Clarification from the agency

This position is being advertised through the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Direct-Hire Authority and is open to all U.S. citizens. Under this authority, competitive rating, ranking and veterans' preference procedures do not apply. All applicants who meet the basic qualification requirements will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration.

As an IT Cybersecurity Specialist (INFOSEC), you will perform the following duties:

• Leads the development, implementation, documentation, and maintenance of Assessment and Authorization (A&A) and Risk Management Framework (RMF) processes for IT systems.
• Leads enterprise-level operational and application security initiatives to ensure compliance with Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA), outside entities, the office, and the organization guidance and standards baselines.
• Leads and manage tasking and initiatives for Security Operations, Security Compliance & Privacy Operations functions.
• Responds to and resolves security problems with software, hardware and systems.
• Provides expertise in remediation of classified and unclassified computer incidents.
• Analyzes network monitoring and scanning results. Performs security analysis of system risks/vulnerabilities.
• Manages IT Security Awareness Training Programs. Develops or assists in producing IT security policies, procedures, and plans in response to Office of Management and Budget (OMB), legislative and Departmental Requirements.
• Configures network scanning tools and performs vulnerability scanning on organization systems.
• Serves as the Information Systems Security Officer for IT systems and staff.
• Identify, track, and report cyber-attacks or incidents in information systems within a business or organization.
• Assess security risks in Information Technology systems using different levels and types of testing.
  

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use of possession of drugs.
• A probationary period may be required.
• Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/).
• 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.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• Drug Test: Yes
• License required: No
• Pre-employment physical required: No
• Bargaining Unit Position: No
• Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): No
• Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense will not be paid.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/

Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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.

To qualify at the GS-13 level you must meet the basic requirement and specialized experience requirement described below:

BASIC REQUIREMENT:
For all positions individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below:

• Attentionto Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 REQUIREMENT: To qualify at the GS-13 grade level, applicants must possess one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal Service. Experience for this position includes:

• Performs security analysis to resolve problems with system or vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with information security standards; and
• Assists in designing information security controls for applications, networks and stand-alone devices; and
• Performs software testing and acceptance processes to meet business needs.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualification requirements for the position. Under the provisions of the Direct-Hire Authority (DHA), rating, ranking and veterans' preference does not apply; therefore, your responses to the questionnaire will not be used to determine a scored rating. All applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements, as defined in the job opportunity announcement, will be referred for selection consideration. While veterans' preference does not apply in DHA, preference eligibles are encouraged to submit their supporting documentation (DD-214 stating disposition of discharge or character of service, VA letter, SF-15, etc.).

Applicants applying as CTAP or ICTAP candidates, and are determined CTAP or ICTAP eligible, must exceed the minimum qualification requirements to be referred under this selection priority placement program by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. For those deemed eligible and who meet the minimum qualifications, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions). Your resume and/or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles who are not determined well-qualified by scoring at least 85 will not be referred under the CTAP/ICTAP selection priority placement program; however, will be referred for selection consideration with other minimally qualified applicants.

• Information Systems/Network Security
• Problem Solving
• Technology Awareness
• Technical Competence
• Information Assurance

• Classified or government sensitive information
• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Photos of yourself
• Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.