IT Cybersecurity Specialist (INFOSEC)

Summary

This vacancy is for a GS-2210-12, IT Cybersecurity Specialist (INFOSEC) located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, C5I SERVICE CENTER -C5ISC in Portsmouth, VA and Kearneysville, West Virginia.

Duties

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You will serve as a IT Cybersecurity Specialist (INFOSEC) and be responsible for ensuring the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information systems, operational technology, networks, and data by serving in an Information System Security Officer (ISSO) capacity.

Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team. Typical work assignments include:

• Developing procedures to ensure information systems reliability and accessibility to prevent and defend against unauthorized access to systems, networks, and data.
• Ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems, networks, operational technology, and data through the planning, analysis, development, implementation, maintenance, and enhancement of information systems security programs, policies, procedures, and tools.
• Investigating, analyzing, and responding to cyber incidents within the network environment or enclave.

Mandatory training is required which must be successfully completed and other training may occur as necessary for success in the position.

A. Residential ISSO Core Competency Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS) within 12 months of entry into the position.

B. Security Certification at an intermediate level (e.g., Information Assurance Management Level II/III (IAM-II, IAM-III)) or management determined equivalent within nine months of entry into the position.

Open Continuous: You may update your application documents and some questions related to your personal information at any time during the announcement open period. Upon application, you may be provided a testing window to complete additional assessments. This testing window may stipulate a completion deadline before the announcement closes. It is your responsibility to complete the additional online assessments within the timeline provided to remain in consideration for this vacancy announcement. Failure to complete the online assessments within the testing window for this announcement will not preclude you from being considered for and completing the online assessments during a testing window on a future announcement.

NOTE:This announcement has an open period until 02/12/2027, with applicant cut-off dates every 30 days. Applications received that meet the eligibility and qualification criteria may be referred for further consideration based on the following cut-off dates: 12/12/2026, 01/12/2027, 02/12/2027

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Do NOT include the following types of information in your resume:

• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Date of Birth (DOB)
• Photos of yourself (if included on your resume you will not be considered for this position)
• Personal information: such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.

Key Requirements:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Must be registered or exempt from the Selective Service. See www.sss.gov
• A one-year probationary period may be required.
• Suitable for Federal employment determined by background investigation.
• This position requires a Secret clearance.
• This is not a Bargaining Unit position.
• The agency requires the selectee to hold intermediate Cybersecurity certifications (CISM or CISSO or FITSP-M or GCIA or GCSA or GCIH or GSLC or GICSP or CISSP-ISSMP or CISSP) within 9 months of appointment date.

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, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office.

USA Hire Assessment: After submitting your application, if an additional assessment is required, you will receive an email invitation. Please note that this assessment must be completed within the 3-day window specified in the email.

Qualifications

To qualify at the GS-12 grade level, your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the federal or private sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. Examples of specialized experience include performing the following types of tasks on a regular basis.

NOTE: All experience statements (i.e., duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire) copied from this announcement and pasted into your resume will not be considered as a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

Your resume must demonstrate that you meet 3 out of the 7 specialized experience below:

• Conducting comprehensive security assessments to align cybersecurity efforts with the Risk Management Framework (RMF); or
• Evaluating and assessing vulnerabilities of classified and/or unclassified network, application, or operational technology hardware, operating system software, and/or peripheral network equipment such as routers, bridges, switches etc.; or
• Monitoring the system and environment of operation to include developing and updating the system security plan; or
• Managing and controlling changes to the system, and assessing the security impact of these changes; or
• Creating Plans of Actions and Milestones (POAM's) to document system vulnerabilities; or
• Working knowledge of system administration, network, and operating system hardening techniques; or
• Working knowledge of network security architecture concepts including topology, protocols, components, and principles (e.g., application of defense-in-depth).

NOTE: Education cannot be substituted for experience at this grade level.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This position does not have a positive education requirement.

Only experience obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

Student Loan - Selectee(s) for this position who are newly appointed to a permanent or term position may be eligible for student loan repayment up to $10,000 (pre-tax) for one calendar year. More than one loan may be repaid if the combined repayments do not exceed $10,000. Receipt of this incentive will require a three-year service agreement.

Additional information

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.

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays.

Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service- connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

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.