Information Technology Specialist (Security) Job

Vacancy No. IHS-25-HQ-12732320-DHA Department Indian Health Service
Salary $120,579.00 to $156,755.00 Grade 13 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 5/5/2025 Close Date 5/9/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Location Negotiable After SelectionRockville, MD


Summary

This position is with the Office of Information Technology, Division of Information Security. The purpose of this position is to organize, coordinate and manage assigned information technology security projects as an Electronic Health Record (EHR) Modernization Security Architect and Engineer. The incumbent reports to the EHR Modernization Security Branch Chief or designee.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

The IHS is required by law to give absolute preference to qualified applicants who meet the Secretary of the Interior's definition of Indian for appointment to vacancies within the IHS in accordance with established IHS policy as outlined in the Indian Health Manual Part 7, Chapter 3. The IHS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Duties

Total Compensation Package - Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job:
IT Specialist Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov)

Electronic Health Record (EHR) Modernization Security Architecture and Engineering

  • Engineer, design, and oversee the implementation of technologies to ensure network & systems infrastructure, and any related systems and devices are secure, reliable, and accessible.
  • Engineer (plan) suitable, cost-effective environments for Testing, Development, Production, and Disaster Recovery purposes.
  • Design and structure information technology infrastructure services to mitigate vulnerabilities and to identify attempted unauthorized intrusions.
  • Develop, test, and assign logical role-based permissions to enterprise resources.
  • Develop procedures to document, track, approve, and implement modifications to security appliance applications and firewalls to control firewall and security change request.
  • Oversee physical and logical architecture design initiatives to ensure alignment with Indian Health Service (IHS) and federal policies and standards.
Information Assurance
  • Recommend and assist with the procurement of suitable tools and associated training to maintain a secure monitoring infrastructure that provides alerts upon security policy violations or threshold criteria met that helps to audit connected devices.
  • Provide expertise to assist IHS in developing or improving organization-specific governance structures and policies.
  • Receive, interpret, schedule, and accomplish enterprise network and system-related task orders and other data calls from higher authorities.
  • Collaborate with other IHS systems and/or network engineers and commercial-sector experts for emerging technologies and/or security policy changes and develop and brief senior information technology leaders on their potential impact on IHS enterprise and our end-point customers.
  • Participate in or has access to investigations involving personally identifiable information (PII) and/or protected health information (PHI) to ensure that other employees' duties are discharged honestly and with integrity.
Oral and Written Communication, Presentations, and Conferences
  • Prepare position papers, executive submittals, presentations, memoranda, and other correspondence in response to most far-reaching proposals related to system assurance, enterprise-wide information security and/or system development life cycle policies and standard requirements or modify existing organizational arrangements.
  • Participate in strategic and tactical planning to ensure achievement to meet its mission and provide best value to business and program sponsors, tribes, and other customers.
  • Analyze short, medium, and long-range projects for solutions of complex operational or policy issues in areas such as information security, information security reporting, system development life cycle, quality assurance, and others as directed.
  • Represent IHS in conferences and technical discussions with professional, public, and private organizations with a responsibility to further the understanding, clarify the IHS position, develop a coordinated approach to problem solution, and recommend new IHS policy as appropriate.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Selectee may be subject to a probationary period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

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/.

You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.

Background Investigation: If you are selected for this vacancy, you must undergo a pre-employment fingerprint check and background investigation. Fingerprint results and background investigation documentation must be cleared prior to hire. After you begin your employment, your continued employment is contingent upon the outcome of a complete background investigation as determined by the sensitivity level of your position. The investigation must find that you are suitable for Federal employment in your position. If you are found not suitable, you will be terminated after you begin work. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or subject to possible criminal charges. You may be subject to a credit check as a part of the background investigation process.

  • The incumbent must obtain an entry-level cybersecurity certification (e.g., (ISC)2 Associate, CompTIA Security+, GIAC Security Essentials, or DoD 8570.01 1AM Level I) within the first year of employment and maintain an active certification that is aligned with this position.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

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; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS
  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.
In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

GS-13: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level.

Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks:
  • Working in a healthcare organization on issues relating to cybersecurity architecture and engineering for an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.
  • Develop procedures to document, track, approve, and implement modifications to security appliance applications and firewalls to control firewall & security change requests.
  • Design information technology infrastructure services to mitigate vulnerabilities and identify attempted unauthorized intrusions.
  • Organize, coordinate and manage information technology security projects, such as, network architecture security segmentation, cloud system security engineering and cloud system security documentation to support an Authorization to Operate (ATO).
NOTE: You must meet all examples of specialized experience listed above.


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

Education

There are no education requirements.

Additional information

Additional selection(s) of candidates may be possible within 240 days from the date the certificate of eligibles was issued for this announcement.

Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.

This position is not covered by a Bargaining Unit.

This position has no promotion potential.


This position is being announced concurrently under the Excepted Service/Merit Promotion procedures. Please review vacancy announcement number IHS-25-HQ-12732319-ESEP/MP for eligibility requirements. NOTE: Applicants must apply separately for each announcement in order to be considered.

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.

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

This position will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Category rating and Veterans' Preference will not be considered in evaluating applicants. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet. Your application (resume and supporting documentation) will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required as listed on the announcement under qualification requirements. To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must substantively exceed the basic qualifications and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and any other requirements.

Click here to view vacancy questions: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12732320. All documents above MUST be received by 11:59 (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date of, 05/09/2025, to be considered.

Required Documents

Resume: You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required information is included in your Resume. If you use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form you choose then you must describe your job-related qualifications that includes beginning and ending dates for paid and non-paid work experience, hours worked per week, month and year of employment for each job title listed, annual salary, and description of job duties. Include name and address of employer; supervisor name and telephone number.

Required as applicable for the purposes of specific eligibility and appointment claim(s), and position requirements:
Indian Preference Applicants: If claiming Indian preference, applicants must provide a completed copy of the Form BIA-4432, "Verification of Indian Preference for Employment in the BIA and IHS Only." Indian preference will not be given unless a properly signed and dated form is submitted with your application, including any verification by an authorized Tribal Representative or BIA Official of tribal enrollment records. For detailed instructions, see form BIA-4432. Refer to BIA-4432 link: https://www.bia.gov/sites/default/files/media_document/1076-0160_indian-pref_expires-04.30.25_508.pdf. When an Indian Preference candidate possesses Veterans preference the rules regarding Veterans preference apply under ESEP and the applicant must provide documentation in order to receive preference.

Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP, follow the instructions below: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf.


You must meet the requirements of the job by 11:59 pm (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date: 05/09/2025

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents below.

  1. Click 'Apply' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
  2. Follow the prompts to upload your resume and/or supporting documents.
  3. Read all Eligibility questions and respond accordingly. .
  4. Complete the assessment questions.
  5. Verify all required documentation is included in your application package.
For additional questions please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) found here: http://www.ihs.gov/jobs/index.cfm?module=search&option=faq.

Agency contact information

Amber Cantu
Address
IHS Headquarter
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
US

Next steps

You can track the progress of your application package via your USAJobs account. You will receive an acknowledgement from USAJobs that your submission was successful once we have received your on-line occupational questionnaire, resume, and any supporting documentation. You will be notified of the status of your application via your USAJobs Account after we conduct a qualification review of your complete application package. You will be contacted if further evaluation or interviews are required. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background check, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the human resources office posting this announcement.

If all required documentation is not submitted with your application you will lose consideration. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information and documents entered, uploaded, or faxed are received, legible and accurate. HR will not modify answers submitted by an applicant.

HHS has a critical preparedness and response mission: HHS protects the American people from health threats, researches emerging diseases, and mobilizes public health programs with domestic and international partners. In support of this mission, HHS offers its employees the opportunity to volunteer to become Federal Civilian Detailees and contribute their unique skills through voluntary temporary assignments to humanitarian emergencies or Departmental priorities countering new and emerging health, safety, and security threats.

~ ~ ~ Indian Health Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer ~ ~ ~


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


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