Information Technology Specialist

Overview of the Position The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia seeks a high achiever interested in a long-term career with the federal judiciary to serve as an Information Technology Specialist in the exciting and growing city of Atlanta, Georgia. The Information Technology Specialist provides technical support in a wide range of areas, including configuring hardware and software programs, assisting with courtroom technology tasks and projects, and providing support for complex technology issues. The incumbent also performs backup network administrative duties. The ability to interact with a variety of technical and non-technical system users, including federal judges, in a professional and supportive manner is essential. The Information Technology Specialist reports to the Information Systems Manager and works in conjunction with the other members of the Systems staff.

Candidates must be able to work collaboratively and professionally in a team environment. The successful candidate must have a minimum of two years hands-on experience with installation, repair, upgrade, and troubleshooting of PCs and administration and support of Microsoft Windows 11 and the Microsoft Office suite or have a bachelor’s degree in information systems, computer science, or a related academic field from an accredited college or university and one of the following superior academic achievement requirements:

• An overall “B” grade point average equaling 2.90 or better of a possible 4.0;
• Standing in the upper third of the class;
• Average GPA of 3.5 out of a possible 4.0 or better in the major field of study;
• Election to membership in Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma XI, or one of the national honorary scholastic societies meeting the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies, other than freshman honor societies; or
• Completion of one academic year (18 semester or 27 quarter hours) of graduate study in an accredited university in information systems, computer science, or a related academic field., Preference will be given to those candidates who possess experience in delivering quality end-user automation support to a large user population in a fast-paced, technically diverse environment and who possess a strong knowledge of PC hardware, software, and Windows workstation OS in a networked environment. Experience in providing technical support for enterprise systems including reliability, security, and operational continuity is highly desired.

Familiarity with a variety of business-grade technologies and / or concepts is preferred such as: Adobe Acrobat, Computer Imaging, Hyper-Converged Infrastructure, Information Security Principles and Best Practices, Microsoft Active Directory, Microsoft Office 365, PDQ Connect, and Windows Server.

Preference also will be given to candidates whose work experience provides evidence of strong customer service and communication skills, the ability to prioritize multiple tasks, and an innate desire to continually learn new technologies and train across multiple information technology disciplines.

• Accrual of paid vacation and sick leave days, based on length of service
• 11 paid holidays during the year
• Pre-tax benefit programs (health, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; parking reimbursement)
• Available group life insurance
• Telework (for qualified employees)
• Public transportation subsidy
• Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
• Thrift Savings Plan (with employer matching a percentage of employee’s contribution)

Employees of the U.S. District Court are appointed in the excepted service, are considered “at-will” employees, and serve at the pleasure of the Court. All employees of the clerk’s office are required to adhere to a Code of Conduct, copies of which are available upon request. All employees serve a one-year probationary period. As a condition of employment, the selected candidate must successfully complete a background check with law enforcement agencies and a check of financial and credit records. All offers of employment are provisional until a full suitability determination has been made. The Federal Financial Reform Act requires direct deposit of federal wages for court employees. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or eligible to work in the United States.

The U.S. District Court is a part of the judicial branch of the United States government. Although comparable to the executive branch (civil service) in salary, leave accrual, health benefits, life insurance benefits, and retirement benefits, generally court employees are not subject to the many statutory and regulatory provisions that govern civil service positions.

The selectee for this position is subject to a criminal record check and satisfactory adjudication by the employing office to be eligible for employment. Due to the sensitivity level of this position, candidates may be asked about their criminal history prior to receiving a tentative offer of employment. Candidates completing the AO-78 must complete questions 18-20 regarding their criminal history. Criminal history is not in itself disqualifying. All available information, past and present, favorable and unfavorable, about the reliability and trustworthiness of an individual will be considered when making an employment suitability determination. Providing false and/or misleading information may be grounds for removal from the application and selection process, as well as disciplinary action if discovered after an individual’s date of hire.

About Atlanta Rich in arts and culture, “The City in the Forest” is a leader in film and TV production and home to several professional sports teams including the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta United, and Atlanta Dream. We enjoy mild winters and a climate that allows for almost year-round enjoyment of numerous parks, hiking trails, and other outdoor recreational areas.