Clarification from the agency

These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority for the occupation and is open to all U.S. citizens.

As an Information Technology Specialist (Information Security), GS-12,you will perform the following duties:

• Troubleshooting IT security problems that affect the availability of intranet applications and recommending actions that will minimize risks;
• Uses judgement, initiative, and resourcefulness in deviating from established methods to modify, adapt, and/or refine broader guidelines to resolve specific complex and/or intricate issues and problems; and
• Establishing, implementing, and interpreting the requirements of agency compliance with higher-level policy directives and executive orders governing infrastructure protection.

Organizational Location: These positions are located in the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of the Chief Information Officer, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Austin, Texas, Boise, Idaho, Boston, Massachusetts, Buffalo, New York, Chandler, Arizona, Dallas, Texas, Eagle Pass, Texas, Fort Snelling, Minnesota, Greenwood Village, Colorado, Honolulu, Hawaii, Irving, Texas, Kansas City, Missouri, Long Beach, California, Los Angeles, California, Manchester, New Hampshire, McAllen, Texas, Midland, Texas, Rio Rico, Arizona, San Bernardino, California, San Diego, California, San Francisco, California, Tukwila, Washington, and Washington, District of Columbia.

This is a bargaining unit position.

Note: One or more positions may be filled using this vacancy announcement. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

Salary: The salary range indicated in this announcement will be adjusted to include locality payment for selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.

View Common Definitions of terms found in this announcement.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must successfully pass a drug screen.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• Requirements by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Probationary Period: This is a full-time permanent position (Career/Career-Conditional appointment). Upon appointment to this position, you may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.

Qualifications

In order to be found minimally qualified for this position, you must meet both the Basic Requirements and Minimum Qualifications as outlined below:

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

You must have Information Technology related experience, demonstrated by paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (for example, IT certification) which demonstrates proficiency in each of the following competencies:

• Problem Solving: Solving complex or sensitive problems by developing and proposing strategic alternatives; identifying possible conflicts and shared benefits; helping team anticipate problems and identifying and evaluating potential sources of information.
• Oral Communication: Convincingly conveying complex information to customers; presenting thoughts that are well-organized and demonstrating confidence in the facts and ideas.
• Customer Service: Resolving routine and non-routine problems, questions, or complaints; developing and maintaining strong, mutually supportive working relationships with customers; conducting evaluation of support to determine quality of services and customer satisfaction.
• Attention to Detail: Completing thorough and accurate work independently, even in the most difficult or stressful situations; occasionally reviewing work completed by others.

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE BASIC REQUIREMENT, YOU MUST ALSO MEET THE FOLLOWING MINIMM QUALIFICATIONS:

You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the federal service, performing duties such as:

• Providing guidance in planning and implementing migration activities;
• Updating the organization's contingency or disaster recovery plans to respond to new security requirements or changes in the IT architecture;
• Planning and coordinating the delivery of an IT security awareness training program for end users at all levels in the organization;
• Evaluating new security authentication technologies such as public key infrastructure certificates, secure cards, and biometrics.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic and minimum qualification requirements.

Direct Hire Authority: These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. The "Rule of Three", Category Rating and Veterans Preference will not apply to this vacancy. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see: OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet.

Veterans: Although the Direct Hire Authority permits hiring without regard to Veterans Preference, applicants who are eligible for Veterans Preference are still encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (i.e. DD-214, or other substantiating documents). This position is not considered scientific/professional. View information on veterans' preference.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under ICTAP, you must be placed in the well-qualified category for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12564, and the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan, ICE is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions (testing designated positions) are subject to random drug testing. Moreover, other drug testing of employees (e.g., reasonable suspicion drug test) may be conducted in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. All applicants tentatively selected for employment at ICE are subject to pre-employment drug testing and a final offer of employment is contingent upon a negative drug test result.