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Advanced Technology Security Specialist

Department of Homeland Security
DHS Headquarters
Federal Protective Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Service Houston, Texas.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
03/06/2025 to 03/20/2025
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$85,270 to - $132,870 per year

The actual salary will fall in this range and be based on the grade level of the individual(s) selected for this position.

Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Houston, TX
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel 1 to 5 nights per month for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
ST-12575333-25-JM
Control number
833137200

Duties

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The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a technical expert and liaison to Law Enforcement personnel responsible for explaining, responding to, investigating, and mitigating cybersecurity incidents as required.

Duties performed:

  • Conducts technology security assessments; inspects, analyzes, and evaluates building systems' cybersecurity posture/configurations and prioritizes remediation steps into an effective plan based on specific goals, schedule, and budget;
  • Prepares written detailed assessments with deficiencies, conclusions, correction of irregularities, and recommendations for building and security technology;
  • Acts as a liaison local, state, federal security officials and property managers and their designated staff to ensure effective coordination of cyber/physical security issues in federally owned and leased space;
  • Employs network security fundamentals as applied to building and system technology with the ability to identify and validate hardware, software, databases, firewalls, building, and security technology as they apply to a facility's safety posture;
  • Prepares investigative/incident reports and supports all law enforcement activities relative to cyber-physical protection activities.

Requirements

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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 or possession of drugs.
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
  • One-year probationary period may be required.
  • Must meet Time-In-Grade requirements.
  • This position requires a pre-employment drug test, and a negative drug test result prior to appointment into the position must be achieved.
  • 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.
  • DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
  • All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • License required: yes- Driver's License
  • Pre-employment physical required: Yes
  • : This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). For more information visit: https://www.afge.org/about-us/afge-at-a-glance/
  • Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses will not be paid.
  • Promotion Potential: When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.
  • Random Drug Testing: The incumbent of this position is subject to random drug testing.

Qualifications

Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Minimum Qualification requirements as noted below.

Minimum Qualifications: GS-11:

Applicant must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following:

  1. Identifying and understanding cyber threat information and how it pertains to technologies present and used in the facilities; and
  2. Evaluating technologies to identify vulnerabilities and taking remediation steps when appropriate; and
  3. Drafting detailed reports about systems and sites assessed capable of addressing a wide range of technical and non-technical audiences.
OR

Successful completion of a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or equivalent doctoral degree, or three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education (54 semester units or equivalent) leading to such a degree in a field related to the position, such as cybersecurity, criminal justice, or another directly related field that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform this work.

OR

A combination of graduate education and specialized experience as described in "A" and "B" above. If your education is currently described in quarter hours, convert the quarter hours into semester hours by multiplying the quarter hours by the fraction 2/3rds. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours or equivalent earned towards a graduate degree, in excess of 36 semester hours, and divide by 18 semester hours or equivalent. To calculate your percentage of experience, divide your months of qualifying specialized experience by 12. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.

Specialized Experience: GS-12:

Applicant must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following:
  1. Conducting assessments of cyber threats and vulnerabilities to develop appropriate mitigation measures for building and/or security technology; and
  2. Identifying and verifying system security procedures to recommend required actions to correct any problems or issues; and
  3. Analyzing threat information from multiple sources in order to place intelligence information in context for facilities and associated systems.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Only the first five pages of your resume will be used to make an eligibility/qualifications determination.

Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying). Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current employees applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. NOTE: All current or former Federal employees must provide a copy of their SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one), "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility. The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure (1 or 2), and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

NOTE: 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.

Training (Mandatory): Mandatory training is required, which must be completed, and other training may occur as necessary for success in the position. The incumbent must obtain a COMTIA+ Network+ and Security+ certification (or equivalent) within one year after EOD

Pre-employment Medical Requirements: Prior to the appointment, the person selected for this position must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties, which may include protecting citizens, taking suspects into custody using reasonable physical force in the face of physical resistance and responding to situations requiring physical agility and quick and legally sufficient decision making. Also successfully pass a pre-employment medical examination (which includes, but is not limited to, vision, hearing, cardiovascular, and mobility of extremities) given by an authorized government physician. This position may be subject to periodic incumbent examinations in the future

Mobility Agreement: This position may require the incumbent to be reassigned to different geographic locations. Accordingly, the incumbent will be required to sign a mobility agreement, which will remain in effect through the assignment's duration.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for a Top Secret/SCI clearance as a condition of placement in this Special Sensitive position. This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

Essential Personnel: This position may designate as essential personnel. Essential personnel must serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of liberal leave or government closures due to weather, protests, 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 USC § 7501-7533 and 5 CFR Part 752, as applicable). Certifications: A+, Network +, and Security+ certifications are desired but not required for initial hiring.

Motor Vehicle Operation: The incumbent must possess a valid automobile driver's license at the time of appointment and be available for frequent travel.

Education

This position requires specific coursework and/or a degree to meet the basic education requirement. You must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Your transcript(s) must clearly demonstrate the course(s) listed in the qualification requirement section. If the transcript(s) does not clearly demonstrate this you must submit a copy of the course description and/or other documentation demonstrating that the courses are equivalent.


If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Note: DHS continues to take necessary steps to keep our workforce safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic. If you receive a final job offer to onboard, please complete the onboarding forms and submit them electronically in an expeditious manner. Your start date may be delayed if the action above is not completed.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for a Top Secret/SCI clearance as a condition of placement in this ???????Special Sensitive position. This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12654 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.

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.

Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP): This program applies to Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed, or employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet eligibility criteria for CTAP or ICTAP; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. Well-Qualified includes those applicants whose knowledge, skills, and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. For information on eligibility criteria and required documentation, go to: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp

Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).

If you are unable to apply online contact CSB_Inquiries@opm.gov.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using an Assessment Questionnaire. The questions are related to the following fundamental competencies (or Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) needed to perform the duties of this job:

  • Compliance Inspection
  • Information Systems/Network Security
  • Partnering
  • Project Management


Based on your responses, you will receive a score from the Assessment Questionnaire. Those applicants who score the highest will be referred to the hiring manager and may be called for an interview. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you will be removed from consideration or your score will be lowered.

Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards as an indicator of quality of prior experience; no points will be assigned.

For Competitive Merit Promotion and Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) Applicants: The highest rated candidates will be referred to the hiring agency.

For Noncompetitive Appointment Eligibles: All qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring agency.

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veteran must 1) be a preference eligible; or 2) be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions (you must submit a DD214-member copy 4).

Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above.

To preview the assessment questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12575333

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