Department of Veterans Affairs

IT Specialist (PLCYPLN)

Little Rock, Arkansas, North Little Rock, Arkansas, Phoenix, Arizona, Long Beach, California, Los An Full time

IT Specialist (PLCYPLN)

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Little Rock, Arkansas, North Little Rock, Arkansas, Phoenix, Arizona, Long Beach, California, Los Angeles, California, San Francisco, California, Denver, Colorado, Washington, District of Columbia, Miami, Florida, Orlando, Florida, Saint Petersburg, Florida, Tampa, Florida, Atlanta, Georgia, Chicago, Illinois, Hines, Illinois, North Chicago, Illinois, 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, Bedford, Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts, Baltimore, Maryland, Detroit, Michigan, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Saint Louis, Missouri, Eatontown, New Jersey, Albany, New York, Cleveland, Ohio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Nashville, Tennessee, Arlington, Texas, Austin, Texas, Dallas, Texas, Houston, Texas, San Antonio, Texas, Salt Lake City, Utah, Seatac, Washington, Seattle, Washington, Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Salary Range: $125776 - $163514 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is located in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Information and Technology (OIT) serving as an IT Specialist (PLCYPLN) providing technical oversight, IT services, systems development and contract oversight in regard to network related issues that ultimately affect the plans, goals, and effectiveness of the VA nationwide.

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: Serves as a senior IT specialist and technical authority in regard to all unified communications technologies, including, but not limited to Voice over IP (VoIP), Video teleconferencing, and Contact Center management and monitoring. Applies an IT system development approach resolving problems as they relate to Unified Communications (UC) Technology which is a group of highly complex technologies centered around telephony, voice over IP (VoIP), clinical/administrative video, and Contact Center Solutions. Initiates and provides technical oversight to IT systems development studies and analyses (including modeling and simulation efforts) concerning the introduction of new UC technologies, products and topologies and to find solutions to critical problems in design of solutions that have national impact. Provides IT consultation and guidance to VA executive management on unusual, complex and/or controversial problems in Unified Communications. Develops UC solution test plans and test configurations, completes evaluations of testing outcomes. Provides mastery technical oversight and continues IT systems development support throughout the networking solutions lifecycle, with regard to implementation, maintenance and disposal of IT solutions and considerations. Provides IT system development services and technical oversight to critical, national initiatives related to enterprise unified communications solutions and associated issues and contributions to organizational mission of providing complex services by shaping the underlying IT architecture. Provides coordination, collaboration, technical oversight and an IT systems development approach to the analysis, design and implementation of reliable, secure and cost-effective unified communications solutions across the enterprise. Position Description/PD#: IT Specialist (PLCYPLN)/PD18683A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Telework: ADHOC telework may be authorized at management discretion. Travel Required: Up to 25% travel may be required, as needed, for this position. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm; Tour of duty may be subject to change based on organizational needs. Compressed/Flexible: As determined by the Agency Policy. Virtual: This is NOT a virtual position. Physical Demands: The work may require some physical effort, such as standing, walking, bending or sitting. The work often requires long hours to meet project deadlines and to devise corrective action and solutions to unexpected technical and/or management crises resulting in sometimes highly stressful work situations. The work requires almost constant use of a video display terminal. Working Conditions: Work is performed in an office setting. Designated Drug Testing Position: Not applicable This is a non-bargaining unit eligible position.

Qualifications: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/25/2026. Applicants must meet all requirements when a request is received to fill a vacancy. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Basic Requirements Experience: 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. For all positions individuals must have IT-related experience, demonstrating each of the five competencies listed below. The employing agency is responsible for identifying the specific level of proficiency required for each competency at each grade level based on the requirements of the position being filled. 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 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-13 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as: experience and advanced proficiency in configuring and supporting Unified Communications collaboration platforms such as Genesys Cloud CX and Cisco Collaboration products. Comprehensive knowledge of IT infrastructure to support Voice, Video and Contact Center platforms. Experience with systems development, lifecycle methodologies, and requirements analysis to recommend technical requirements to plan, design, implementation, and support of Unified Communications systems. Proficiency with web programming, scripting, API integration and associated technologies such as HTTP/HTTPS, REST and JSON.Strong ability to write technical standards and to provide oral and written briefings, presentations to key officials and stakeholders throughout VA. Experience using various monitoring tools to ensure optimization and proper voice and video operation, availability, and security. 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; religions; 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. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

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 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/12916388. 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, 03/25/2026. 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: 2026-03-25