JOB OPPORTUNITY

Position Title: Programmer/Systems Administrator

Salary Range: CL-28/29 ($79,339 - $153,366)

(Equivalent to a GS-12/13. Salary determined by qualifications and

experience.)

How to Apply:

Qualified individuals for this “at will” position must submit the

following:

• A cover letter detailing how your experience relates to the

position requirements

• AO-78, Federal Judicial Branch Application for Employment

(can be downloaded from www.uscourts.gov)

• A resume detailing all relevant experience, education, and skills

Failure to submit a complete and signed cover letter, AO-78, and

resume will result in immediate disqualification. Description of

Work section of the AO-78 must be completed to include salary

information. Indicating “see resume” is not acceptable. Incomplete

and/or unsigned applications will not be considered, returned or

retained. Only applicants selected for an interview will be

contacted and must travel at their own expense. One application per

candidate will be accepted for this announcement. Applicants for

Vacancy Announcement 2023-07 need not reapply.

Applications may be mailed or hand delivered to:

United States District and Bankruptcy Courts

Attn: Human Resources (2024-07)

333 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 2712

Washington, DC 20001

Or via e-mail to: [email protected]

Announcement No.: 2024-07

Position Location: Washington, DC

Position Information:

Full-time, permanent, Excepted

Service, one position is available

Area of Consideration:

Open to all qualified sources

Open Date: February 21, 2024

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Our mission at the Clerk’s Office is to

fulfill the expectations of the public

and the judiciary by providing

exceptional service, while

consistently upholding the

administration of justice.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT

AND BANKRUPTCY COURTS

FOR THE

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

For questions, please contact the Human Resources Department at 202-354-3200. For a full list

of vacancies, please see our website: https://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/employment.

ABOUT US

The United States District and Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Columbia is recruiting for a

Programmer/Systems Administrator to join its Clerk’s Office team. The team works in a dynamic,

fast-paced environment serving both a Bankruptcy Court constantly leveraging technology for the

benefit of customers, and a District Court often referred to as the second most important in the

nation given the vast number of high-profile cases over which the judges preside. The ideal

candidate is a mature, self-motivated, career-oriented professional eager to grow with us, and the

federal judiciary as a whole. The candidate must also share in the Clerk’s Office’s Vision and

Mission of “providing exceptional service while upholding the administration of justice.” Finally,

to assist you in achieving all your career goals with us, we offer our staff tuition assistance as the

budget allows. Please see the Benefits section of this announcement for additional benefits.

JOB SUMMARY

This position is located in the Clerk’s Office of the United States District and Bankruptcy Courts

for the District of Columbia. The Programmer/Systems Administrator provides analysis of user

needs and the current/future equipment and resource needs of the court. The incumbent is

responsible for the design, development, and support of application software, and takes a lead role

involving software development with multiple programming languages, such as Linux Operating

System, shell scripts, Perl, HTML, and Java languages. The Programmer/Systems Administrator

manages and deploys databases; develops complex project plans; manages resources to ensure that

projects are completed on time, on budget, and to the satisfaction of stakeholders; and is the

systems administrator for CM/ECF.

Situational telework may be available; however, this is not a full-time telework position.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties include, but are not limited to the following:

CL-28:

• Serve as the system administrator for CM/ECF for the United States District and

Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Columbia.

• Administer, support, and maintain all Informix database systems in support of the CM/ECF

software.

• Test and implement new CM/ECF software releases.

• Utilize shell scripts, Perl, HTML, Java, and other programing languages to develop system

features to meet end user needs, and to maintain and enhance the efficiency and

effectiveness of locally and nationally developed systems and databases.

• Monitor day-to-day operations of the locally and nationally supported programs,

applications, systems, and databases.

• Recommend strategies to judges, court management, and the user community to determine

requirements for systems which support the mission of the court.

• Maintain contact with other automation court personnel at different locations and levels for

the purpose of remaining knowledgeable of developments, techniques, and user programs.

• Design, modify, and implement short and long-range automation improvement plans for

the court, ensuring that changes can be implemented with minimal disruption to the work

of the court.

• Represent the district and circuit in judiciary-wide initiatives, meetings, conferences, etc.

• Develop, implement, and manage large-scale and small-scale projects from inception to

delivery, including developing complex project plans, thorough design plans, and detailed

timelines.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

CL-29

In addition to the duties and responsibilities at the CL-28, candidates at the CL-29 level must:

• Consult with and provide advice and guidance to judges, senior managers, and staff of the

courts throughout the district and the circuit on current and future technologies and the

automation of manual court processes. Provide advice and guidance on technology

purchases.

• Manage execution of automation plans for major automated systems and establish training

in system use and capabilities. Perform testing, establish procedures, and devise security

systems for hardware, software, and data.

• Develop long term plans for the automation of manual processes, implementing state of

the art technologies.

• Research current and future technologies and trends and analyze alternatives, including

commercial off-the-shelf software. Develop prototype applications and coordinate with

judges, senior managers, and staff to ensure that development efforts are meeting the needs

of the court.

• Perform cost benefit analysis on all development projects.

• Provide guidance to programmers and web master in day-to-day responsibilities and with

non-routine questions.

• Monitor, review, and analyze internal controls to ensure development projects meet or

exceed established controls and separation of duties.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Education and Experience: The successful candidate must possess a bachelor’s

degree from an accredited college or university in information technology or a field closely related

to the subject matter of the position.

To qualify for the CL-28, the candidate must also possess a minimum of two years of specialized

experience or completion of a master’s degree or two years of graduate study (27 semester or 54

quarter hours) in an accredited university in business or public administration, political science,

criminal justice, law or other fields closely related to the subject matter of the position.

To qualify for the CL-29, the candidate must also possess a minimum of two years of specialized

experience.

Specialized Experience: Progressively responsible experience that is in, or closely related to, the

work of the position that has provided the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully

perform the duties of the position.

Preferred Experience: The ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing is

critical. Must have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to effectively communicate with

technical support staff and non-technical users. Must be able to maintain complete and highly

accurate records and files.

Excellent organization skills, the ability to respond to requests on short notice, and the ability to

manage multiple tasks and stringent deadlines are essential.

Must exercise good judgment, flexibility, and initiative.

BENEFITS

Full-time employees of the United States District and Bankruptcy Courts for the District of

Columbia are eligible for a full range of benefits to include:

• A minimum of 11 paid holidays per year

• Paid annual leave in the amount of 13 days per year for the first three years, 20 days per

year after three years, and 26 days per year after fifteen years

• Paid sick leave in the amount of 13 days per year

• Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS)

• Optional participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), the Federal Employees Health

Benefits Program (FEHBP), Federal Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), the

Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), the Flexible Benefits Program, the

Commuter Benefit Program, and SmartBenefits (mass transit subsidy up to $315 per

month)

• Employee Recognition Program, budget permitting

• Tuition Assistance, budget permitting

• Workers’ Compensation Program

• On-site physical fitness facility

• Flexible work schedule

• Federal Occupational Health Services Program (FOH)/ On-site Health Unit

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Work Life Services

• Virtual Learning through the Judiciary Online University

• Student Loan Forgiveness for Public Service Employees

• Priority enrollment for children beginning at three months of age until kindergarten of all

employees of the United States Courts in the Thurgood Marshall Child Development

Center (TMCDC)

For more detailed information about Federal Judiciary benefits, please go to

www.uscourts.gov/careers/benefits.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

United States citizenship is required for consideration for this position.

Employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees.

Employees of the United States District and Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia are

excepted service appointments. Excepted service appointments are “at will” and can be terminated

with or without cause by the court.

Employees are required to use the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for payroll deposit.

Final candidates will undergo a background check and must successfully complete a Moderate

Risk Background Investigation (MBI), a five-year investigation with five-year periodic updates.

Selection will be made consistent with the provisions of the Equal Employment Opportunity Plan

adopted by the United States District and Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Columbia.