Consistently ranked as the best place to work in the Department of the Interior (DOI), the Office of Inspector General (OIG) is an independent office whose mission is to promote excellence, integrity, and accountability throughout DOI. The OIG conducts investigations, audits, evaluations, and inspections to enhance program effectiveness and efficiency and to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and mismanagement in DOI programs and operations.
Summary
Consistently ranked as the best place to work in the Department of the Interior (DOI), the Office of Inspector General (OIG) is an independent office whose mission is to promote excellence, integrity, and accountability throughout DOI. The OIG conducts investigations, audits, evaluations, and inspections to enhance program effectiveness and efficiency and to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and mismanagement in DOI programs and operations.
DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled through the office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Government-Wide Direct-Hire Authority for this occupation and is open to all U.S. Citizens.
This position is located in the Office of Audits, Inspections, and Evaluations' (AIE) Information Technology (IT) Audits Unit. AIE manages, supervises, coordinates, and conducts audits, inspections and evaluations relating to DOI programs and operations, including, but not limited to, waste, abuse and mismanagement in such programs and operations of the DOI employees, contractors, grantees, lessees, or any other persons or entities doing business with the DOI.
As an IT Specialist in this unit, you will participate in work focused on improving the DOI's security posture.
Assists in coordinating and conducting assignments to evaluate cyber security controls in support of IT audits, inspections, and evaluations. This includes conducting all-source analysis, digital forensics, and targeting to identify and assess threats posed by foreign military and intelligence services as well as cyber criminals against US information systems, critical infrastructure, and cyber-related interests.
Inventories, installs, configures, troubleshoots, and maintains digital lab equipment used for the performance of security control related testing.
Uses technical tools (such as Nmap, Nessus, etc.) and analyzes technical data (such as system log files, network packet captures, memory captures) to perform cyber security assessments of the DOI's networks.
Assists in gathering, logging, and analyzing IT and electronic records and data to be reviewed or tested for security vulnerabilities.
Assists in preparing IT audit, inspection, and evaluation reports and other written communications.
Orally presents technical information to other IT audit, OIG, and Department personnel.
Performs other duties as assigned.
The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may telework with supervisory approval.
OGE-450, Confidential Statement of Employment may be required.
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Services.
Subject to initial and random drug testing.
Subject to completion of background investigation.
May be required to complete a one year probationary period
A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
Qualifications
To qualify, you must meet all education, qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
You may qualify for the GS-09 level with education, experience, or a combination of both.
Minimum Qualification for the GS-09 level
Education: A master's degree or equivalent graduate degree OR 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree. Education must be in a related field. See Education Requirements below for more details.
OR
Specialized Experience: 1 year (52 weeks) equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service of experience which included assisting in installs, configuration, and troubleshooting of IT components; basic hardware and software maintenance; and diagnosing and resolving basic IT problems in response to customer reported incidents. All IT-related responsibilities should demonstrate the following competencies:
1. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail. 2. Customer Service - Works with clients and customers 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 to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information; 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.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: If you possess some, but not all, of the education or specialized experience described above, you may still qualify by combining the amount of creditable experience and education that you possess. To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education in excess of 18 hours (total semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify.
You MUST meet the minimum basic educational and/or work experience requirements for Information Technology positions in the Federal government.
Education
If qualifying for the GS-09 level with education, you must meet the following:
Undergraduate or Graduate Education: Degree must be 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 approved by the Department of Education. See https://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.
Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States.
Additional information
CTAP/ICTAP Eligibility - Individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be rated at 85 or above on the rating criteria for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Federal This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible.
E-Verify - DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties.
Additional selections may be made within 90 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
The OIG is consistently ranked as the best place to work in the Department of the Interior and offers exceptional work-life benefits, including flexible work schedules, a robust telework program, ample training opportunities, and a comprehensive employee recognition program.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Candidates are required to possess certain Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) to successfully perform the functions of this position. Candidates will be asked to demonstrate their attainment of these KSAs in an online job questionnaire. The KSAs are:
Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Ability to learn new and complex IT-related material quickly to understand cyber security issues and how to evaluate these issues across the DOI.
Knowledge in network or application design, operating systems, endpoint protection, and foundational cyber security technical controls.
Knowledge of common cyber actor threat vectors and techniques and initiative to continuously keep up-to-date in this area.
Ability to independently manage and troubleshoot computer hardware, software, and networks, including skills in Linux and Windows client/server environments.
Knowledge or experience with IT security risk and vulnerability testing methods and tools to perform assignments in support of IT audits work.
Skill in oral communication to present technical information in a clear manner to peers, team lead, and management.
Skill in written communication to prepare reports or other writing assignments, desire to continuously improve writing skills to prepare reports and other deliverables, and interest in a career that requires regular writing assignments.
Under this Direct-Hire announcement, applicants who meet the basic qualification requirements will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration as vacancies occur at the location(s) specified by the applicants. Veteran's Preference, category rating and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply under the Direct Hire process. Your responses to the self-assessment questionnaire will be validated against your resume to determine if you meet the qualification requirements for this position. If a determination is made that qualifications and/or experience have been inflated, your score will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
The OIG is consistently ranked as the best place to work in the Department of the Interior and offers exceptional work-life benefits, including flexible work schedules, a robust telework program, ample training opportunities, and a comprehensive employee recognition program.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
All documentation, applicable to you, must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to submit the required documents will disqualify you from further consideration for this position.
Resume (required): Your resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the basic/specialized experience requirements as stated in this vacancy announcement and OPM qualification standards for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. Insufficient information will result in an ineligible rating.
Transcripts (required if qualifying with education): Legible official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Copies of degrees, certificates, and diplomas must be supplemented with official or unofficial transcripts. NOTE: An official transcript will be required prior to entrance on duty.
Foreign education equivalency documentation: Required if you have qualifying education completed outside of the United States.
ICTAP/CTAP Eligibility (if applicable): Such as a RIF separation notice, certificate of expected separation, SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action stating you were separated by RIF, or a letter from your agency documenting your priority consideration status.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Please carefully read all the instructions before you begin the application process.
To apply for this job opportunity, you must submit a resume and an on-line application through the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) application system, USAJOBS. This information will be transferred to the Department of Interior's OIG Automated Application System.
You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement to complete the following four-step application process:
STEP 1: Select the "Apply On-line" button and follow the instructions to register or sign into USAJOBS.
STEP 2: Submit a detailed resume or any other written format you choose documenting your job-related qualifications, experience, and education (if applicable). Cover letter is optional. If you submit a cover letter, you must also submit a resume. Please see the “How You Will Be Evaluated” section for specific information that should be outlined in your resume.
STEP 3: Answer the eligibility questions on-line through the automated application system. These questions will be used to evaluate your student eligibility for this job opportunity.
STEP 4: Submit all required documentation, applicable to you, listed in the Required Documents section of this job opportunity to the automated application system prior to the closing date of this announcement.
ALTERNATE APPLICATION PROCEDURES
NOTE: If applying online poses an extreme hardship, you may request alternate application procedures to submit your application package by fax. Contact the Human Resources office listed on the announcement between the business hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, at least two working days prior to the closing date of this announcement. The application package for alternate application procedures must be submitted and received in the Human Resources office no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of this announcement.
NOTE: Paper applications and information sent by mailWILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
Office of Inspector General
1849 C Street, NW
Mail Stop 4428
Mail Stop 4428
Washington, District of Columbia 20240
United States
Next steps
After the closing date of the announcement, we will review your resume and transcripts to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. You will be notified of your rating and/or referral of your resume to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. You will be informed of the outcome via e-mail. We expect to make a selection within 45 to 60 days of the closing date of the vacancy announcement.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
All documentation, applicable to you, must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to submit the required documents will disqualify you from further consideration for this position.
Resume (required): Your resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the basic/specialized experience requirements as stated in this vacancy announcement and OPM qualification standards for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. Insufficient information will result in an ineligible rating.
Transcripts (required if qualifying with education): Legible official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Copies of degrees, certificates, and diplomas must be supplemented with official or unofficial transcripts. NOTE: An official transcript will be required prior to entrance on duty.
Foreign education equivalency documentation: Required if you have qualifying education completed outside of the United States.
ICTAP/CTAP Eligibility (if applicable): Such as a RIF separation notice, certificate of expected separation, SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action stating you were separated by RIF, or a letter from your agency documenting your priority consideration status.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Please carefully read all the instructions before you begin the application process.
To apply for this job opportunity, you must submit a resume and an on-line application through the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) application system, USAJOBS. This information will be transferred to the Department of Interior's OIG Automated Application System.
You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement to complete the following four-step application process:
STEP 1: Select the "Apply On-line" button and follow the instructions to register or sign into USAJOBS.
STEP 2: Submit a detailed resume or any other written format you choose documenting your job-related qualifications, experience, and education (if applicable). Cover letter is optional. If you submit a cover letter, you must also submit a resume. Please see the “How You Will Be Evaluated” section for specific information that should be outlined in your resume.
STEP 3: Answer the eligibility questions on-line through the automated application system. These questions will be used to evaluate your student eligibility for this job opportunity.
STEP 4: Submit all required documentation, applicable to you, listed in the Required Documents section of this job opportunity to the automated application system prior to the closing date of this announcement.
ALTERNATE APPLICATION PROCEDURES
NOTE: If applying online poses an extreme hardship, you may request alternate application procedures to submit your application package by fax. Contact the Human Resources office listed on the announcement between the business hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, at least two working days prior to the closing date of this announcement. The application package for alternate application procedures must be submitted and received in the Human Resources office no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of this announcement.
NOTE: Paper applications and information sent by mailWILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
Office of Inspector General
1849 C Street, NW
Mail Stop 4428
Mail Stop 4428
Washington, District of Columbia 20240
United States
Next steps
After the closing date of the announcement, we will review your resume and transcripts to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. You will be notified of your rating and/or referral of your resume to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. You will be informed of the outcome via e-mail. We expect to make a selection within 45 to 60 days of the closing date of the vacancy announcement.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
