IT Specialist (Info Sec)

Clarification from the agency

This position is being filled through Direct Hire Authority and is open to all U.S. Citizens and ICTAP/CTAP eligibles in the local commuting area. All applicants who meet the basic and minimum qualifications will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration. Traditional rating and ranking of applications does NOT apply. Veteran's preference does not apply. However, we encourage veterans to apply for this position.

• Administers, secures, and maintains OIG IT systems, networks, servers, and endpoint devices across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments, ensuring systems remain available, functional, secure, and operating efficiently to support OIG mission requirements.
• Administers and monitors implementation of Agency IT security-related policies, practices, and standards and how these interfaces with those of the Agency-line programs.
• Plans, coordinates, and implements the deployment of new or modified hardware, software, network services, and cloud infrastructure, developing implementation plans, test plans, and back-out procedures to ensure successful integration with existing systems and minimal operational disruption.
• Analyzes, diagnoses, and resolves complex technical problems spanning multiple IT domains - including systems administration, network operations, endpoint management, cloud services, and security configuration - by identifying root causes and implementing effective corrective actions.
• Monitors systems resources, including performance, capacity, availability, serviceability, recoverability, and continuity of operations. Identifies trends, risks, and emerging operational issues; recommends improvements to increase reliability, security, and efficiency.
• Implements and maintains IT security controls and procedures, including access management, vulnerability and patch management, configuration hardening, and audit/remediation support, in accordance with federal, Departmental, and OIG information security requirements.
• Serves as a technical authority and project coordinator, providing expert advice and guidance to management, IT staff, contractors, and end users, and coordinating with stakeholders on IT planning, acquisitions, and implementation of new capabilities.
• Plans, implements, administers, and secures cloud-based and hybrid IT infrastructure and services, performing cloud configuration, resource and access management, network integration, monitoring, backup and recovery, and optimization in accordance with federal, Departmental, and OIG requirements.

Other Information:

• This position will not be filled until the Department's Placement Assistance Programs have been fully utilized.
• This position is outside the bargaining unit.
• Relocation Incentives are not offered.
• No Permanent Change of Station Funds (PCS) will be offered.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Candidate required to obtain and maintain the necessary security/investigation level.
• Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met. See Probationary Period in the Required Documents section for more details.

Qualifications

You must meet the Basic Qualifications and Minimum Qualifications to qualify for the IT Specialist (Info Sec), as described below.

Basic Qualifications: Applicants must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the following 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. 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.
4. Information Management - Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organizes and maintains information or information management systems.
5. 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
6. 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.
7. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
8. Teamwork - Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
9. 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.

AND

Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-12, in the Federal Service.

Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

Qualifying specialized experience for the GS-13 level includes all of the following:

• Administers and maintains IT information security, systems, servers, networks, and endpoint devices in an enterprise environment;
• Troubleshoots and resolves technical problems involving hardware, operating systems, network connectivity, and system security;
• Applies IT security policies, procedures, and/or controls (i.e. access management, patch management, or system hardening) to protect information systems.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applicants meeting the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements will be referred to the selecting official. Rating/ranking and veterans' preference does not apply to this position.

You may preview questions for this vacancy here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13087767

The information you provide may be verified by a review of your paid, unpaid, and volunteer experience, as it demonstrates the competencies or skills required for the position to be filled. Your evaluation may include an interview, reference checks, or other assessment conducted by HR specialists, subject matter experts, or panel members and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc.).

USA Hire

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Under the authority of direct hire recruitment, evaluation factors are a tool to gauge one's proficiency in relevant competencies, but will not be used to determine who will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. All candidates who have provided a complete application and meet the basic and minimum qualification requirements will be referred for consideration.

INFORMATION FOR ICTAP/CTAP ELIGIBLE(S) ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under ICTAP/CTAP, you must meet the basic and minimum qualification requirements for this position to receive consideration. Be sure to review the eligibility questions to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP or CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation.

The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date.

You are not required to submit a document if it does not apply to you.

• Resume: Required - provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your profile. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and number of work hours worked for the experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.

NOTE: In alignment with the Presidential Memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, applicants may only submit a resume limited to two (2) pages. Only the resume uploaded under the "Resume" document type in USAJOBS will be reviewed. If the resume submitted exceeds two (2) pages, the application will be deemed ineligible for further consideration.

• Displaced Employee Placement Documents: Only required if requesting priority consideration under CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.
• Veterans Documents (if applicable): To be considered as a 5-point (TP) preference eligible, you must submit a copy of your DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Your DD 214 must show the type of discharge and dates of active duty. To claim 10-point (CP/CPS, XP) preference, you must submit a copy of your DD214 and the proof of entitlement of this preference, which is normally an official statement, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. In addition, a Standard Form (SF-15) should be included, but is not required. (For active-duty service members expecting honorable or general discharge or release within 120 days, click Active Duty). For more information, go to Feds Hire Vets - Veterans Preference.

Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience but may be submitted.

Do not upload password-protected documents.

Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship, and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.

Probationary Period
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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