that support mobile applications. The candidate should have direct experience supporting a team building with React Native and be capable of being a lead developer on a React Native project immediately. 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those who have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

How to Apply: Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online questionnaire and submission of the required documentation specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by May 1, 2026 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12936102. The application process is as follows: To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. 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, May 1, 2026. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the 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. NOTE: 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. For more general information, system requirements, reasonable accommodation information, and to request assistance regarding the USA Hire Assessments, review the following resources:https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=USA_Hire_Assessments 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: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/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. 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 here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-01