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IT Specialist (Security)

Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Chief Information Officer
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This is a Direct Hire Public Notice. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of the Chief Information Officer, with three (3) vacancies in Silver Spring, Maryland.






Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
06/05/2023 to 06/12/2023
Salary
$78,592 to - $172,075 per year
Pay scale & grade
ZP 3 - 4
Location
3 vacancies in the following location:
Silver Spring, MD
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
4
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
NMFS CIO-23-11936848-DHA
Control number
729518500

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Duties

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As an IT Specialist (Security), some of your specific duties will include:

  • Serve as NMFS OCIO security analyst to assist NMFS IT Security Program Manager in performing security control assessments of cloud-based systems and reviewing Fed RAMP cloud packages.
  • Support the realignment of IT Systems and in performing an assessment of the system boundaries and applications.
  • Develop recommendations for security hardware and software technology to best meet the needs of the organization.
  • Assist in the integration of cloud-based systems into the continuous monitoring program.
  • Identify and document gaps at the system and application level, and write security plans and other documentation required.
  • Recommend efficiencies to optimize the existing security operations and processes.
  • Prepare and present briefings to senior management officials on complex issues requiring application of oral and written communication skills and techniques.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). This system replaced the Federal GS pay plan and structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band.

The ZP-3 is equivalent to the GS-11/12. However, this position is being advertised equivalent to the GS-12.
The ZP-4 is equivalent to the GS-13/14.

Note:
* Recruitment incentives may be authorized.
*Relocation incentives may be authorized.
*PCS (relocation) expenses are not authorized.

*This position is not in the bargaining unit.

Key Requirements:

  1. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
  2. A one year probationary period will be required under the Direct Hire Authority unless you are a current Department of Commerce employee and are in the same line of work and with no more than a 30 day break in service.
  3. Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
  4. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
  • 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.
  • Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

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.

IT COMPETENCIES: For all positions, individuals must have IT-related experience (which may be obtained by paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (for example, IT certification), as appropriate) 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: 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 ZP-3 or GS-12 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the ZP-3 or GS-11 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal Service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:
  • Assist with developing Cyber Security methods for the protection of IT systems in the cloud and the development, application, analysis, and testing of security methods and systems.
  • Assist with conducting IT security plan development and implementing policy, processes and controls.
  • Assist with developing recommendations for security hardware and software technology to best meet the needs of an organization.

To qualify at the ZP-4 or GS-13 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the ZP-3 or GS-12 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal Service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:
  • Leading various IT security requirements for implementation in a cloud environment.
  • Providing technical oversight for the development of near- and long-term security operation roadmaps and defining current and future security architectures.
  • Identifying and documenting gaps at the system and application level, providing solutions, and writing security plans and other documentation required;
The full performance level of the position is ZP-4.

Education

You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: OPM Foreign Education Evaluation

College Transcripts: Submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.

Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty.

Additional information

CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

  1. A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
  2. A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location;
  3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
  1. A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
  2. A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;
  3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
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.

NOAA 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.

The Department of the Commerce (DOC) places a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspectives and encourages applications from all interested eligible candidates. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental principles that guide the Department and allow us to successfully achieve our mission.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

How you will be evaluated

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

Veteran's Preference does not apply to direct hire recruitment procedures.

Any selections made under this notice will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Therefore, Current Federal employees would be given new appointments to the civil service and may have to serve a new probationary period under CFR 315.802 (b).


We will review your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, 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).

NOTE: If it is determined that you have rated yourself higher than is supported in your description of experience and/or education as described in your resume/application, or that your resume or application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible and/or not qualified.

To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11936848

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