Information Technology Specialist

Summary

This position is in the Division of Administration (DA) and responsible for directing the innovative internal management of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC or Commission) business, human resources, financial, technological, security, and strategic operational resources. DA works efficiently and effectively to ensure the fulfillment of the Commission's mission through continued success in continuity of operations.

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Duties

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As an Information Technology Specialist (Network) within the Network Operations section, the incumbent collaborates closely with and functions as a technical advisor to the Network Operations Manager in carrying out the agency's responsibilities for implementing a robust and effective enterprise IT program that supports the mission, goals, and objectives of the CFTC. At the full performance level, the duties include:

Design, deploy, administer, troubleshoot, and monitor a hybrid network infrastructure including LAN, WAN, SDWAN, VLANs, IPv4/IPv6, MPLS, and data center networks using routers, switches, firewalls, VPNs, and other network technologies.

Ensuring the rigorous application of information security/information assurance policies, principles, and practices in the delivery of network services.

Project planning, contingency planning, and risk management associated with network and cloud operations.

Collaborate strategically with crossfunctional teams-including IT Operations, Cloud, and Security-to architect, synchronize, and optimize enterprise network capabilities across the agency's integrated physical and virtual infrastructures. This includes driving alignment of hybrid architectures, enforcing security and interoperability standards, and ensuring cohesive endtoend operational performance across all network environments

Manage, administer, and troubleshooting M365 technologies including Entra ID, Exchange, Purview, Teams, and OneDrive. Install, test, maintain, and upgrade various network operating systems (Windows/Linux) and software; Supporting other teams on policies, procedures, or technology solutions that have an impact on network infrastructure.

Design, engineer, orchestrate, and continuously optimize highly complex virtual cloud network infrastructures (VCN) across AWS and Azure Government Commercial Cloud (GCC) environments. This includes architecting and governing Azure VNETs, network security groups, route tables, virtual firewalls, virtual WANs, ExpressRoute/Direct Connect integrations, and the full suite of enterprise-grade virtual network services-ensuring resilient, scalable, secure, and missionaligned cloud network architectures.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship
• Background/Security Investigation
• May be required to serve a one-year probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

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 four competencies listed below.

1. Project Management: Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance.
2. Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
3. Technical Competence/Expertise - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
4. Incidence Response and Customer Service- Demonstrates the ability to detect and handle network computer incidents demonstrating technical skill and the ability to follow procedures, and works with clients and customers who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces.
5. Critical Thinking - Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.

Qualifications

I n addition to these basic requirements, you must also possess one year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service.

To qualify for the CT-13 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS/CT-12 level). Specialized experience includes but is not limited to:

• Experience with designing and engineering full cycle secure hybrid (Cloud/Physical) network infrastructures using various network protocols such as LAN, WAN, SDWAN, VLANs, IPv4/IPv6, MPLS.
• Manage and administer the enterprise-grade CFTC Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) ecosystem spanning on-premises Hardware Security Module (HSM) devices and Azure Key Vault, ensuring cryptographic integrity across the enterprise.
• Architect, engineer, and spearhead enterprise-wide Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) transformations, leading cross-functional project teams through the full lifecycle of strategy, design, deployment, and continuous optimization of comprehensive Zero Trust frameworks aligned with NIST SP 800-207 and industry best practices.
• Leverage various network/server monitoring tools, interpret packet captures, perform flow analysis, and provide detailed reports on enterprise infrastructure performance.

This position is being filled at the CT-13 grade level with promotion potential to the CT-14.

Education

Please refer to the OPM Qualification Standard Competency-Based Qualification Standard for the Information Technology Management Series, 2210 for the specific Education/Experience requirements for this position.

Please refer to the requirements section of the announcement.

Additional information

This is a Bargaining Unit Position located in the National Treasury Employee Union (NTEU) Chapter 337.

Relocation: Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Probationary Period:

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• Your performance and conduct;
• The needs and interests of the agency;
• Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary/trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

More than the number of positions listed may be filled through this vacancy announcement.

The overall salary range is provided for informational purposes as it represents the full range that is applicable to current employees in this occupation/grade. A new hire's direct and overall experience are critical factors in determining a salary offer, therefore, it is important that your resume fully reflects all of your work experience. Note that the upper end of each range is typically applicable only to candidates with significant years of work experience and qualifications Please review the CFTC Compensation Program website for additional information.

The law prohibits public officials from appointing, promoting, or recommending their relatives. The law prohibits requesting, making, transmitting, accepting, or considering political recommendations for employment or other personnel actions for non-political positions. This includes recommendations from Members of Congress, Congressional employees, elected state or local officials, and political party officials and any recommendation based on party affiliation.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.