IT SPECIALIST (INFOSEC) Job in Arlington, VA

Vacancy No. OSPP-DHA-12638349-25-KR Department Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Salary $99,200.00 to $153,354.00 Grade 12 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 12/16/2024 Close Date 12/30/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Arlington, VA


Summary

View common definitions of terms found in this announcement.

This announcement is issued under the Direct Hire Authority (DHA) to recruit for positions for which there is a critical hiring need. Selectee(s) will receive a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service and may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

• U.S. Citizens • Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) • lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)

Duties

This is a shared job announcement across the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, with multiple participating divisions. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. These divisions include, but are not limited to:

  • Cybersecurity Division (CSD)
  • Emergency Communications Division (ECD)
  • Infrastructure Security Division (ISD)
  • Integrated Operations Division (IOD)
  • National Risk Management Center (NRMC)
  • Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO)
  • Office of the Chief Operations Support Officer (OCOSO)
  • Stakeholder Engagement Division (SED)
This position is located in various Department of Homeland Security (DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). CISA is the Nation's risk advisor, working with partners to defend against today's threats and collaborating with industry to build more secure and resilient infrastructure for the future.

The Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans (SPP) serves as the principal policy and strategic adviser to Agency leadership, integrating strategy, policy, plans, governance, and operational consistency throughout the Agency.

In this position, you will serve as an IT Specialist. At the full performance level, typical work assignments include, but are not limited to:
  • Implementing security requirements such as those resulting from laws, regulations or Presidential directives.
  • Reviewing and evaluating security incident response policies.
  • Reviewing proposed new systems, networks, and software designs for potential security risks.
  • Providing expert technical advice and guidance to Department managers and other technical specialists.
  • Developing of long-range plans for IT security systems that anticipate, identify, evaluate and minimize risks.
  • Processing semi-complex to complex sets of factors and alternatives, based on unique authorities and leadership priorities.
  • Integrating programmatic planning and operations to improve the nation's capability and capacity to detect, prevent, respond, and mitigate disruptions of critical infrastructure.
  • Maintaining extensive knowledge of Congressional and legislative processes, policies, and priorities, providing a basis for responding to Congressional requests.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen.
  • 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. Since this announcement will be used to fill positions within multiple divisions across CISA, the type of investigation and security clearance level will be made in accordance with the specific position.
  • 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.

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.

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 must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies 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

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the qualification requirement listed above, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower GS-grade level (or equivalent). Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Such experience is typically gained in the IT field or through the performance of work where the primary concern is IT.

GS-12
You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level (or equivalent) performing the following duties:
  1. Establishing communications channels with stakeholders to represent the organization's interests, AND
  2. Under supervision, supporting policy and strategy implementation to enable organizational action, AND
  3. Assisting in tracking and developing national security policies and strategies to support senior level decision-making, AND
  4. Assisting in building consensus on policy or strategy changes from stakeholder to establish the enterprise continuity program and mission assurance.

GS-13
You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level (or equivalent) performing the following duties:
  1. Maintaining key communication channels with internal and external stakeholders to represent the Agency's interests, AND
  2. Supporting policy and strategy implementation to enable proactive organizational action, AND
  3. Assisting in tracking and developing national security policies and strategies to support senior level decision-making, AND
  4. Building consensus on policy or strategy changes from stakeholder to establish the enterprise continuity program and mission assurance.

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.

There is no substitution of education for experience for this position. You must meet the qualifications listed in the "Requirements" section of this announcement.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

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

Additional information

  • 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.
  • This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
  • This position has been designated excluded from bargaining unit representation under the national security provision of 5 USC Section 7112(B)(6).
  • When entering a federal job at a grade level lower than the highest promotion potential level, you may be promoted to more complex duties and work more independently, as your career progresses. NOTE: Career ladder promotions are not automatic, and all eligibility and qualifications requirements must be met in order to progress to the next grade level.
Reasonable Accommodation Requests: This agency provides reasonable accommodation to otherwise qualified applicants and employees with a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, unless to do so would create an undue hardship to the agency (29 CFR 1614.203 (2017)). If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, contact the CISA Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (OEDIA) by sending an email to CISA_ReasonableAccommodation@cisa.dhs.gov with the subject line, "Reasonable Accommodation Request @ CISA." In the email itself, you must include your name, vacancy announcement number(s), and state your intent to seek a reasonable accommodation. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. For more information or inquiries, please contact the CISA Reasonable Accommodation Program at CISA_ReasonableAccommodation@cisa.dhs.gov.

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.

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.

This position will be filled through the Direct Hire Authority (DHA). Under this authority, competitive rating, ranking, and veterans' preference procedures do not apply.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and the responses you provide on the application questionnaire. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

If you are determined qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.

Candidates who are referred to hiring managers may receive an email notification with instructions to participate in a virtual interview. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (I/CTAP): 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 under I/CTAP, you must be rated eligible based on minimum qualifications for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement.

To preview the application questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12638349

Required Documents

All documents, including transcripts, must be in English.

1. RESUME: Your resume MUST show a detailed description of your job-related qualifications to include start and end dates with the month and year and hours worked per week for all jobs listed. For Federal civilian service, you MUST include your pay plan/band, series, and grade (e.g., GS-0301-09). Be clear and specific when describing your work history as human resources cannot make assumptions regarding your experience. Do NOT include photographs, social media links (e.g., LinkedIn), inappropriate content, or other personal or sensitive information such as date of birth, social security number, gender, religious affiliation. IF INCLUDED YOUR RESUME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Please view Resume & Application Tips.

2. COVER LETTER (OPTIONAL): Your cover letter will not be used to determine your qualifications but will be included with your resume if you are referred.

3. OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS (only submit if applicable):

  • CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE: Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action which shows the grade, step, tenure (block 24) "1" (Career) or "2" (Career-Conditional), and position occupied (block 34) "1" (Competitive Service). Provide proof of permanent appointment if applying based on an Interchange Agreement. If applying for a higher grade, provide a SF-50 which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade or promotion potential held. You may need to provide more than one (1) SF-50,if your SF-50 does not clearly demonstrate that you meet the one-year time-in-grade requirement(examples of appropriate SF-50s include Appointment/Conversion, Within-Grade/Range Increases and Promotion actions). NOTE: Pay adjustments and awards are NOT acceptable.
  • VETERAN DOCUMENTATION: Submit a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4 or equivalent).
    • ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date on the certification. This must indicate your dates of active service, rank/grade, expected character of service (i.e., honorable or general) and type of separation (i.e., separation or retirement). NOTE: The VOW Act provides tentative preference. If selected, a DD-214 must be provided prior to appointment.
    • 10-POINT VETERANS' PREFERENCE: If claiming 10-point Veterans' Preference, you will need to submit a SF-15 and provide an official document from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying your overall compensable service-connected disability rating (NOTE: Your overall percentage must be clearly shown), and/or any other associated documentation based on your preference.
  • INTERAGENCY/CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (I/CTAP): Submit a copy of the following:
    • Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice, notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate, notice of disability annuity termination, or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
    • SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", documenting your RIF separation, noting your position, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through reemployment priority list (RPL), etc.;
    • Latest performance appraisal including your rating; AND
    • Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
  • CURRENT OR FORMER POLITICAL SCHEDULE A, SCHEDULE C, NON-CAREER SES OR PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEE EMPLOYEE: Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
    • Position title;
    • Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);
    • Agency; AND
    • Beginning and ending dates of appointment.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be received by 11:59 PM EST on 12/30/2024 to receive consideration. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

PLEASE NOTE: If your materials are not received by the closing date, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available, and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible.

The application process is as follows:

  1. To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
  2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
  3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on 12/30/2024.

You may update your application documents and some questions related to your personal information at any time during the announcement open period. However, you will not be able to make changes to questions related to assessing the minimum qualifications and competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics) mentioned in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section above. To make an allowed update to your application, return to your USAJOBS account (https://usajobs.gov). There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account at https://usajobs.gov. On the Home page, scroll down and locate your job application. Once the job has been located, click the "Track this application" link on the right under the application date. The page will refresh to display the Agency's Application Information page where you can scroll down and review any notifications the agency has sent you. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: http://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Shared Certificate: When CISA completes its hiring, the remaining list of qualified candidates may be shared with other DHS Component agencies. You will have an opportunity to opt-in if you would like to share your name, application material, and assessment results with other DHS Component agencies who are hiring for similar positions. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job announcements.

Agency contact information

Kazi Rahman
Address
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
1110 N Glebe Rd
Arlington, VA 22201
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Since this position is being announced under Direct Hire Authority, the hiring agency has the flexibility to review any or all eligible applicants. Applicants who are tentatively eligible for this position based on their self-rating of their qualifications will be placed on a ranking list for further consideration. Once the agency has reviewed applications, a select number of applications will be reviewed to ensure minimum qualifications are met as stated in the job announcement. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

Notice to Applicants - The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is subject to the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019. Unless excluded by law, all CISA hiring officials and agency representatives are statutorily prohibited from asking applicants to disclose their criminal history record information prior to receiving a conditional offer of employment. Applicants may submit a complaint, or any other information, to the CISA Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer Human Capital Policy and Programs Subdivision at email cisa.ochco.hcp@cisa.dhs.gov within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged non-compliance by a CISA hiring manager or agency representative.

Thank you for your interest in the Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency!


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