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IT Security Specialist (Assessments)

Judicial Branch
U.S. Courts
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Summary

The IT Security Specialist (Assessments) continuously identifies, tracks, shares, and supports operational IT security requirements across the Ninth Circuit including incident response, training, best practices, and risk in terms of threats and vulnerabilities. The employee regularly conducts on-site or virtual/remote IT security assessments at court units throughout the Ninth Circuit. The IT Security Specialist reports directly to the Ninth Circuit Information Security Officer (ISO).

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
07/07/2025 to 07/31/2025
Salary
$70,894 to - $171,307 per year
Pay scale & grade
CL 28 - 29
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
San Francisco, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - This position requires regular travel throughout the Ninth Circuit (15-20 trips or more per year), including two Pacific Island jurisdictions, and occasional U.S. travel outside the Ninth Circuit.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term - Not to exceed three years and one day. There is potential for this term to be extended depending on workload and funding.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
29
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
DE-12753179-25-LO
Control number
840165500

Duties

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This position requires excellent communication and teamwork skills, and the ability to provide outstanding customer service in a professional and friendly manner. This position serves as a point of contact and "face" of the onsite assessment team and requires a high degree of interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence.

Full-time telework from any duty station within the contiguous United States is an option for this position, with a preference for candidates located within the Ninth Circuit. This position requires regular travel throughout the Ninth Circuit (15-20 trips or more per year), including two Pacific Island jurisdictions, and occasional U.S. travel outside the Ninth Circuit. Authorized travel expenses while on official duty are reimbursed by the United States Courts.

Representative duties include:

  • Conduct onsite or virtual/remote IT security assessments at court units throughout the Ninth Circuit, under the direction of the Circuit ISO and as part of a team, based on industry and Judiciary guidance, utilizing tools such as CIS Controls Self-Assessment Tool (CIS CSAT).
  • Provide support on policies, procedures, and technical issues for courts throughout the Ninth Circuit prior to assessments conducted by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO).
  • Provide guidance, subject matter expertise, and support for court units and executive staff to build clear understanding and transparent management of IT risk.
  • Track and support circuit wide implementation of national IT security tools for scanning (Nessus), logging (Splunk) and patching (KACE).
  • Assist in identifying and resolving court unit challenges by implementing, integrating, and operating national IT security tools and services.
  • Establish operational working relationships with AO program offices that provide IT security tools and services; act as a bridge between national programs and services and local court units of the Ninth Circuit.
  • Plan and provide support and training for court units circuit-wide.
  • Monitor and manage circuit level incident response; identify patterns and provide solutions; coordinate with court units and the Security Operations Center.
  • Manage circuit-level support to local court units for the annual IT security self- assessment (scorecard) and the five-year independent IT Security assessments.
  • Conduct risk assessments, provide recommendations, and support the implementation of risk mitigation strategies.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in the process of applying for citizenship. Successful applicants are provisionally hired pending results of background investigation and fingerprinting. Positions with the U.S. Courts are at-will, excepted service appointments, and may be terminated with or without cause by the OCE. Employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees. Direct deposit of pay is required.

The OCE reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, or to withdraw the announcement, for any reason including but not limited to budgetary issues. Said modifications may occur without prior written or other notice.

Qualifications

Required skills:

  • Ability to identify and analyze security risks and to implement resolutions.
  • Possess and demonstrate strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
  • Superior ability to work well with diverse teams, collaborate and cooperate with team members, and coordinate multiple tasks and responsibilities.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to tailor information to different audiences including federal judges and court staff.
  • Ability to use tact and diplomacy in dealing effectively with all stakeholders.
  • Ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines.

Required Qualifications:
  • Strong understanding of IT Security best practices.
  • At least 4 years of professional IT security experience.
  • Demonstrated ability to collaboratively analyze, design, and implement effective IT security solutions.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution.
  • (ISC)2 CISSP, ISACA CISA, GIAC GCCC, CompTIA CASP+ or similar certification.
  • Experience implementing and/or assessing the CIS Critical Security Controls.

Additional information

Location: The Office of the Circuit Executive (OCE) is based at the James R. Browning United States Courthouse in San Francisco, California. Remote work options (telework) are available for this position. Applicants located in or willing to relocate to the Ninth Circuit preferred; however, highly qualified candidates from outside the circuit may also be considered.

Salary: $70,894 (CL-28 RUS) - $171,307 (CL-29 SF), depending on duty station, qualifications, and experience.

Equity Focused Employer:
We value diversity and are committed to equity and inclusion in our workplace. The OCE encourages applications from all qualified individuals and seeks a diverse pool of applicants in terms of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, languages spoken, veteran's status, disability, religion, and socio-economic circumstance.

How you will be evaluated

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

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

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