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Protective Security Advisor

Department of Homeland Security
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Integrated Operations Division - IOD

Summary

CISA's Integrated Operations Division (IOD) is the hub for staying on top of threats and emerging risks to our nation's critical infrastructure. IOD coordinates situational awareness and response to national cyber, communications, and physical incidents. The Protective Security Advisor combines all aspects of security.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/04/2026 to 05/15/2026
Salary
$90,925 - $139,684 per year

Salary range listed reflects the GS base rate (not including locality pay), see the "Additional Information" section of the announcement for details.

Pay scale & grade
GS 13 - 14
Locations
Denver, CO
1 vacancy
Military Spouses and U.S. Foreign Service Spouses Only
Location Negotiable After Selection
1 vacancy
Kansas City, MO
1 vacancy
Charlotte, NC
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
IOD-MP-12952357-26-LH
Control number
867830400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

• Current or former competitive service federal employees with career or career-conditional tenure • Surplus or Displaced (CTAP or ICTAP) • Land Management • Individuals with Disabilities • Military Spouses • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) • 30% or More Disabled Veterans • Peace Corps & AmeriCorps VISTA • Interchange Agreements with Other Merit Systems • Foreign Service Employees • Certain Former Overseas Employees

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Duties

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The primary purpose of the position is to serve as a Protective Security Advisor (PSA) assigned within a Region and responsible for a designated District. The Protective Security Advisor (PSA) is recognized as an expert on key critical infrastructure security and resiliency efforts.

Typical work assignments include, but are not limited to:

  • Plan, coordinate, and conduct security surveys and assessments - conduct voluntary, non-regulatory security surveys and assessments on critical infrastructure assets and facilities within their respective regions.
  • Plan and conduct outreach activities - conduct outreach activities with critical infrastructure owners and operators, community groups, and faith-based organizations in support of CISA priorities.
  • Frequently assists organizations in understanding the impact of implementing and sustaining a dedicated cyber defense infrastructure.
  • Support National Special Security Events (NSSE) and Special Event Activity Rating (SEAR) events - support Federal, State, and local officials responsible for planning, leading, and coordinating NSSE and SEAR events.
  • Shares strategies, based on emerging threats, needs and gaps with FSLTT officials to facilitate the development and improvement of local policies, procedures, and directives related to critical infrastructure protection programs.
  • Assess key critical infrastructure through high level coordination with FSLTT officials responsible for critical infrastructure protection.
  • Serves as an advisor to FSLTT and private sector officials on security and resilience policies, assessments, and measures to protect nationally and regionally significant critical infrastructure.
  • Serves as a technical authority with regards to findings and recommendations from these assessments, which have a direct influence on investment decision-making and facility security and resilience enhancements.
  • Respond to incidents - plan for and, when directed, deploy to Unified Area Command Groups, Joint Operations Centers, Federal Emergency Management Agency Regional Response Coordination Centers, and/or State and local Emergency Operations Centers in response to natural or man-made incidents.
  • Coordinate and support improvised explosive device awareness and risk mitigation training - work in conjunction with CISA's Office for Bombing Prevention by coordinating training and materials to State, local, tribal, and territorial partners to assist them in deterring, detecting, preventing, protecting against, and responding to improvised explosive device threats.


Military Spouses Only & U.S. Foreign Service Spouse: This position is remote work and telework eligible consistent with the Agency's telework and remote work program policy. Applicants who live within the local commuting area (i.e., a 50-mile or less radius from Glebe Road, Arlington VA (not driving distance)) are eligible for 100% telework in accordance with agency policy

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen.
  • Complete the initial online assessment and USA Hire Assessment, if required.
  • Selective Service - Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service see http://www.sss.gov/
  • All Federal employees are required to participate in Direct Deposit/ Electronic Funds Transfer for salary payments.
  • DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
  • You must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance suitable for Federal employment as determined by 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.
  • Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements.
  • One-year probationary period may be required.
  • 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).
  • This position has been identified as a drug testing designated position (TDP) for purposes of the CISA's Drug-Free Workplace Program. All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to a drug test to screen for illicit/illegal drug use prior to receiving a final offer of employment. A final offer of employment is contingent upon a negative drug test result. After appointment, you may be subject to periodic random drug testing.
  • The incumbent must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license.
  • Due to frequent travel requirements, selectee must reside within 50 miles of the location identified in the announcement. Locality pay will be based on the duty location.

Qualifications

Do NOT copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. Your resume must describe your work and experience, in your own words.

To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required experience for the respective grade level in which you are applying.

You qualify for the GS-13 grade level, if you have:
EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level (or equivalent) performing the following duties:

  1. Reviewing, interpreting, and implementing a variety of policies, procedures, and directives relative to the protection of critical infrastructure;
  2. Preparing written reports of findings and recommendations for improving security plans and procedures; and
  3. Analyzing, investigating, and assessing critical infrastructure physical security and resilience processes, procedures, dependencies, interdependencies and vulnerabilities for critical infrastructure facilities, systems and protection programs.
You qualify for the GS-14 grade level, if you have:
EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-13 grade level (or equivalent) performing the following duties:
  1. Serving as a strategic, operational and technical authority in advising critical infrastructure partners, owners and operators, and officials on security and resilience improvements to reduce vulnerability and risk;
  2. Building trusted partnerships in order to provide tools, training, programs and resources to enhance security and resilience;
  3. Coordinating and collaborating with high-level executives in response to, and recovery from, natural or man-made incidents in accordance with the National Response Framework; and
  4. Coordinating physical security protective measures and procedures for critical infrastructure programs.


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.

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 (GS) 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). NOTE: Current or former GS federal civilian employees, within the previous 52 weeks, applying for a position under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) must meet time-in-grade requirements.

Time After Competitive Appointment: By the closing date specified in this job announcement, current Federal civilian employees must wait at least 90 days after their latest non-temporary appointment from a competitive service referral certificate before promotion, transfer, reinstatement, reassignment, or detail.

All qualification requirements, including Time-in-Grade, must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification AND Time-in-Grade claims will be subject to verification.

Education

No Educational Substitution: There is no substitution of education for experience at this grade level. You must meet the qualifications listed in the "Requirements" section of this announcement.

Additional information

  • Other incentives may be authorized.
  • 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, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.
  • Additional vacancies may be filled with this announcement.
  • A one-year probationary period may be required during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. We may consider your performance and conduct, the needs and interests of the agency, whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government, and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
  • The salary range indicated in this announcement reflects the minimum base pay, GS-13, step 1 up to the maximum base pay, GS-14, step 10. This announcement covers multiple locations. The actual salary will be adjusted based on the grade, step, and locality for the selectee's duty location. Military Spouses & U.S. Foreign Service Spouse Only: The remote worker's locality pay is based on the location of the employee's residence. General Schedule (GS) locality pay tables may be found at Salaries & Wages.
  • If selected below the full performance level, you may be noncompetitively promoted to the next higher grade level after meeting all regulatory requirements, and upon the recommendation of management. Promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

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.

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.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all 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
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Influencing/Negotiating
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork


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

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

For Non-competitive Appointment Eligibles: All qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring agency.

Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (I/CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not I/CTAP eligible. View information about I/CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well-qualified under I/CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement.

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. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement. (Note: Veteran's preference does not apply under Merit Promotion procedures.)

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. 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 or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

To preview the application questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12952357

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling on those who want to help protect American interests and secure our Nation. DHS Components work collectively to prevent terrorism; secure borders and our transportation systems; protect the President and other dignitaries; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters. We achieve these vital missions through a diverse workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) leads the national effort to defend critical infrastructure against the threats of today, while working with partners across all levels of government and in the private sector to secure against the evolving risks of tomorrow. CISA's mission includes protecting the Federal Government's networks and physical infrastructure, to helping entities in the public and private sectors manage potential risk, to enhancing public safety communications at all levels of government. CISA's multi-faceted mission is home to a wide range of career fields including cybersecurity, program management, business administration, communications, and data science.

Joining CISA means being part of the team focused on securing the Nation's physical and cyber infrastructure against threats to public health and safety, economy, and national security; we Defend Today, Secure Tomorrow.

Agency contact information

Latreisha Hamilton
Phone
202-550-1787
Email
latreisha.hamilton@cisa.dhs.gov
Address
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
1110 N Glebe Rd
Arlington, VA 22201
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.cisa.gov/careers

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