IT Specialist

Position Description

Level 05 (DS Career Path)

The employee is a senior specialist in a field such as Facilities and Equipment Operations, Logistics, Quality Assurance, Information Technology, and/or in other similar areas who performs work under general administrative direction with wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment. Work is highly complex and the employee has demonstrated technical innovation and recognized attainments. The employee’s assignments are complicated by such factors as working with multiple and/or changing equipment inventory systems, facilities contracting requirements, procurement regulations, Information Technology security constraints, technical thrusts, program directions, and/or the impact of shifting political philosophies. Work at this level requires extended technical training and experience which has resulted in an intimate grasp of specialized and complex subject matter in the field, and the incumbent is considered to be a technical authority within the work group.

He/she may serve as a team leader who works with team members to successfully complete specific tasks, produce work products and services, and meet program objectives. This role involves applying leadership, team building, and group facilitation skills. As a leader, he/she coaches team members, coordinates work assignments, and solves technical problems. In this capacity, the employee integrates work processes and products, obtains resources, and maintains liaison with the supervisor. The employee leads the team in identifying, distributing, and balancing the workload and tasks among employees to accommodate the work flow and team members’ skill levels and technical specializations and to ensure that each employee has an integral role in developing the final team product. As a team leader, he/she is ultimately accountable for outcomes and results including timely delivery of quality work products and services. (Note: The designation of the team leader role, alone, does not confer a DS-V level assignment.)

Work projects or assignments are sometimes characterized by such features as extraordinary urgency, priority, or constraints, which create a need for critical judgment in making major compromises to satisfy the overall technical/management requirements. In most instances, guidelines are nonexistent or conflicting and the employee is required to develop new interpretations and procedures, which extend existing procedures and may result in precedents for others to follow. Since these new methods and/or procedures may be controversial, the employee at this level may be called upon to technically defend and support his/her ideas and proposals.

As a team member, the employee is a primary resource person in his/her specialty area and is expected to carry out the work assignment that has little or no precedent. He/she may direct the work of other employees (of equivalent or lower pay bands) who may be involved in performing segments of the overall work under the employee’s cognizance. The employee provides expertise to others within the group and throughout the activity on unique and controversial problems. His/her level of performance and expertise is recognized by management and peers as having significant impact in the specialty area of work.

Work requires coordination with other specialists, project members, and other work groups at the activity, at other activities, and/or at the headquarters level. Assignments may require travel to other commands, contractor plants, and sponsor groups at headquarters offices to discuss and resolve difficult and precedent setting problems and provide expert advice which has direct impact on the direction of assigned work.

Supervision is usually administrative in nature with the employee assigned to work for the duration of the project/program. The employee may contact the supervisor or peers on a consultative basis. Work is reviewed upon completion for further use or value. Technical recommendations are almost always accepted as authoritative and technically accurate. On operational assignments, customer satisfaction, together with recognized technical expertise, is a prime indicator of performance.

Minimum Salary

104,349

Maximum Salary

161,313