Job Description
The Opportunity: Are you looking to make a tangible difference while building a stable, long-term career? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking a highly skilled Information Technology Specialist to join our Columbus, Ohio team. This is a full-time, permanent federal position offering comprehensive benefits, job security, and the chance to support critical agricultural infrastructure.
Our Mission: As a federal employee, you will play a vital role in modernizing our agency's technology landscape. We are committed to excellence, innovation, and serving the American public. If you are a detail-oriented professional with a passion for cybersecurity and network management, we want to hear from you.
Why Join Us?
- Job Security: Enjoy the stability and benefits of a federal career.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Access to health, dental, vision, and life insurance.
- Pension & Retirement: Participate in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).
- Work-Life Balance: Generous leave policies and federal holidays.
Located in the heart of Columbus, our office provides a collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
Responsibilities
- Manage, troubleshoot, and maintain complex network infrastructure and server environments to ensure 99.9% system uptime and reliability.
- Implement and enforce strict federal information security standards and compliance protocols (e.g., NIST, FIPS).
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, develop, and deploy scalable IT solutions that support agricultural research and operations.
- Provide advanced technical support, training, and guidance to agency staff regarding hardware, software, and network usage.
- Conduct regular system audits, vulnerability assessments, and risk analyses to identify and mitigate potential security threats.
- Coordinate with external vendors and contractors to ensure the timely delivery of IT projects and system upgrades.
- Document technical procedures, system configurations, and incident reports in accordance with federal record-keeping standards.
Qualifications
- Citizenship Requirement: U.S. Citizenship is mandatory for this federal position.
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
- Clearance: Active Secret or Top Secret security clearance (or the ability to obtain one) is required.
- Experience: At least three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience in IT systems administration, network engineering, or cybersecurity.
- Technical Skills: Strong proficiency in Windows Server, Linux administration, and cloud platforms (AWS or Azure).
- Compliance: Demonstrated knowledge of federal IT regulations, including the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA).
- Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.