Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

IT Cybersecurity Specialist (INFOSEC)

Department of Homeland Security
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
National Risk Management Center (NRMC)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This announcement is issued under the Direct Hire Authority (DHA) to recruit for positions for which there is a critical hiring need. Selectee(s) will receive a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service and may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.

Who May Be Considered:

  • U.S. Citizens
View common definitions of terms found in this announcement.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
11/27/2023 to 12/04/2023
Salary
$64,957 to - $122,459 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 12
Location
Arlington, VA
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term - Not to exceed 13 months with possibility to extend up to 09/30/2026.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Announcement number
NRMC-DHA-12210013-24-AW
Control number
762370900

Videos

Duties

Help

The National Risk Management Center (NRMC) serves as the Nation's center for critical infrastructure risk analysis. NRMC provides critical analytical support to CISA's mission to understand, manage, and reduce risk to the cyber and physical infrastructure Americans rely on every day. NRMC is looking for candidates who are interested in analyzing critical infrastructure risk; promoting a shared understanding, prioritization and mitigation of those risks; and collaborating with partners on risk assessments.

In this position you will serve as an IT Cybersecurity Specialist (INFOSEC). At full performance level, typical work assignments include:

  • Performing risk assessments of systems and networks within the critical infrastructure and NCF environment or enclave and identifying risks to those systems/networks based on understanding of threats and vulnerabilities to cyber and physical systems.
  • Developing cyber indicators to maintain awareness of the status of the highly dynamic operating environment.
  • Developing and maintaining a strategic plan for multiple services/products/initiatives.
  • Conducting research to maintain and expand knowledge and understanding of the operations of assigned sectors, National Critical Functions (NCFs), technologies, and initiatives.
  • Analyzing cyber and physical defense policies and configurations and evaluating compliance with regulations and organizational directives. Providing recommendations to supervisor on the selection of cost- effective controls to mitigate risk.
  • Developing policies, procedures and strategies governing the planning and delivery of information technology and physical security services throughout the organization.
  • Conducting the review and evaluation of cyber and physical infrastructure protection programs, including policies, guidelines, tools, methods, and technologies.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen.
  • Selective Service - Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service, see http://www.sss.gov/
  • All Federal employees are required to participate in Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer for salary payments.
  • DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
  • This position has been identified as a drug testing designated position (TDP) for purposes of the CISA's Drug-Free Workplace Program. All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to a drug test to screen for illicit/illegal drug use prior to receiving a final offer of employment. A final offer of employment is contingent upon a negative drug test result. After appointment, you may be subject to periodic random drug testing.
  • You must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance suitable for Federal employment as determined by a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. Since this announcement will be used to fill positions within multiple divisions across CISA, the type of investigation and security clearance level will be made in accordance with the specific position.
  • One-year probationary period may be required.
  • This position may be designated as essential personnel. Essential personnel must be able to serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of liberal leave or government closures due to weather, protests, and acts of terrorism or lack of funding. Failure to report for or remain in this position may result in disciplinary or adverse action in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations (5 U.S.C. 7501-7533 and 5 CFR Part 752, as applicable).

Qualifications

To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required education or experience for the respective grade level in which you are applying:

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.

All academic degrees and coursework must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing your qualifications on education. Applications submitted without this information may not be considered.

GS-09
Master's degree or equivalent graduate degree or two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree.

GS-11
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

OR

EXPERIENCE: Experience must be Information Technology (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.

You must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below:

  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.
AND

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
In addition to meeting the qualification requirement listed above, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower GS-grade level (or equivalent). Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Such experience is typically gained in the IT field or through the performance of work where the primary concern is IT.

GS-09
You qualify for the GS-09 grade level if you have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-07 grade level (or equivalent) performing the following duties:
  1. Contributing to development of policies, procedures and strategies governing IT and physical security services.
  2. Analyzing cyber and physical defense policy and identifying options for resolving problems.
  3. Supporting development and implementation of corrective or mitigation actions to security events or risks to physical/cyber infrastructure.
GS-11
You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level (or equivalent) performing the following duties:
  1. Supporting and engaging with stakeholders and inter-agency in developing and analyzing risk management products focusing on national security.
  2. Developing partnerships with sector stakeholders and partners to develop joint risk analysis and risk management products.
  3. Analyzing cyber and physical defense policy and evaluating compliance with regulations and organizational directives.
  4. Identifying area for program improvements supporting the development of policies, procedures, and strategies governing the planning and delivery of IT and security services.
GS-12
You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level (or equivalent) performing the following duties:
  1. Maintaining and strengthening partnerships with stakeholders and inter-agency in developing and analyzing risk management products focusing on national security.
  2. Analyzing cyber and physical defense policy and evaluate compliance with regulations and organizational directives.
  3. Identifying and implementing areas for program improvements supporting the development of policies, procedures, and strategies governing the planning and delivery of IT and security services.
  4. Assessing critical infrastructure and sectors for risks and risk management techniques.
  5. Coordinating risk management strategies and techniques with partners and stakeholders.

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.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts if you want to substitute your education for experience. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted that includes your name, the name of the educational institution, course title(s), number of credits, grade, and date of completion. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

Education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the qualification requirements. You must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private U.S. organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.

Additional information

  • Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses will not be paid.
  • Other incentives may be authorized.
  • If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.
  • This position has been designated excluded from bargaining unit representation under the national security provision of 5 USC Section 7112(B)(6).
  • When entering a federal job at a grade level lower than the highest promotion potential level, you may be promoted to more complex duties and work more independently, as your career progresses. NOTE: Career ladder promotions are not automatic, and all eligibility and qualifications requirements must be met in order to progress to the next grade level.
Reasonable Accommodation Requests: This agency provides reasonable accommodation to otherwise qualified applicants and employees with a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, unless to do so would create an undue hardship to the agency (29 CFR 1614.203 (2017)). If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, contact the CISA Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (OEDIA) by sending an email to CISA_ReasonableAccommodation@cisa.dhs.gov with the subject line, "Reasonable Accommodation Request @ CISA." In the email itself, you must include your name, vacancy announcement number(s), and state your intent to seek a reasonable accommodation. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. For more information or inquiries, please contact the CISA Reasonable Accommodation Program at CISA_ReasonableAccommodation@cisa.dhs.gov.

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.

Shared Certificate: When CISA completes their selections, the remaining list of qualified candidates may be shared with other DHS Component agencies who are hiring for similar positions. You will have an opportunity to opt-in if you would like your name, application materials, and assessment results shared to be considered for employment with other DHS Component agencies. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements.

How you will be evaluated

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

Under the provisions of the Direct-Hire Authority, veterans' preference does not apply.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and the responses you provide on the application questionnaire.

If you are determined qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.

Candidates who are referred to hiring managers may receive an email notification with instructions to participate in a virtual interview. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (I/CTAP): If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not I/CTAP eligible. View information about I/CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered in the well-qualified category under I/CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

To preview the application questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12210013

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.