Drive Federal IT Modernization: Become an IT Specialist (Product Owner) at the Department of Justice

The landscape of federal technology is shifting rapidly, requiring agile, visionary tech leaders to guide major modernizations. If you are a seasoned IT professional with a passion for public service, strategic product management, and technical innovation, there has never been a better time to join the civil service. The Department of Justice (DOJ), specifically the U.S. Trustee Program (USTP), is hiring a full-time Information Technology Specialist (Product Owner) at the GS-14 grade level.

This high-impact role represents the perfect intersection of strategic leadership and hands-on execution. As a Product Owner, you will navigate the complex, rewarding landscape of federal application modernizations, utilizing modern Agile methodologies to transform programmatic needs into robust, user-centric tech solutions. With a highly flexible geographic structure and generous federal benefits, this is a premium opportunity to elevate your technical career while serving the public interest.

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About the Agency: The U.S. Trustee Program (USTP)

The U.S. Trustee Program is the component of the Department of Justice responsible for overseeing the administration of bankruptcy cases and private trustees. The USTP's core mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders—debtors, creditors, and the public. To accomplish this, the agency depends heavily on cutting-edge data systems, financial tracking mechanisms, and intelligent case management software.

As part of the Executive Office for United States Trustees, within the Management Operations, Office of Information Technology, Application Services Branch, the tech team acts as the engine driving the agency’s strategic goals. Joining this branch means working with a collaborative, mission-focused team dedicated to implementing secure, cloud-based applications that align with federal guidelines and responsible technology practices.

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Job Responsibilities: Shaping the Digital Future

As an IT Specialist (Product Owner), your main goal is to serve as the chief translator between business stakeholders and technical delivery teams. You will ensure that every line of code developed serves a broader operational purpose and supports the agency's mission.

Key duties and daily responsibilities include:

• Defining Product Vision & Roadmap: You will define, own, and champion the product roadmap for assigned USTP application systems. This means keeping engineering work aligned with broader federal strategic guidelines and agency goals.
• Managing the Technical Backlog: You will actively build, refine, and prioritize user stories, epics, and functional features. Balancing technical debt with stakeholder feature requests will be a crucial component of this duty.
• Evaluating AI Capabilities: In accordance with federal guidelines and responsible AI principles, you will assess emerging AI capabilities—such as intelligent document processing, decision-support frameworks, and automated data extraction—for implementation within existing system structures.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: You will coordinate complicated IT dependencies across different divisions, mitigating engineering blocks and ensuring software deployments remain on track.
• Stakeholder Management: As the primary contact for business units, you will run regular product demonstrations, maintain absolute transparency regarding developmental impediments, and establish solid feedback loops.
• Strategic IT Planning: You will advise IT senior leadership on product strategies, UX priorities, and capital investment plans by delivering detailed cost-benefit analyses.

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Detailed Qualifications & Requirements

Because this is an advanced-level GS-14 position within the GS-2210 Information Technology Management series, candidates must demonstrate a high degree of technical independence and leadership maturity.

Specialized Experience Requirements

To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in federal service (or a comparable level of responsibility in the private sector). Your resume must explicitly demonstrate:

1. Experience defining and presenting a clear product roadmap to guide software engineers.
2. Management of technical backlogs, translating abstract business processes into clean, executable Agile user stories.
3. Managing cross-functional technical dependencies and collaborating across engineering divisions.
4. Direct experience advising executive leadership on cloud architectures, tech stack upgrades, and product investment strategies.

Education Substitution

Please note that at the GS-14 level, no substitution of education for professional experience is allowed. You must qualify strictly based on your documented professional work history.

Mandatory Assessments

After submitting your initial application, you will be required to take the USA Hire Competency-Based Assessment. This assessment measures essential soft and hard skills, including critical reasoning, decision-making, interpersonal skills, reading comprehension, and technology program management. You will have exactly 48 hours from the closing date of the job announcement to complete this required online test.

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Salary Overview & Locality Analysis

The base salary for this position starts at $107,446 and goes up to $139,684 per year. However, because the final duty station is negotiable after selection across multiple major metropolitan areas, your actual salary will include localized adjustments.

Location / Component	Minimum Salary (GS-14, Step 1)	Maximum Salary (GS-14, Step 10)	Key Factors
Base Federal Rate	$107,446	$139,684	Excludes locality pay adjustments
Negotiable Duty Station	Adjusted upward based on location	Adjusted upward based on location	Determined at the time of final job offer

Note: The U.S. Trustee Program has office presences in major tech hubs including San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, Denver, Boston, Washington D.C., New York, and Chicago. Locality rates will be calculated based on the specific office chosen during negotiation.

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Premium Federal Benefits

Working for the Department of Justice comes with an exceptional suite of benefits designed to support your health, financial well-being, and work-life balance:

• Workplace Flexibility: This position is highly telework-eligible, allowing you to establish a strong balance between remote work and in-office collaboration.
• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Access to the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, featuring top-tier medical, dental, and vision packages with significant government premium contributions.
• Retirement Security: Coverage under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension plan, in addition to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with up to 5% agency matching.
• Paid Time Off: Accrual of annual and sick leave, as well as 11 paid federal holidays annually.
• Protections under the Fair Chance Act: Your rights are protected throughout the application process, ensuring criminal history inquiries are not made prior to a conditional job offer.

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Strategic Application Tips & Best Practices

To stand out in the competitive federal hiring pool, keep these strategies in mind when preparing your application package:

1. Adhere to the Page Limit: The hiring agency strongly requests a resume that is two pages or less. Keep your descriptions punchy and prioritize high-level achievements over routine lists of tasks.
2. Format Dates and Hours Correctly: For every single job entry on your resume, you must list the official job title, employer, start and end dates (Month/Year), and the average number of hours worked per week. Leaving out weekly hours is a common reason resumes are rejected as ineligible.
3. Prepare Your Appraisals and Awards: You must upload your most recent, signed annual performance evaluation, along with any awards (special act awards, cash awards, quality step increases) received in the last 5 years. Under the DOJ's 'due weight' policy, selecting officials thoroughly review this documentation to assess top-tier candidates.
4. Set Up Your Test Space: Treat the USA Hire assessment seriously. Ensure you have a quiet room, a stable internet connection, and at least 3 hours of uninterrupted time to complete the modules.

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If you are an experienced tech leader looking to make a meaningful difference, the IT Specialist (Product Owner) GS-14 position with the U.S. Trustee Program offers a unique opportunity. By managing essential product backlogs, leading cross-functional delivery teams, and integrating modern AI platforms, you will help protect the integrity of our nation's financial systems.

Ensure your application is complete, update your federal resume to reflect your GS-13 level equivalents, and submit your package before the closing deadline on September 9, 2026.