TTS Bilingual (Spanish/English) Designer GS14 and GS15

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Opportunity overview

These opportunities are located in the General Services Administration (GSA), Federal Acquisition Service (FAS), Technology Transformation Services (TTS). TTS applies modern methodologies and technologies to improve the lives of the public and public servants. We help agencies make their services more accessible, efficient, and effective with modern applications, platforms, processes, personnel, and software solutions.

We will be interviewing and hiring for this role on an ongoing basis and to help navigate the process, we’ve created a guide to help explain what to expect after submitting your resume.

Language Skills Requirement

These roles focus on helping the Spanish speaking community have better access to federal government programs and offerings. Native level proficiency in the Spanish language is required as well as experience designing content, products and/or services. Experience working with and for the Spanish-speaking population in the U.S. in a design related capacity is highly preferred. Part of the interviews will be conducted in Spanish. There will also be a written assessment.

Role summary

Designers at TTS work across design contexts. They drive research activities, derive insights, generate concepts, communicate those concepts clearly, and work with cross functional teams to build and test them. They model best practices in user-centered design within TTS and across the federal government through advocacy and coaching.

Our Designers have deep experience in user research (generative, foundational and evaluative). In addition to research, we look for strong craft skills, confidence, and sophistication in at least one of the following areas: interaction design, product design, service design, content design and/or information architecture.

As a Designer, you’ll work in cross-functional teams made up of experts in design, product strategy, technical architecture, software engineering, data science, and procurement. In addition to building useful and usable digital services, you will be helping teams improve their user-centered design practice, and helping teams without those practices get started.

If you are committed to improving government services for all who need them this is the position for you.

Types of designers we are currently hiring for:

UX Design
Content Strategy

Some of the teams we are currently hiring for (this list may change in the future):

USAGov and USAGov en español: A team supporting a large web presence, including the government’s “front door” that routes the public to government agency resources.
Vote.gov: A team supporting the official voter registration website of the US federal government.

Key objectives

1. Demonstrate excellence in design, while grasping the core questions and responsibilities of at least one design discipline.

In addition to strong skill in experience design, we expect expertise in at least one of the following disciplines:

Interaction design: Define interface logic and behavior, always keeping human behaviors and needs in mind
Information architecture: Organize and structure complex information to help diverse audiences easily find what they need
Service design: Improve the relationship of the customer or user and the service provider across all of their interactions and communication channels
Product design: Develop clear and accessible visual systems, while advancing human-centered design practices
Content strategy & design: Deliver high-quality, user-centered content and lead projects from a content perspective

GS15 objectives for successful TTS Designers:

Zoom in and out. Generate high-level product strategies as well as practical project steps and considerations to get there
Support collaborative decision making by telling compelling stories drawn from research to build shared understanding
Show persistent commitment to thoughtful, inclusive, ethical user research
Deliver whatever’s needed to guide development — this could include wireframes, sitemaps, flowcharts, storyboards, user stories, or other innovative approaches
Create written materials and visual presentations that are accessible to non-experts as well as being legally and technically accurate.
Incorporate UX into agile development sprints, coordinating with visual and content designers, developers, and product managers to achieve a strategic vision
Use modern interaction design patterns and best practices, understanding that there are exceptions to every rule
Commit to making what we build fully accessible to the people we serve
Create a work environment that fosters trust, respect, and collaboration

GS14 objectives for successful TTS Designers:

Support collaborative decision-making by telling compelling stories drawn from research to build shared understanding
Show persistent commitment to thoughtful, inclusive, ethical user research
Deliver whatever’s needed to guide development — this could include wireframes, sitemaps, flowcharts, storyboards, user stories, or other innovative approaches
Create written materials and visual presentations that are accessible to non-experts as well as being legally and technically accurate
Incorporate UX into agile development sprints, coordinating with visual and content designers, developers, and product managers to achieve a strategic vision
Use modern interaction design patterns and best practices, understanding that there are exceptions to every rule
Commit to making what we build fully accessible to the people we serve
Create a work environment that fosters trust, respect, and collaboration

2. Advance design practices

GS15 objectives for successful TTS Designers:

Clearly communicate user-centered methods and their value to non-designers
Mentor and coach colleagues and partners who are taking on new tasks and roles within design and research
Share knowledge, techniques, tools, patterns, and expert advice with colleagues, partners, and the public
Promote empathy not just for members of the public, but also for our partners across the government and our co-workers
Contribute to team-wide resources and training materials, including methods, tutorials, guides, presentations, and design toolkits

GS14 objectives for successful TTS Designers:

Clearly communicate user-centered methods and their value to non-designers
Collaborate with colleagues and partners who are taking on new tasks and roles within design and research
Share knowledge, techniques, tools, patterns, and expert advice with colleagues, partners, and the public
Promote empathy not just for members of the public, but also for our partners across the government and our co-workers
Contribute to team-wide resources and training materials, including methods, tutorials, guides, presentations, and design toolkits

3. Work effectively in the federal government

GS15 objectives for successful TTS Designers:

Skillfully navigate complex organizational relationships to deepen understanding
Build inclusive, respectful partnerships with diverse groups of people
Cooperatively negotiate disagreements and mediate compromises
Conduct design activities and coach others on those activities
Demonstrate genuine interest in the day-to-day activities that keep our government running

GS14 objectives for successful TTS Designers:

Build inclusive, respectful partnerships with diverse groups of people
Participate & lead design activities and work with teammates to coach others on those activities
Demonstrate genuine interest in the day-to-day activities that keep our government running

Basic information

Location: Virtual (100% Remote)

Salary Range: The salary ranges for this position are:

GS-14 Step 1 $116,393 to GS-14 Step 10 $183,500
GS-15 Step 1 $136,908 to GS-15 Step 10 $183,500

Your salary, including base and locality, will be determined upon selection, dependent on your actual duty location.

You can find more information about this in the compensation and benefits section on our site.

For specific details on locality pay, please visit OPM’s Salaries & Wages page or for a salary calculator OPM’s 2023 General Schedule (GS) Salary Calculator.

Please note the maximum salary available for the GS pay system is $183,500

Note: You may not be eligible for the maximum salary as it is locality dependent. Please refer to the maximum pay for your locality.

Who May Apply: All United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Islands).

Travel requirement: Occasional travel may be required up to 10%-20% per year.

Security clearance: Public trust. Background investigation required.

Work schedule: Full time.

Appointment type: This is a term limited appointment with the ability to extend for a total of eight years.

Employee benefits: Learn more about the benefits we offer.

Health insurance (choose from a wide range of plans)
Life insurance coverage with several options
Sick leave and vacation time, including 10 paid holidays per year
Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k) plan)
Flexible work schedules and telework
Transit and child care subsidies
Training and development
Flexible spending accounts
Long-term care insurance
Training and development
Direct Deposit of salary check to financial organization required.

Qualifications

In addition to the language skills requirement listed above

Provide as much detail as possible on your resume so that we can evaluate your previous experience. Follow our guidance on creating a federal style resume.

Qualification determinations can’t be made when resumes don’t include the required information. Failure to provide required information may result in disqualification.

For each job on your resume, provide:

The exact dates you held each job (from month/year to month/year or “present”)
Number of hours per week you worked (if part time)

All applications will be reviewed by a panel of subject matter experts against a scoring rubric created for this role. In order to properly be able to evaluate your previous experience, we recommend being as detailed as possible in your resume and following our general guidance on creating federal style resume.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

Have IT-related experience demonstrating EACH of the four competencies listed below:

Attention to Detail - This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant keeps abreast of latest technology, information, research, etc., to maintain knowledge in field of expertise (for example, reads trade journals, participates in professional/technical associations, maintains credentials).
Customer Service - This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant promotes or develops and maintains good working relationships with key individuals or groups.
Oral Communication - This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant serves on panels, committees, or task forces as a representative for the organization on technical or professional issues.
Problem Solving - This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant monitors current trends or events (for example, technological,economic, political, social, educational, or employment trends or events) and applies the information as appropriate.

AND

To qualify, you must have one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower GS-grade (or equivalent). Specialized experience is defined as follows:

GS15 qualifications:

Experience leading and collaborating on design, content strategy, or service design projects and initiatives
Experience managing and working on cross-functional teams in an agile or iterative environment
Experience with content strategy or design methodologies. For example: information architecture, UX writing, editorial design, usability research, user interviews, contextual inquiries, observational research, participatory workshops or product design
Experience with the creation, design, or delivery of digital products, platforms, systems, or services
Experience facilitating content strategy, design sessions, or workshops
Experience leading a team of designers and training them on user centered design, content strategy, content design, or service design methodologies

GS14 qualifications:

Experience leading and completing a design, content strategy, or service design initiative, engagement, project, or strategy
Experience working on and leading a cross-functional team in an agile or iterative environment
Experience with content strategy or design methodologies. For example: information architecture, UX writing, editorial design, usability research, user interviews, contextual inquiries, observational research, participatory workshops or product design
Experience participating in the design, development, and delivery of digital products, platforms, or services
Experience participating in content strategy or design sessions or workshops