IT Cyber Security Specialist- Direct Hire Authority Job in Rosslyn, VA

Vacancy No. DS-2025-0025 Department Department of State - Agency Wide
Salary $163,964.00 to $191,900.00 Grade 15 to 15
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/22/2024 Close Date 12/2/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Rosslyn, VA


Summary

This position is located in the Office of the Chief Technology Officer, Office of the Executive Director, Bureau of Diplomatic Security. (DS/EX/CTO). You will serve as a Senior Cybersecurity Specialist providing technical advice, guidance, and leadership. 

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.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

This public notice is to gather applications that may or may not result in a referral or selection.

Duties

  • Serves as expert Cybersecurity advisor to the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and other DS Bureau senior officials concerning critical Cybersecurity design and program implementation functions.
  • Provides authoritative guidance on the configuration management process and review of deliverables for new applications and application upgrades. Provides information that covers complex and sensitive issues of Cybersecurity programs.
  • Collaborates with leadership and staff to support security compliance with Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) requirements. Serves as liaison between CTO and stakeholders in the Bureau of Diplomatic Technology (DT).
  • Functions as an authority in spearheading IT security information program initiatives and develops an appropriate analytical framework for specific projects that are designed to meet the critical current and future IT needs of the organization.
  • Provides authoritative advice and counsel on significant current and proposed IT policies, contract, and resource issues that directly impact Departmental policy, programs and long-term initiatives.

Requirements

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 - Incumbent demonstrates a high level of attention to detail by applying personal knowledge and ability to provide expert technical analysis and consultation focused on current global cyber threat environment and associated risks in order to mitigate cybersecurity vulnerabilities and risks.
  2. Customer Service - Incumbent demonstrates a high level of ability to serve customers by responding to inquiries in a timely fashion and providing expert guidance on complex and controversial cybersecurity issues which have long term impact on IT infrastructure security.
  3. Oral Communication - Incumbent demonstrates a high level of skill in communicating in order to provide expert advice and guidance, exchange information, brief senior officials, plan and coordinate activities, recommend new methods and approaches, and resolve problems.
  4. Problem Solving - Incumbent clearly demonstrates the ability to solve and prioritize problems by determining the most appropriate principles to apply and resolving a wide range of technical issues related to cybersecurity with limited supervisory involvement. 

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 serving as a technical and strategic advisor by providing recommendations on topics such as strategic planning, budget, contract management, technical innovation, and long-term requirements planning. 
  • Experience handling complex relationships with varied stakeholders and business needs. 
  • Experience developing and implementing proactive measures to detect, mitigate, and prevent cyber threats and intrusions to an organization’s critical IT infrastructure; 

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, 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. 

Benefits

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.

Review our benefits

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.

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 assessed to determine if they 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.  All applications that meet the required qualifications will be referred to the selecting official in the order in which the applications were received.

Your resume 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. 

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 state-of-the-art security practices, procedures, and systems;

  • Knowledge of information technology life cycle management concepts;

  • Ability to analyze, solve problems, and make recommendations to management.

  • Knowledge of budgeting, contracting, work scheduling and procurement.

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.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

All required documents listed below, that are applicable to you, must be submitted to our automated system by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

1.  Resume showing relevant work/volunteer experience, education and training. Include the start and end dates (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours per week worked/volunteered. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must support your answers to the completed online assessment questions. 

2. Other Qualification Documentation (e.g. certificates, certifications, etc.), if applicable.  See the Qualification section of this announcement for more information.

3.  Veterans' Preference Documentation, if applicable. Veterans’ preference does not apply to this vacancy. Any supporting documentation received from veterans will be retained to document veteran’s status for appointment purposes, if selected.

  • To claim 5-point preference, submit a copy of your DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.
  • To claim 10-point preference, submit all required documentation outlined on the SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference) to support your claim (e.g., DD-214, official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs, etc.).  If we cannot verify your 10-point preference claim, your application will be reviewed for 5-point preference.
  • To claim 10-point derived preference (i.e., spouses, widows, widowers or mothers of veterans), submit a completed SF-15 and all required documentation listed on the SF-15 to support your claim.
  • To claim 0-point Sole Survivorship preference, submit a copy of your DD-214 or another form of official documentation showing that your discharge or release from active duty occurred on or after August 29, 2008 and was based on a sole survivorship discharge.
  • For all preference claims:
    • DD-214 Member 4 copies are preferred and must show the dates of service, type of discharge, and any qualifying service campaign medals.
  • For more veterans’ preference information, visit the USAJOBS Help Center.

4.  ICTAP/CTAP documentation, if applicable. Visit our agency’s ICTAP and CTAP sites for required documentation.

How to Apply

Prepare your application in USAJOBS

To start your application, click Apply and we’ll walk you through the process to attach a resume and any required documents.

During the application process you can review, edit, delete, and update your information. We’ll automatically save your progress as you go, so you won’t lose any changes.  You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement to complete the application process.

STEP 1: Select the "Apply" button and follow the instructions to register or sign into USAJOBS.

STEP 2: Submit your resume.  Please see the Required Documents section for specific information that should be outlined in your resume.

STEP 3: Complete the online assessment questions.

STEP 4: Submit all required documentation applicable to you, as listed in the Required Documents section.

To learn how to view the status of your submitted supporting documentation and application, visit the Application Instructions section of our agency’s Civil Service selection process site.

Technical assistance with your on-line application is available through the Help Desk at mgshelp@monster.com or by calling (866) 656-6830 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET

Alternate Application Procedures

If applying online poses an extreme hardship, you may request alternate application procedures to submit your application package. Contact the Human Resources office listed on the announcement between the business hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET at least 2 working days prior to the closing date of this announcement. The application package for alternate application procedures must be submitted and received in the Human Resources office no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of this announcement. Paper applications and information sent by mail will not be accepted.

Agency contact information

Alison Scribben
Phone
771-204-4960
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
Scribbenan@state.gov
Address
U.S. Department of State
1801 N. Lynn St
SA-20 9th fl
Rosslyn, Virginia 22091
United States
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once the online application package is received, you will be notified through USAJOBS of your qualification status and referral or non-referral to the hiring official for further consideration. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. If a tentative job offer is made, the Department of State will conduct a suitability and/or security background investigation.

You will be notified up to four times during the hiring process: 1. Upon receipt of your application. 2. Upon minimum qualification determinations. 3. After the list of eligibles is issued. 4. After final selection is made.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.