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Information Technology (IT) Cybersecurity Specialist

Department of State
Department of State - Agency Wide

Summary

This position is located in the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Office of the Executive Director (EX), Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS).

DS/EX/CTO provides a broad range of essential Cybersecurity and Information Technology management functions in support of the Bureau’s Information Technology (IT) program.

For more information about the Bureau, visit: DS

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/19/2026 to 03/04/2026
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$169,279 to - $197,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Location
Arlington, VA
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - May require domestic and/or international travel.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
15
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Announcement number
M/DS-DHA-2026-0001
Control number
858090500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This serves as public notice for the use of OPM's Direct Hire Authority. Applicants who meet the qualification requirements will be forwarded to the selecting official for consideration. We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.

Duties

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  • Leads the evaluation, implementation, and continuous improvement of security controls and risk management practices across diverse technological environments.
  • Provides authoritative technical assessment and strategic direction for the CTO's cybersecurity posture.
  • Oversees the analysis and evaluation of cybersecurity and IT programs, applying a range of analytical methods to assess effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity.
  • Serves as the principal technical liaison between IT operations, development divisions, and Departmental cybersecurity stakeholders to ensure seamless coordination of security initiatives and policies across the enterprise.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
  • Obtain/maintain eligibility to access Sensitive Compartmented Information
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. 

Applicants applying for the GS-15 grade level must meet the following requirements:

Have IT-related experience demonstrating EACH of the four competencies AND specialized experience 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 Have at least 1 full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level in the Federal service which provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

  • Experience leading the planning and implementation of cybersecurity efforts during organizational transformations and system migrations.
  • Experience advising on enterprise cybersecurity architecture, strategic planning, and modernization initiatives across various IT environments.
  • Experience managing cybersecurity budgets to align resources to strategic risk priorities, mission impact, and enterprise resilience objectives.

NOTE: In order to qualify for this position, your experience MUST be IT related; the experience may be demonstrated by paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (for example, IT certification), as appropriate.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-15 position.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

Additional information

  • For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at (202) 663-3474 or OAA@state.gov. 
  • If eligible, situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. 
  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Under the provisions of the Direct Hire Authority, veterans’ preference and traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply. For this announcement, all applicants will be forwarded to the selecting official for further consideration, and you may be subject to assessments during the selection process (e.g., technical writing sample or other work sample, structured interview, etc.). If you are selected, we will review your resume and required documents to determine if you meet the qualifications for this position, specifically the education, specialized experience, and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) necessary to perform the work of the position.

Your resume limited to two pages serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following KSAs and other characteristics that are relevant to the duties of this position and must be fully supported by information in your resume:

  • Knowledge of cybersecurity theories, concepts, principles, standards, and practices.
  • Knowledge of laws, regulations, policies, and rules governing the protection of IT resources.
  • Skill in applying analytical methods and techniques.
  • Ability to formulate long range program plans and objectives.
  • Ability to advise on information security initiatives and policies.
  • Ability to liaise with a diverse group of partners and stakeholders.

Agency and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP and ICTAP) candidates must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for selection priority. Candidates are considered well qualified if their knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) exceed the minimum qualifications described in the announcement.


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