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Summary These positions are located in the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (OCAO), Information Technology Division (ITD), Application Development and Support Branch (ADSB). This Branch is primarily responsible for performing work necessary to plan, design, develop, acquire, document, test, implement, integrate, maintain and modify programs and systems for solving problems or accomplishing work processes by using computers. Responsibilities The incumbents serve as a systems analyst, project manager and product owner, leading all aspects of the systems development lifecycle process for custom application development projects for AOC’s internal and Congressional customers. Collaborates with stakeholders to understand functional and non-functional requirements and design intuitive, user-friendly applications to automate business processes and improve efficiency. Plans and manages all aspects of complex and highly visible application development projects and serves as the Product Owner managing the product backlog and agile sprints. The duties below are listed as a GS-14. Duties responsibilities: Systems Analysis and Design 30% Participates in the full systems development lifecycle process for agile software development projects, including requirements gathering, application design, testing, documentation and training. Collaborates with stakeholders to understand functional and non-functional requirements and design intuitive, user-friendly applications to automate business processes and improve efficiency. Works with stakeholders to gather and refine functional requirements and recommends process improvements. Translates functional requirements into design specifications and determines the best approaches for implementation within a technical environment. Prepares systems documentation, such as process models, data diagrams, and programming specifications (e.g., user stories) for implementation by computer programmers. Documents and manages features, product backlog items (user stories) and bugs. Develops test plans and scripts and oversees testing by stakeholders and others. Implements unit and integration tests and conducts functional and performance testing where appropriate. Prepares end user documentation and trains end users on systems operation and use. Demonstrates applications to stakeholders and management to solicit their feedback and approval. Project Planning and Management 30% Plans and manages IT projects for complex and/or highly visible application development and system integration efforts for AOC staff and Congressional customers. Manages and influences project activities spanning the entire systems development lifecycle, from concept development through implementation. Analyzes information systems requirements, plans the technical approach and integrates subsystems. Provides advice and guidance to ITD management and the customer on a wide range of complex IT issues related to the project. Develops testing strategies, plans or scenarios. Develops project estimates, schedules and contingency plans. Recommends the overall project plan, budget, tasks descriptions, work breakdown structure, schedule and deliverables. Participates in milestone project reviews, and monitors project activities/resources to mitigate risk. Maintains liaison with customers on technical, management and budgetary matters concerning specific aspects of the project. Product Owner for Agile Software Development 30% Acts as the voice of the customer to guide all stages of software development, including user story development, sprint planning and prioritization of the product backlog. Responsible for overseeing the strategic direction and tactical execution of the full product lifecycle for a designated product. Identifies and prioritizes features to be delivered to meet business and end-user needs. Works with business and technical stakeholders to develop and document user stories. Identifies minimally viable products to incrementally deliver value. Participates in sprint planning to determine the team’s objectives for the upcoming sprint. Prioritizes and maintains the product backlog. Ensures the team has a clear understanding of priorities and next steps. Participates in agile ceremonies such as stand-ups, story refinements and team retrospectives. Collaborates with the development team to create acceptance criteria and definitions of failures and done. Assists the team on the development of feature tests, test cases and regression tests. Technical Leadership 10% Provides expert technical advice, guidance and recommendations to management and other technical specialists in ADSB on gathering and documenting business requirements and process flows (i.e., user stories) using agile software development methodologies. Provides expert technical advice, guidance and recommendations to management and other technical specialists on testing techniques throughout the software development lifecycle. Documents and defines ITD technical standards and guidelines related to documenting requirements and process flows, prioritizing work and testing application systems using agile software development methodologies. Ensures standards and guidelines are understood and mentors coworkers who are less experienced in gathering and documenting requirements and using agile methodologies. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be able to pass a drug test and background check. Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs. You must meet the definition of specialized experience. A citizen of the United States; A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B); A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible; A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408) Qualifications Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Candidates for the GS-13 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Candidate must meet all the specialized experience criteria listed below in order to be referred for consideration. Specialized experience for this position includes the following: 1.) Project management skill in developing plans and schedules, defining milestones and deliverables, and experience estimating effort; 2.) Analyzing complex business requirements from stakeholders and interpreting and translating them into actionable system requirements; 3.) Technical systems analyst experience with basic programming and SQL; 4.) Knowledge of agile development practices for managing projects and operational tasks; and 5.) Expert knowledge of testing applications to identify bugs and ensure business requirements. ***Programming or SQL experience is preferred but not required. *** In addition to meeting the specialized experience stated above, applicants must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below: 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. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Candidates for the GS-14 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Candidate must meet all the specialized experience criteria listed below in order to be referred for consideration. Specialized experience for this position includes the following: 1.) Project management skill in developing plans and schedules, defining milestones and deliverables, and experience estimating effort; 2.) Advanced skills in analyzing complex business requirements from stakeholders and interpreting and translating them into actionable system requirements; 3.) Advanced technical systems analyst experience with programming and SQL; 4.) Knowledge of agile development practices for managing projects and operational tasks and 5.) Expert knowledge of testing applications to identify bugs and ensure business requirements. ***Programming or SQL experience is preferred but not required. *** In addition to meeting the specialized experience stated above, applicants must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below: 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. Complex Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations. Education Additional Information Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement. If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable. For more information, please visit http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp#6. If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information. DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC’s suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide and cover the cost for the drug test. The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol. The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc\_1185221678150.shtm The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or disability. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Moving expenses are not authorized. Relocation expenses are not authorized. Probationary Period - A newly appointed selectee is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency. This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol. All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.