IT Cybersecurity Specialist

Summary

We are seeking a highly qualified and motivated individual to serve as an IT Cybersecurity Specialist/Security Engineer in the GSA Office of Inspector General (OIG) Information Technology Division, supporting the operations and maintenance of the cyber defense suite of the OIG. This position will report directly to the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).

We are currently filling one vacancy in Washington, DC, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.

Duties

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The major responsibilities of this position:

• Ensures the confidentiality, integrity and availability of systems, networks, and data through the planning, analysis, development, implementation, maintenance, and enhancement of information systems security program, policies, procedures, and tools.
• Supports cybersecurity operations for IT networks, systems, and cloud platforms by applying cybersecurity policies and security engineering principles, including identity and access management, encryption, continuous monitoring, secure configuration, and automation.
• Contributes to the analysis, planning, and support of OIG's enterprise IT framework; provides input to cloud modernization, automation initiatives, and digital transformation efforts in alignment with organizational goals.
• Supports the planning, design, implementation, optimization, and maintenance of networked and cloud systems.
• Administers enterprise security tools, to include but not limited to firewalls, VPN gateways, zero-trust technologies, MFA services, & DLP.
• Ensures necessary security controls are in place and operate as intended; advising users of risks to systems and assessing risk; completes and maintains appropriate security documentation including systems security plans.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
• Meet all eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date.
• Register with Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959

If selected, you must meet the following conditions:

• 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 or NonCareer SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
• Serve a one year probationary period, if required.
• Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 3 investigation level).
• Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA OIG employee. We will use the Department of Homeland Security's e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.
• Complete a financial disclosure report to verify that no conflict, or an appearance of conflict, exists between your financial interest and this position.

Qualifications

The GS-13 salary range starts at $121,785 per year.

If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected.

To qualify, you must meet the following requirements: Have IT-related experience demonstrating EACH of the nine IT Specialist competencies AND one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service as described below:

IT SPECIALIST COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS:

• Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
• 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.
• 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.
• Information Management - Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organizes and maintains information or information management systems.
• 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
• 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.
• Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
• Teamwork - Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
• 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. Technical competence includes sufficient knowledge and skills in IT security as defined by the specialized experience requirements outlined for this position.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: Specialized experience is:

• Working independently or in a team with work relating to systems engineering with Windows servers, Virtualization, Routing and Switching, Databases, Firewalls, Virtual Private Networking, Windows and Linux Operating systems, and SASE products.
• Providing technical advice, guidance, and recommendations to management and other technical specialists on critical IT issues - including information security.
• Experience with Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)
• Applying security requirements such as the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA), Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), NIST 800-53, and other applicable federal requirements for assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring.
• Interpreting and applying policies, procedures, and strategies that govern the planning and delivery of IT services.
• Managing network scans, log reviews, IDS configurations, and AV/Malware flags
• Experience with security analysis toolsets, information security concepts, principles and practices
• Configuring and managing firewalls, intrusion detection systems, anti-virus software, data encryption, and other industry-standard techniques and practices at an enterprise level.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Applicants are encouraged to make their resume searchable in their USAJOBS.gov profile. This will allow Federal hiring specialists and hiring managers across agencies to find their resume as part of agency recruitment campaigns or staffing searches.

Current civil service employees will receive new appointments if selected under this Direct Hire Authority.

If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the OIG HR point of contact listed on this vacancy announcement.

Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility.

In the event that this position cannot be filled by the initial selection, alternate selections may be made from this announcement. Management also has the right to not fill this position or to fill additional vacancies through this announcement as needed.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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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.

You will have access to many benefits including:

• Health insurance (choose from a wide range of plans)
• Life insurance coverage with several options
• Sick leave and vacation time, including 11 paid holidays per year
• Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k) plan)
• Flexible work schedules
• Transit and child care subsidies
• Flexible spending accounts
• Training and development

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.