We are seeking a highly qualified and motivated individual to serve as an IT Cybersecurity Specialist/Security Engineer in the GSA Office of Inspector General (OIG) Information Technology Division, supporting the operations and maintenance of the cyber defense suite of the OIG. This position will report directly to the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).
We are currently filling one vacancy in Washington, DC, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.
Summary
We are seeking a highly qualified and motivated individual to serve as an IT Cybersecurity Specialist/Security Engineer in the GSA Office of Inspector General (OIG) Information Technology Division, supporting the operations and maintenance of the cyber defense suite of the OIG. This position will report directly to the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).
We are currently filling one vacancy in Washington, DC, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.
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 or any other source.
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/
Ensures the confidentiality, integrity and availability of systems, networks, and data through the planning, analysis, development, implementation, maintenance, and enhancement of information systems security program, policies, procedures, and tools.
Supports cybersecurity operations for IT networks, systems, and cloud platforms by applying cybersecurity policies and security engineering principles, including identity and access management, encryption, continuous monitoring, secure configuration, and automation.
Contributes to the analysis, planning, and support of OIG's enterprise IT framework; provides input to cloud modernization, automation initiatives, and digital transformation efforts in alignment with organizational goals.
Supports the planning, design, implementation, optimization, and maintenance of networked and cloud systems.
Administers enterprise security tools, to include but not limited to firewalls, VPN gateways, zero-trust technologies, MFA services, & DLP.
Ensures necessary security controls are in place and operate as intended; advising users of risks to systems and assessing risk; completes and maintains appropriate security documentation including systems security plans.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the General Services Administration (GSA) is one of the original OIGs established by the Inspector General Act of 1978. The OIGs were created as independent and objective entities within an agency to (a) promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration of the agency, and (b) to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in agency programs and operations. The OIGs report to the agency head and Congress through semi-annual and other reports. The GSA OIG operates as an autonomous entity within GSA under a presidentially appointed, Senate confirmed Inspector General who supervises a diverse team of approximately 300 professionals in headquarters' administrative, legal, and operational components and in regional operational offices throughout the country. The GSA OIG is dedicated to protecting the public interest by bringing about positive changes in the performance, accountability, and integrity of GSA programs and operations. Oversight is provided through auditing, inspections and evaluations, and investigations of GSA extensive procurement, real property, and related programs and operations, which primarily support other federal agencies. OIG oversight components report their findings and recommend courses of action to promote efficiency and economy in the GSA’s activities. Applicants are encouraged to review the work and accomplishments of the GSA OIG on our website, https://www.gsaig.gov/.
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:
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 or NonCareer SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
Serve a one year probationary period, if required.
Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 3 investigation level).
Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA OIG employee. We will use the Department of Homeland Security’s e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.
Complete a financial disclosure report to verify that no conflict, or an appearance of conflict, exists between your financial interest and this position.
Qualifications
The GS-13 salary range starts at $121,785 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 meet the following requirements: Have IT-related experience demonstrating EACH of the nine IT Specialist competencies AND one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service as described below:
IT SPECIALIST COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS:
Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
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.
Decision Making - Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
Information Management - Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organizes and maintains information or information management systems.
Interpersonal Skills - Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations
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.
Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
Teamwork - Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues. Technical competence includes sufficient knowledge and skills in IT security as defined by the specialized experience requirements outlined for this position.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: Specialized experience is:
Working independently or in a team with work relating to systems engineering with Windows servers, Virtualization, Routing and Switching, Databases, Firewalls, Virtual Private Networking, Windows and Linux Operating systems, and SASE products.
Providing technical advice, guidance, and recommendations to management and other technical specialists on critical IT issues - including information security.
Experience with Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)
Applying security requirements such as the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA), Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), NIST 800-53, and other applicable federal requirements for assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring.
Interpreting and applying policies, procedures, and strategies that govern the planning and delivery of IT services.
Managing network scans, log reviews, IDS configurations, and AV/Malware flags
Experience with security analysis toolsets, information security concepts, principles and practices
Configuring and managing firewalls, intrusion detection systems, anti-virus software, data encryption, and other industry-standard techniques and practices at an enterprise level.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.
Applicants are encouraged to make their resume searchable in their USAJOBS.gov profile. This will allow Federal hiring specialists and hiring managers across agencies to find their resume as part of agency recruitment campaigns or staffing searches.
Current civil service employees will receive new appointments if selected under this Direct Hire Authority.
If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the OIG HR point of contact listed on this vacancy announcement.
Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility.
In the event that this position cannot be filled by the initial selection, alternate selections may be made from this announcement. Management also has the right to not fill this position or to fill additional vacancies through this announcement as needed.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Health insurance (choose from a wide range of plans)
Life insurance coverage with several options
Sick leave and vacation time, including 11 paid holidays per year
Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k) plan)
Flexible work schedules
Transit and child care subsidies
Flexible spending accounts
Training and development
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applications will be assessed by a panel or one or more Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to identify applicants who have the level of proficiency needed for successful job performance in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management Direct Hire Guidelines. Following the competency-based structured review of resumes and application responses, fully qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration.
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 specialized experience requirements stated in the qualification section of this announcement, well qualified is defined as: experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, demonstrated by possession of all competencies required for the position at a proficiency that exceeds the minimum expectations. This will be determined based upon the SME review of your resume and application responses against the competencies outlined above in the qualifications section of this announcement.
Demonstration of the competencies must be supported by your resume and application responses. Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) may be utilized in the evaluation of qualifications and KSAs.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Health insurance (choose from a wide range of plans)
Life insurance coverage with several options
Sick leave and vacation time, including 11 paid holidays per year
Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k) plan)
Flexible work schedules
Transit and child care subsidies
Flexible spending accounts
Training and development
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date. Review the following list to determine what you need to submit.
Resume: Your resume should not exceed 2 pages and must demonstrate the specialized experience related to the position for which you are applying. Your resume must contain the following information:
Name, address, telephone number, email address;
Job Title (if Federal Service, provide series and grade; if not in GS plan, provide GS equivalent grade);
Relevant work experience—should include employer name, job title, start and end dates (month/year), the number of hours worked per week and descriptions that explain how you meet the required qualifications in the job announcement.
Education, certifications or licensures—If the job announcement requires any education, certifications or licensures, make sure to include the required information and any required documents like transcripts.
Your resume should contain enough information to make a valid determination that you fully meet experience requirements for each grade level you are applying to. If you do not provide enough information for us to determine your qualifications, you may be rated ineligible.
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.
If you are ICTAP/CTAPeligible - submit a, b, and c: (a) proof of eligibility including agency notice; (b) SF-50, and (c) most recent performance appraisal.
Current or Former Federal Employees: Submit most recent SF-50.
Current or Former Political Appointees: Submit SF-50 from political appointment.
Submit a complete online application including any required documents prior to 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement. You can modify or complete your application any time before the deadline. Simply return to USAJOBS, select the vacancy, and update your application. For more detailed instructions on how to apply, click here: Apply for a GSA Job.
If you are having issues applying to this announcement, you should switch to a different browser, network or device. Note: Your firewall may block your transfer from USAJOBS to your GSA application.
To begin, click the Apply Online button on the vacancy announcement.
Sign in or register on USAJobs and select a resume and documents to include in your application.
Resumes exceeding two pages will not be accepted by USAJOBS and will prevent your application from moving forward in the hiring process. Please see Required Documents for additional details.
Once you have clicked Apply for this position now, you will be taken to the GSA site to complete the application process.
Click the Apply To This Vacancy and complete all steps in the application process until the Confirmation indicates your application is complete. If you click Return to USAJobs or get timed out prior to receiving confirmation, your application will not be submitted and cannot be considered for this job.
Note: Review the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section of this announcement to determine which apply to you and must be submitted online. You may choose one or more of the following options to submit your document(s): Upload (from your computer) or USAJOBS (click the "USAJOBS" link to complete the transfer process).
Need Assistance?
Questions or issues completing an application and/or submitting documentation - contact fedhirehelp@applygovernment.com or 1-866-656-6831 Monday-Friday 7AM - 7PM EST, except for Federal holidays
Specific questions on the position - contact the HR representative (Monday-Friday during normal business hours) listed on the announcement, prior to the application deadline
You must receive HR approval before deviating from these instructions.
Be sure to APPLY EARLY as most assessments must be completed fully and submitted before the announcement closing.
GSA, Office of Inspector General
OIG Human Resources Division (JPH)
Washington, District of Columbia 20405
United States
Next steps
After the closing date/deadline:
ELIGIBILITY/QUALIFICATIONS: Your application will be reviewed for all requirements.
REFERRAL TO MANAGEMENT: If you meet all the requirements, you may be referred to management for review and a possible interview.
SELECTION/TENTATIVE JOB OFFER: If you are selected, you will receive a tentative offer and start the suitability and/or security background investigation process.
FINAL JOB OFFER: Once our security office determines you can come on board, you will be given a final offer, which is typically 45 days after the announcement closes
FINAL COMMUNICATION: Once the position is filled, we will notify you of your status. You may also check your application status by logging into USAJOBS and clicking “Track this Application” on the Applicant Dashboard.
Thank you for your interest in working for the GSA Office of Inspector General!
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date. Review the following list to determine what you need to submit.
Resume: Your resume should not exceed 2 pages and must demonstrate the specialized experience related to the position for which you are applying. Your resume must contain the following information:
Name, address, telephone number, email address;
Job Title (if Federal Service, provide series and grade; if not in GS plan, provide GS equivalent grade);
Relevant work experience—should include employer name, job title, start and end dates (month/year), the number of hours worked per week and descriptions that explain how you meet the required qualifications in the job announcement.
Education, certifications or licensures—If the job announcement requires any education, certifications or licensures, make sure to include the required information and any required documents like transcripts.
Your resume should contain enough information to make a valid determination that you fully meet experience requirements for each grade level you are applying to. If you do not provide enough information for us to determine your qualifications, you may be rated ineligible.
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.
If you are ICTAP/CTAPeligible - submit a, b, and c: (a) proof of eligibility including agency notice; (b) SF-50, and (c) most recent performance appraisal.
Current or Former Federal Employees: Submit most recent SF-50.
Current or Former Political Appointees: Submit SF-50 from political appointment.
Submit a complete online application including any required documents prior to 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement. You can modify or complete your application any time before the deadline. Simply return to USAJOBS, select the vacancy, and update your application. For more detailed instructions on how to apply, click here: Apply for a GSA Job.
If you are having issues applying to this announcement, you should switch to a different browser, network or device. Note: Your firewall may block your transfer from USAJOBS to your GSA application.
To begin, click the Apply Online button on the vacancy announcement.
Sign in or register on USAJobs and select a resume and documents to include in your application.
Resumes exceeding two pages will not be accepted by USAJOBS and will prevent your application from moving forward in the hiring process. Please see Required Documents for additional details.
Once you have clicked Apply for this position now, you will be taken to the GSA site to complete the application process.
Click the Apply To This Vacancy and complete all steps in the application process until the Confirmation indicates your application is complete. If you click Return to USAJobs or get timed out prior to receiving confirmation, your application will not be submitted and cannot be considered for this job.
Note: Review the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section of this announcement to determine which apply to you and must be submitted online. You may choose one or more of the following options to submit your document(s): Upload (from your computer) or USAJOBS (click the "USAJOBS" link to complete the transfer process).
Need Assistance?
Questions or issues completing an application and/or submitting documentation - contact fedhirehelp@applygovernment.com or 1-866-656-6831 Monday-Friday 7AM - 7PM EST, except for Federal holidays
Specific questions on the position - contact the HR representative (Monday-Friday during normal business hours) listed on the announcement, prior to the application deadline
You must receive HR approval before deviating from these instructions.
Be sure to APPLY EARLY as most assessments must be completed fully and submitted before the announcement closing.
GSA, Office of Inspector General
OIG Human Resources Division (JPH)
Washington, District of Columbia 20405
United States
Next steps
After the closing date/deadline:
ELIGIBILITY/QUALIFICATIONS: Your application will be reviewed for all requirements.
REFERRAL TO MANAGEMENT: If you meet all the requirements, you may be referred to management for review and a possible interview.
SELECTION/TENTATIVE JOB OFFER: If you are selected, you will receive a tentative offer and start the suitability and/or security background investigation process.
FINAL JOB OFFER: Once our security office determines you can come on board, you will be given a final offer, which is typically 45 days after the announcement closes
FINAL COMMUNICATION: Once the position is filled, we will notify you of your status. You may also check your application status by logging into USAJOBS and clicking “Track this Application” on the Applicant Dashboard.
Thank you for your interest in working for the GSA Office of Inspector General!
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
