Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens and Pathways Recent Graduate

Joining Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) means being part of the team focused on securing the Nation's physical and cyber infrastructure and the public safety communities against threats to public health and safety, economy, and national security.

Visit www.cisa.gov to learn more about CISA and how you can be part of the team to Defend Today; Secure Tomorrow.

In this position, you will serve as Information Technology Specialist (INFOSEC). Typical work assignments include:

• Implementing security requirements such as those resulting from laws, regulations or Presidential directives.
• Integrating security programs across disciplines.
• Identifying the need for changes based on new security technologies or threats.
• Conducting risk and vulnerability assessments of planned and installed information systems to identify vulnerability, risks and protection needs of activities
• Ensuring integration of security programs with other IT programs and services in DHS

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• Selective Service registration required.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must be able to obtain and hold a Top Secret/SCI or lower level security clearance as identified by CISA.
• If selected, you must sign the Pathways Internship Participant agreement.
• Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
• More than one selection may be made from this announcement.
• Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.
• This position has been designated exempt from bargaining unit representation under the national security provision of 5 USC Section 7112(B)(6).
• All employees are required to participate in Direct Deposit/ Electronic Funds Transfer for salary payments.
• Appointments are subject to the availability of funds. You must submit to a drug test and receive a negative test result prior to appointment to this position. After appointment, you may be subject to periodic random drug testing
• Relocation expenses are not authorized. Other recruitment incentives may be authorized
• The duration of the Recent Graduates appointment in the excepted service is a trial period
• 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

While the Pathways appointment is one year in length, individuals who successfully complete the program can be converted into either a time-limited or permanent appointment.

To qualify for this position, you must meet the following Recent Graduate Eligibility, in addition to, the IT Competency Requirement and Specialized Experience or the Education Options for the GS-07 or GS-09 level.

Pathways Recent Graduate Eligibility
Recent Graduates must have completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associate's, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from an accredited educational institution, or graduating within 9 months of the announcement close date.

--OR--

As a veteran (as defined in 5 USC 2108), who, due to military service obligations, were precluded from applying to the Program during the two-year eligibility period described above. These individuals have a full two-year period of eligibility upon their release or discharge from active duty. In no event, however, may this eligibility period extend beyond six years from the date on which the individual completed their academic requirements.

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 level you must meet the following:

IT Competency Requirement:

1. Attention to Detail - Reviewing IT information for accuracy
2. Customer Service - Assisting with IT help inquiries
3. Oral Communication - Providing IT assistance to customers
4. Problem Solving - Providing support in resolving IT issues

--AND--

Specialized Experience
You qualify for the GS-07 grade level (starting salary$43,683.00) if you possess one of the following:

You have at least one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties:

1. Assisting with hardware and software updates to systems;
2. Assisting with network monitoring and incident response; and
3. Researching new solutions for emerging cyber security threats.

--OR--

Education
You have successfully completed one full year of graduate level education 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.

--OR--

You have a bachelor's 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 and meet at least one of the requirements for superior academic achievement (SAA):

1. Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. (Grade-point averages are to be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9.)
3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.

To qualify for this position at the GS-09 level you must meet the following:

IT Competency Requirement:

1. Attention to Detail - Reviewing IT policies to ensure compliance across the organization
2. Customer Service - Responding to IT related inquiries
3. Oral Communication - Providing IT recommendations to customers
4. Problem Solving - Working with customers to resolve IT issues

--AND--

Specialized Experience
You qualify for the GS-09 grade level (starting salary $53,433.00) if you possess one of the following:

You have at least one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties:

1. Applying security requirements such as those resulting from laws, regulations or Presidential directives;
2. Assisting in conducting risk and vulnerability assessments of information systems; and
3. Researching new systems design methodologies to improve software quality.

--OR--

Education
You have successfully completed a master's degree or equivalent graduate 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.



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.

Qualifications Must Be Met
The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

• Reading
• Reasoning
• Decision Making

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Category Rating Procedures: If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:

1. Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF) and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) as determined by the job analysis.
2. Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.
3. Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. This position is not considered scientific/professional. Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on www.fedshirevets.gov

If you are determined qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. Preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11001691