Clarification from the agency

This public notice is issued under Direct Hire Authority (DHA) to recruit talent to occupations for which there is a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need. This means that we can hire any qualified candidate from this notice. About this DHA notice: -Current civil service employees will receive new appointments if selected under this DHA. -For information on DHA, please visit https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/

Videos

Data Analysis and Security

• Serves as a recognized authority for data analysis using advanced statistical techniques via the application of computer programs and/or appropriate algorithms to inform the program’s information security and associated information assurance and modernization strategies for automation and data driven risk management, ongoing continuous monitoring of security controls, and risk management.
• Consults with and advises partner agencies and identity service providers on modern/current methodologies, tools, techniques, and ways of thinking to create enduring change and advocate for and propagate adoption and application of innovative data tools and techniques to improve security and risk management across the community of customers/users of the employing program office’s identity and access management products and services.
• Determines appropriate data tools and products and/or services and collaborates with internal and external customers to define project scopes, requirements, and deliverables for a full array of data analysis and security functions to include: defining data requirements, implementing databases, analyzing data, developing data standards, etc.
• Works with other recognized technical experts within the agency (i.e., GSA) and throughout federal and/or other government entities as well as private industry to conduct reviews and develop and communicate security and risk management solution options to unique problems.

Data Life Cycle Analysis

• Uses analytic and statistical software to programmatically prepare data for analysis and clean imperfect data including structured, semi-structured, and unstructured sources such as vulnerability scans, configuration scans, the results from manual and automated control testing, and system security plans and other documentation.
• Conceives, plans, and conducts projects to include data testing and production efforts for deployment in the agency’s private and secure data storage cloud, as well as appropriate access to governmentwide agency staff necessary to support key information security, information assurance, cybersecurity, and/or risk management activities.
• Utilizes integrated development environment software for data analysis and visualization, general purpose programming languages for statistical and data analysis (e.g., R, Python, Java, Scala), data structures, algorithms, Structured Query Language (SQL; e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL), NoSQL, and vector databases.

Data Security Support

• Supports emerging IT and information security initiatives including but not limited to DevSecOps (i.e., development, security, and operations), continuous integration and continuous delivery, vulnerability management, and safe integration of emerging technology, ensuring related data needs are appropriately accounted for in the program's strategy.
• Advises and consults with senior IT experts on multiple highly complex data security projects and government and agency wide strategic initiatives. Such work includes addressing complex IT subjects/matters and resolving challenges in federal IT security and information assurance stemming from new guidelines (e.g., laws, regulations, policies) or changes in technology.

Customer Communications and Reporting

• Translates complex business logic, analytic findings, and data limitations into concise, plain language reports or other materials such as visualizations and dashboards.
• Prepares and delivers written reports and oral presentations (e.g., briefings, training sessions, consultations), and provides authoritative advice on data sources, methodologies, and analyses in discussions with program managers, supervisors, data consumers, and coworkers.

Conditions of employment

• US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
• Meet all eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date.
• Register with Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959

If selected, you must meet the following conditions:

Qualifications

For each job on your resume, provide:

• the exact dates you held  each job (from month/year to month/year)
• number of hours per week you worked (if part time).    

If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.

For a brief video on creating a Federal resume, click here. 

The GS-15 salary range starts at $143,736.00 per year.

If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected.  

To qualify, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level or higher in the Federal service. 

Applicants applying for the GS 15 grade level must meet the following requirements: Have IT-related experience demonstrating EACH of the four competencies AND one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS 14 level in the Federal service as described below:

IT Specialist competency requirements: 

• Attention to Detail - This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant keeps abreast of latest technology, information, research, etc., to maintain knowledge in field of expertise (for example, reads trade journals, participates in professional/technical associations, maintains credentials).
• Customer Service - This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant promotes or develops and maintains good working relationships with key individuals or groups. 
• Oral Communication - This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant serves on panels, committees, or task forces as a representative for the organization on technical or professional issues.
• Problem Solving -  This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant monitors current trends or events (for example, technological, economic, political, social, educational, or employment trends or events) and applies the information as appropriate.

To qualify, you must have one (1) year of specialized experience. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Implementing and integrating appropriate technology, architecture, and tooling to support data science activities, including artificial intelligence/machine learning capabilities;
• Identifying data requirements and standards to support emerging IT and IT cybersecurity initiatives (e.g. cloud computing, DevSecOps, continuous integration and continuous delivery);
• Developing models that can identify quality, anomalies, and concerning trends in structured/semi-structured/unstructured data to provide near real time feedback; and
• Developing tooling, models, and visualizations using general-purpose programming languages (such as Python) and/or tools optimized for statistical and data analysis (such as R).

How you will be evaluated

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

Applications will be evaluated against the basic qualifications. Qualified candidates will be considered in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management Direct Hire Guidelines. Applications will not be rated or ranked. Veterans’ Preference does not apply to the direct hire recruitment procedures.

You may not be considered for the position, if any part of the application is incomplete or missing the required supporting documentation. Falsifying your background, education and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or dismissing you if hired. 

ICTAP/CTAP Candidates: The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found “well-qualified" for this vacancy. In addition to meeting the basic qualifications stated in the qualification section of this announcement, well qualified is defined as: experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, demonstrated by meeting at least 51% or more of the competencies/KSA’s listed below (i.e. 3 out of 5, or 4 out of 6, or 5 out of 8, etc.) 

1. Expert knowledge in IT security theories, concepts, practices, emerging problems, and related identity access management functions for analyzing and integrating complex technical and non-technical research, policy information, and leading/best practices needed to address high priority, sensitive, and/or visible issues and derive solutions impacting the security and resiliency of interagency and/or multilevel government information systems and related technology and/or the security of operational technology and critical infrastructure.
2. Applying data management, analysis, and product quality improvement principles, guidelines, strategies, processes, and practices to accurately represent partner agency requirements and present recommendations for adoption of new methodologies.
3. Expert knowledge of data management techniques and requirements within the federal and other government entities and current and emerging data engineering solutions (i.e., software, applications, algorithms, programs, and/or services) sufficient to work with partnering agencies and/or other stakeholders in quantitatively and/or qualitatively analyzing identity access management and related data.
4. Mastery of all stages of data management and analysis project, product, and service development and related ability to provide subject-matter expertise to support and improve program data management effectiveness and efficiency and related knowledge of data analysis programs and services integration.
5. Comprehensive knowledge and skill in identity security, vulnerability management, virtualization security, web application security, network architecture and segmentation, continuous integration/automation tools, and secure practices.
6. Skill in written and verbal communications to formulate and present briefings, findings, recommendations, project proposals, status reports, and other information to foster understanding and/or acceptance to stakeholder audiences.