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Posted: April 2, 2026 (0 days ago)

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Boulder Data Center Manager

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Department of Commerce

Fresh

Location

Salary

$83,265 - $129,742

per year

Closes

GS-9 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $51,332 - $66,732

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-8. Master's degree or 2 years graduate study.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves managing and maintaining a data center in Boulder, Colorado, for a federal agency, ensuring that critical IT systems, hardware, and support infrastructure like cooling and electrical systems run smoothly and securely.

The role requires planning and coordinating operations to keep everything reliable for government work.

It's a good fit for someone with hands-on IT experience who pays close attention to details and enjoys solving technical problems in a team setting.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized IT experience equivalent to GS-9 level, including support for IT equipment, hardware, software, cooling systems (e.g., HVAC), electrical systems, or other infrastructure
  • IT-related experience demonstrating four competencies: attention to detail, customer service, oral communication, and problem solving
  • Degree in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management, or equivalent with at least 24 semester hours in relevant fields
  • Alternatively, 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office or other enterprise office applications
  • Experience from paid, unpaid, or volunteer work, including National Service programs

Full Job Description

NIST/OISM is seeking an IT Specialist (SYSADMN). Serving as a high-level expert responsible for the end-to-end planning, coordination, and execution of complex data center operations for NIST.

Ensuring that mission-critical facilities and IT infrastructure remain reliable, secure, and efficient to support both NIST and broader federal agency requirements.

This notice is issued under direct-hire authority to recruit new talent to occupations for which NIST has a severe shortage of candidates.

Basic Requirements: This standard allows eligibility through meeting either the requirements specified in the section titled Education or the requirements specified in the section titled Experience.

Education: All academic degrees and coursework must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions Undergraduate or Graduate Education: Degree in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems or networks.

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. 1.

Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail. 2.

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.

3.

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.

4. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

Specialized Experience: ZP-III- In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 level (ZP-II at NIST).

Specialized experience is defined as experience supporting IT equipment, hardware, and/or software support, or supporting cooling systems, including HVAC, electrical systems, or other infrastructure systems.

Experience in the use of Microsoft Office or other enterprise office applications. OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree OR Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

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. The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S.

Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook.

If requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site: Applicant Reconsideration Major Duties:

Working as an IT Specialist (Systems Administrator), you will support the computer facility operations in Boulder, Colorado and Gaithersburg Maryland sites, including responsibilities for multiple Boulder computer facilities, IT security, and server support.

This position is critical in maintaining IT services to NIST and other government agencies.

You will perform tasks such as: Maintaining daily computer facility operations and management, such as ensuring all equipment is operational and maintained within normal parameters.

Interfacing with data center services customers and management for outreach, for equipment transitions, and for service disruptions.

Physically making changes to the data centers, such as installing or removing data center electrical gear, power distribution units, IT equipment, and supporting infrastructure.

Utilizing proper risk management tools to accomplish this task with minimum risk.

Patching, auditing, securing, updating, and other IT security functions are expected of data center staff to meet government IT needs.

Contributing to the Computer Facilities Operations training program, which will require working odd hours to train the Operations staff who all work shift work.

Writing and updating existing Computer Facility Services Team procedures, documentation, and policies.

Managing various projects as assigned, producing project management documentation, managing resources, and ensuring deliverables.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 4/2/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 4/2/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: OISM-184-26-12923345-DH