Information Technology Cybersecurity Specialist - ISSE Job in Alexandria, VA

Vacancy No. DHA-12419144-24-BS Department Executive Office for Immigration Review
Salary $117,962.00 to $153,354.00 Grade 13 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 6/24/2024 Close Date 7/8/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Alexandria, VA


Job Description (Please follow all instructions carefully)

Summary

This position is located in the Office of Information Technology, Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), U. S. Department of Justice. Incumbent serves as an Information System Security Engineer (ISSE) for the coordination, implementation, and/or enforcement of assigned information cybersecurity policies and portfolios.

This is a Competitive Service position; additional positions may be filled from this announcement within 90 days of certificate issuance.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

This position will be filled using a Direct Hire authority and is open to all U.S. Citizens

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

  • Develops long-range plans for IT security systems; reviews new systems, networks, and software designs for potential security risks; and resolves integration issues related to the implementation of new systems with the existing infrastructure.
  • Advises senior management officials in the area of cybersecurity systems, processes and operations to meet user requirements for the security management of program information.
  • Maintains an inventory of hardware (virtual/physical) and software within the program/development offices or facilities.
  • Leads and coordinates the implementation of security programs across platforms and establishes vulnerability reporting criteria.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Complete the initial online assessment and USA Hire Assessment, if required
  • You must complete a background investigation, credit check, and drug test.
  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
  • Probationary period will apply.
  • May be required to file a Financial Disclosure.
  • Salary payments must be by direct deposit to a financial institution.
  • Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for the Information Technology Cybersecurity Specialist - ISSE position, you must meet the minimum qualifications.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE GS-13 LEVEL:

Specialized Experience:
Applicants must have at least one or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties:
  • Providing advice and instruction to employees and supervisors on security issues;
  • Maintaining an inventory of hardware (virtual/physical) and software within the program/development offices or facilities;
  • Reviewing and evaluating cybersecurity incident response policies to identify the need for change based on security technologies or threats; and
  • Providing systems security technical expertise, advice, and support for a variety of systems.
(Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

Note, if your qualifying experience is from federal employment, please provide your SF-50 showing the highest grade level held in the federal service.

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Conditions of Employment: Only U.S. Citizens or Nationals are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Dual citizens of the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ applicants, both U.S. citizens and non-citizens, whose job location is with the U.S., must meet the residency requirement. For a total of three (not necessarily consecutive years) of the five years immediately prior to applying for a position, the applicant must have: 1) resided in the U.S., 2) worked for the U.S. overseas in a Federal or military capacity; or 3) been a dependent of a Federal or military employee serving oversees.

Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): To be qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and must submit proof of eligibility for the special selection priority. Additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility can be found by clicking here.

As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.

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.

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job.

Your application package will be evaluated under a Direct-Hire Authority (DHA). DHA enables an agency to hire, after public notice is given, any qualified applicant without regard to 5 U.S.C 3309-3318, 5 CFR part 211, or 5 CFR part 337, subpart A. A DHA expedites hiring by eliminating competitive rating and ranking, veterans' preference, and "rule of three" procedures. DHA must comply with public notice requirements under 5 U.S.C. 3327 and 3330, career transition requirements (CTAP/ICTAP) under 5 CFR part 330, and basic qualification requirements for the position under 5 CFR part 338. For more information about Direct-Hire Authority, please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/

You will be rated based on the following knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs) or competencies:

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


In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment which measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

The USA Hire Assessment 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.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

NOTE: In order to be rated as meeting the minimum qualifications, we must be able to determine from your application package that you have the education and/or specialized experience that is required. Applicants who have qualifying experience performed on less than a full-time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties. Your resume MUST contain your full name, some form of contact information (phone number, email address and/or living address), and the following employment information:
  • Employer name and location for each position held.
  • From and to dates (MM/YY-MM/YY or from MM/YY to "present") for each position held. The month and year is required to fully credit your time.
  • For part-time positions, please include number of hours worked per week, positions that do not include this information will be assumed as full-time (40 hours a week).
  • Grade/levels held for each federal position. (Ex. GS-11; IR-06; FV-G…etc.)
  • Detailed descriptions of experience under each position held. (Applicants must provide specific supporting examples to show that they meet the qualifications of the position shown in the announcement.)
  • Any submitted documents not required or requested for this vacancy will not be considered (i.e. training certificates, case filings, letter of recommendations, etc.).

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package by the closing date of this announcement, which includes:
1. Your Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional (Please see the How You Will Be Evaluated section)
2. A complete Assessment Questionnaire
3. Transcripts (include your name, college name/address, type of degree, major, date degree conferred, courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, G.P.A. etc.), if qualifying based on education
4. Other supporting documents (submit if applicable to you):

  • CTAP/ICTAP documents
  • If your qualifying experience is from federal employment, please provide your SF-50 showing the highest grade level held in the federal service.
  • Any other supporting documentation required for verification as described in the announcement.
Note: Multiple selections may be made from this announcement. Salaries above are an approximation.

Veteran's Preference does not apply when selecting individuals under a Direct-Hire Authority (DHA). When agencies select individuals under DHA, the law allows agencies to hire them without regard to sections 5 U.S.C. 3309-3318, which eliminates the requirement for applying veterans preference. Qualified candidates with veterans' preference can be selected as they are found, just as any qualified non-preference eligible candidate would be.

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 and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. 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. Occupational questionnaire can be previewed here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12419144
3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
4. After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you both on screen and via email notification The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder.
5. If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Click here for Computer System Requirements
6. Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found in your USAJOBS account under the "Track my application" link for the corresponding application.

To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click 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. 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 click here.

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 and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 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. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.

Agency contact information

Midwest Services Branch
Phone
8164265706
Email
EOIR@opm.gov
Address
Office of Information Technology
5107 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

If you meet the minimum qualifications of this position, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments system. These additional online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement unless you have requested Reasonable Accommodation for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments.

Your results will be kept on record for one year when applying for future jobs that require the same USA Hire Competency Based Assessments.

To be considered for the position, you must meet all qualifications, including meeting or exceeding the cutscore on the required assessments.

You will be notified of your application status during the hiring process, as applicable. You may check your application status by accessing the USAJOBS website and clicking "Application Status". The process may take up to 6 weeks.

The four points of notification are:

  • Application Received or Application Incomplete
  • Minimum Qualification Requirement Met/Not Met
  • Eligible (Application Referred) or Ineligible (Application Not Referred)
  • Selected or Not Selected
*Based upon your score, you may be referred to the hiring official. If your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly by that office for a possible interview. You will receive notice via email once this process is completed (generally 4-6 weeks).

ALL INFORMATION IN YOUR APPLICATION SUBMISSION IS SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION PRIOR TO FINAL SELECTION.


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