Clarification from the agency

United States Citizens. This position may be filled through the Direct Hire Authority. All applicants who meet the qualification requirements will be forwarded to the selecting official for further consideration. Category Rating, Veterans Preference, Schedule A and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 100 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 100th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first.  

We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application.

As a Information Technology Specialist (INFOSEC) GS-2210-14, you will be responsible for:      
•    Oversees the implementation of information technology (IT) security controls and security authorization documents; and assures the system is compliant with mandated security policies and requirements.
•    Provides technical recommendations for all Risk Assessments conducted for the system or site.
•    Provides security analysis of IT activities to ensure that appropriate security measures are in place and being enforced.
•    Ensures that plans of action and milestones [POA&Ms], or remediation plans, are in place and timely processed for vulnerabilities identified during risk assessments, audits, inspections, etc. 
•    Recognizes a possible security violation and takes appropriate action to report the incident as required.
•    Supervises or manages protective or corrective measures when a cybersecurity incident when a vulnerability is discovered.
•    Supports necessary compliance activities (e.g., ensures that system security configuration guidelines are followed and compliance monitoring occurs.
•    Ensures that all acquisitions, procurements and outsourcing efforts address information security requirements consistent with organizational goals.
•    Continuously validates the organization against policies/ guidelines/ procedures/ regulations/ laws to ensure compliance.
•    Define and/or implement policies and procedures to ensure protection of critical infrastructure as appropriate.
•    Recommends policy and coordinates review and approval.

Conditions of employment

• Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Must be a US Citizen
• Relocation will not be paid.
• Must complete a Background Investigation and Fingerprint check.
• You may be subject to serve a one-year probationary period.

Condition of Employment:

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a probationary period or trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.

In determining if your 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 OR trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

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. We will consider all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements
You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-14, if you possess the specialize experience, education, or a combination of the two.

Specialized Experience for the GS-14
One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-13 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:
1.    Experience supporting risk assessment efforts during the Security Assessment and Authorization process.
2.    Experience in ensuring Plans of Actions and Milestones (POA&Ms) are processed in a timely manner and remediation plans are in place for identified vulnerabilities.
3.    Experience supporting successful implementation and functionality of security requirements and information technology (IT) policies and procedures consistent with an organization's mission and goals.

Basic Experience Requirements

You must possess IT related experience (paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (e.g., IT certification), as appropriate) 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 (i.e., 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 (e.g., ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (e.g., 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.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

1.    Knowledge of risk management processes (e.g., methods for assessing and mitigating risks).
2.    Knowledge of cybersecurity and privacy principles; cyberthreats and vulnerabilities; impacts of cybersecurity lapses; encryption algorithms; and applicable business processes of operations of customer organization.
3.    Knowledge of vulnerability information dissemination sources (e.g. alerts, advisories, errata and bulletins); incident response and handling methodologies; and industry standard and organizationally accepted analysis principles and methods.
4.    Ability to integrate information security requirements into the acquisition process using applicable baseline security controls as one of the sources for security requirements; ensuring a robust software quality control process; and, establishing multiple sources (e.g., delivery routes for critical system elements).
5.    Skill in researching, choosing, interpreting, modifying, and applying available guidelines for adaptation to specific problem or issues.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your application and documentation submitted to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will refer the best qualified candidates to the Selecting Official of the job for further review and consideration. You will be evaluated to determine if you meet qualifications required, and on the extent to which your application shows that you possess the knowledge, skills and abilities associated with this position as defined below. Please be sure to give examples in your resume and explain how often you used these skills, the complexity of the knowledge you possessed, the level of people you interacted with, and the complexity and sensitivity of the issues you handled.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above), based on an evaluation of their applications; possessing the knowledge, skills, and abilities which clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position.

• Your resume should include relevant work experience, applicable education and your contact information. For current or previous federal employees, include the pay plan, series and grade.

You must submit (REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS):

• A resume demonstrating your education, experience, training, and accomplishments as it relates to the qualifications for this position and substantiating your responses to the occupational questionnaire. 

  Please limit your resume to 2 pages with the font size no smaller than 10 points.  If your resume is more than 2 pages, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed and considered for the qualifications determination. 

• Transcript: If you meet the qualification requirements based on education you must submit an unofficial transcript that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, major(s), grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts. This also applies to ED employees.

If you are claiming Veteran's Preference, you must submit: A copy of your DD-214 that shows active service and character of discharge, OR A certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions within 120 days from the date of application (Current Active Duty Members only); AND/OR The Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference (SF-15) AND all documents indicated on the form as proof of type of preference; AND/OR Proof of Sole Survivorship Preference (e.g., certificate of death or 100% disability as a result of serving in the armed forces).

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the https://www2.ed.gov/about/jobs/open/edhires/ictap.html  or https://www2.ed.gov/about/jobs/open/edhires/ctap.html for information on how to apply as a CTAP, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section.

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