IT Specialist - Security Systems SME (1099 Contractor)

The IT Specialist – Security Systems SME will work closely with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Agency (NOAA), specifically supporting the Enterprise Physical Access Control System (ePACS) Current State and Visioning Project Manager. This role will assess and document NOAA’s current PACS infrastructure and develop a comprehensive visioning plan for implementing an enterprise-wide PACS system. PACS are systems of hardware and software that control access to sensitive areas through electronic authentication, including technology such as PIV card readers, door controllers, and various access control devices. This role ensures that future ePACS systems are secure, efficient, and compliant with federal standards.

Location: 

• Remote, within the United States

Position Type:

• 1099 Contractor, Part-time (8-10 hours per week)

NOAA Support:

• Provide specialized expertise with enterprise-level IT systems, with a primary focus on PACS.
• Document the current PACS conditions across NOAA sites, identifying similarities and differences to inform ePACS strategies.
• Develop evaluation metrics to assess PACS compliance and efficiency based on facility criteria like size, function, and type.
• Identify integration opportunities with Department of Defense (DoD) systems and other NOAA systems to enhance operational efficiency.
• Draft a high-level implementation schedule, detailing overall goals, objectives, deployment timeframe, and the order of ePACS deployment across NOAA sites.
• Conduct a resource assessment in alignment with the planned implementation schedule.
• Benchmark federal and industry standards (up to three) to guide PACS deployment and usage.

Stakeholder Coordination and Participation:

• Attend all ePACS-related and administrative meetings.
• Participate in interviews with NOAA SMEs and leadership stakeholders.
• Actively contribute to the ePACS Integrated Project Team.
• Assist the Project Manager in preparing briefings, presentations, and meeting documentation.

Business Analysis and Requirements Management:

• Conduct thorough business and requirements analysis to ensure ePACS compliance with NOAA, Department of Commerce, NIST, GSA, and other federal standards.
• Translate business requirements into actionable tasks, ensuring that use cases are clearly defined and prioritized for development teams.

Risk Management and Problem-Solving:

• Identify and mitigate risks throughout the project lifecycle, implementing contingency plans to maintain project progress.
• Resolve technical and operational challenges, communicating with stakeholders on risks and resolutions as needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in IT project management, with significant expertise in enterprise-level systems, particularly Physical Access Control Systems (PACS).
• Technical Knowledge:
• Proficiency with server-side and client-side technologies, including ASP.NET, C#, SQL Server, HTML, JavaScript, and Angular.
• Strong understanding of Active Directory Services, security protocols (e.g., PKI), and system integration within PACS.
• Organizational and Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact with customers, stakeholders, and the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) effectively.
• Government Contracting Knowledge: Familiarity with federal government contracts, security requirements, and working directly with CORs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced Certification: Certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP) or Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
• Experience with Federal Agencies: Experience working with government agencies, particularly in roles involving PACS, NIST, or similar security systems.
• Technical Expertise: In-depth knowledge of middleware, switches, and servers within enterprise-level PACS, with the ability to oversee Fiber Optic cabling infrastructure.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Demonstrated experience in working with multi-disciplinary teams and facilitating collaboration across departments.
• Risk and Compliance Knowledge: Familiarity with federal policies related to identity verification and access control, including the ability to assess and document compliance.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. POWTEC believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to our success. That contribution should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities. This position description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications, and job scope, but not limit our employees nor the organization to just the work identified. It is our expectation that each employee will offer their services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of the company. 

POWTEC is passionate on having a diverse workforce and committed to our policy of equal employment opportunity and treating all employees and applicants equally and does not discriminate against any applicant or employee because of race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, genetics, veteran or marital status, disability status, and all other groups protected by law and promotes diversity in its workforce. POWTEC takes affirmative action to implement programs and maintain practices and policies that eliminate barriers to equal employment opportunity.