Supervisory IT Specialist.

Bonneville Power Administration; Vancouver (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Bonneville Power Administration in Vancouver, WA, seeks a Supervisory IT Specialist to lead a high-performing team of senior IT professionals and drive strategic initiatives for grid software and hardware modernization.

You will oversee lifecycle management, governance, and cybersecurity compliance with ITIL, FISMA, IAM, and NERC/WECC standards, while shaping roadmaps with engineers and stakeholders across the organization.

Qualifications

• Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
• Customer Service - Works with clients to assess needs, provide information or assistance, resolve issues, and satisfy expectations; knows available products and services.
• Oral Communication - Expresses information to individuals or groups effectively, considering audience and content.
• Problem Solving - Identifies problems; evaluates information; uses judgment to propose solutions.

Responsibilities

• Direct, mentor, and inspire a team of senior IT professionals.
• Lead lifecycle strategies for sustainment, expansion, and modernization of systems.
• Oversee IT governance and ensure cybersecurity standards compliance (ITIL, FISMA, IAM, NERC/WECC).
• Build business cases and forecasts to secure funding for upgrades.
• Align roadmaps with long-term digital strategy and grid technologies.
• Lead negotiations with DOE, regulators, utilities, and vendors.
• Manage program schedules, resources, and contracted services.
• Drive IT service strategy and continuous improvement.

Skills

Attention to Detail

Customer Service

Oral Communication

Problem Solving

Job description

Duties

As a Supervisory IT Specialist, You Will

• Direct, mentor, and inspire a specialized team of senior IT professionals and technical analysts. You will set strategic priorities, cultivate an inclusive and innovative team culture, evaluate performance, and champion continuous career development to empower top-tier talent.
• Lead comprehensive lifecycle strategies governing the sustainment, expansion, and modernization of custom and commercial computer systems that monitor and control regional power transmission.
• Oversee the implementation of industry-standard governance models (including ITIL, FISMA, and IAM). You will ensure all operational technology programs rigorously comply with federal and industry cybersecurity standards, such as NERC and WECC mandates.
• Guide complex analyses that evaluate the cost-effectiveness and risk profile of repairing versus replacing mission-critical systems. You will build compelling business cases and financial forecasts that secure funding for essential control center upgrades.
• Collaborate closely with enterprise architects, power systems engineers, and technical leaders to ensure software and hardware roadmaps align seamlessly with long-term digital strategy and emerging grid technologies.
• Serve as an authoritative technical leader and negotiator in high-stakes discussions with executive leadership, the Department of Energy (DOE), regulatory bodies (FERC/NERC), peer utilities, and leading technology vendors.
• Oversee strategic program schedules, resource distribution, and contracted technical services. You will proactively navigate budget priorities and staffing models to ensure mission objectives are delivered on time and within scope.
• Establish modern IT service strategies, optimize service catalogs, and eliminate operational bottlenecks. You will drive a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring technology services directly enhance the safety, reliability, and agility of power grid operations.

Requirements

In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answer to these questions is not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration

When you apply you will be asked a series of questions to determine your eligibility for employment and your qualification for this position specifically. You must answer all of these questions completely and truthfully.

Key Requirements

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
• You will be required to report in person to the official duty location.

Conditions of Employment:

• Selectee will be required to complete the Office of Government Ethics Standard of Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OFGE450e) within 30 days of employment and annually.
• First time supervisors will be required to serve a 1 year probationary period.
• Positions located in Information Technology may be required to be 24/7 on call.
• This position has been designated as Non-Critical Sensitive, Moderate Risk, Tier 3 and requires a security clearance at the DOE "L" level. The incumbent is required to obtain and maintain this clearance level; failure to do so may result in separation from federal service.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENT:

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. 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.

To meet this requirement, you must demonstrate proficiency in each of the four competencies listed above as follows:

GS-14: Advanced -

You can perform the actions associated with each of these competencies without assistance. You are recognized within your immediate organization as "a person to ask" when difficult questions arise regarding each of these competencies. Focus is on broad organizational/professional issues; You have consistently provided practical/relevant ideas and perspectives on process or practice improvements which may easily be implemented; You are capable of coaching others in the application of each competency by translating complex nuances relating to each competency into easy to understand terms; You participate in senior level discussions regarding these competencies; You assist in the development of reference and resource materials in these competencies.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

A qualified candidate's resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-13) in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience 1) leading project teams or staff in planning, assigning, and evaluating technical IT work, setting priorities, and recommending administrative or personnel actions; 2) managing IT service management frameworks, asset strategies, or technology architecture roadmaps to align IT systems with strategic business goals; and 3) conducting cost-effectiveness analyses, developing multi-year resource or capital expenditure plans, and evaluating program compliance with technical or industry standards.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

There are no specific education requirements or substitution of education for experience for this position.

Additional information

• Under the Employee Referral Bonus program, certain BPA employees may be eligible for a monetary award for referring outside candidates for this difficult-to-fill position. The referring employee must complete the form
• This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
• This position is located in Vancouver, WA, a splendid place to live because of its picturesque downtown area full of trendy shops, delicious restaurants, and exclusive breweries. There are several breathtaking nature parks, miles of bike trails, and amazing panoramic mountain views! Vancouver is the perfect place for anyone who loves to be outdoors and really enjoys nature!

EEO Policy

Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement.

Reasonable Accommodation for USAHire:

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 reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodation 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. 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 Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments

Veterans Information

Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Selective Service Registration

Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations.

BPA strives to ensure a safe and positive work environment.

We also understand the importance of work/life balance and offer a variety of programs and policies designed to create more flexible, responsive work environments supportive of commitments to community, home and family members. BPA also supports employees' overall wellness through its Be Well program, which helps employees adopt healthier lifestyles and feel better about their work/life balance. The program supports five key areas of life: career, community, financial, physical and social.

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.

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.

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.