IT Specialist (INFOSEC)

Summary

Join the Office of Information Security (OIS) service line under OIT and be part of VA's digital transformation. OIS manages VA's cybersecurity program to protect Veteran data and VA information systems. Delivers enterprise-wide strategy, policy, governance, and network defense through collaboration with VA and OIT. As an IT Cybersecurity Specialist, you will enhance the security posture and resilience of VA's IT systems and data and protect the privacy and trust of Veterans and their families.

Duties

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• Advises and makes recommendations to senior officials concerning the feasibility and appropriateness of the department's cyber tools, technologies and configuration guidelines.
• Provide governing expert technical advice, guidance, and recommendations to management and other technical specialists on critical IT issues.
• Provides expert analysis and advice on complex risk management compliance and/or program issues and serves as a resource for congressional inquiries and Inspector General complaints in the identification and investigation of cybersecurity risk management problems.
• Responsible for program/project resources, allocation plans, workforce development plans, budget forecasts, initiatives, and policies.
• Coordinates the Advanced Analytics team analysts' activities to ensure that all workflow, analysis activities, work products and security recommendations are accurate and complete with regards to VA and CSOC policies and procedures.
• Develops solutions to integration/interoperability, manages assigned projects, communicates complex technical requirements to non-technical personnel and prepares and presents briefings to senior management officials on complex/controversial issues.
• Incumbent will have the broadest latitude in the exercise of own initiatives to create unique approaches to the solution of technical and administrative IT architecture problems.

This position is primarily aligned to the following NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework work roles: 511-Cyber Defense Analyst

For more information about these work roles, where they fit within the larger Cyber Workforce, and how they can support your unique career journey, please visit the Cyber Career Pathways tool on the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies website: https://niccs.us-cert.gov/workforce-development/cyber-career-pathways

Position Description/PD#: IT Specialist (INFOSEC)/PD17668A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Travel Required: Occasional travel may be required as needed for this position

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00am - 4:30pm

Compressed/Flexible: As determined by the Agency Policy

Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Remote: This is not a remote position

Telework: This position may be authorized for ADHOC/situational telework

Bargaining Unit Eligible: No

Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary during the planning/preparation phase. The work may require walking and standing for prolong periods in conjunction with travel and at the onsite assessment location. The incumbent may carry light items such as papers, books or computers, or drive a motor vehicle. The work does not require any special physical effort.

Working Conditions: The work area is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions. This position requires occasional travel using both air and ground transportation.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Selectee is subject to background/suitability investigation.
• Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required.
• To be considered for this position, applicants must complete all required steps in the process.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will 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.

All required documents must be uploaded at the time you submit your application. The system supports only one submission. Applicants will not be able to edit their application or upload additional documents once it has been submitted.

Applications that are incomplete-including those missing required documentation-will not be considered. Applicants are responsible for reviewing the Required Documents section and ensuring all mandatory materials are included prior to submission.

Note: Applicants will not be contacted for missing information. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide all documentation necessary to determine qualification and eligibility.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/12/2026.

You must meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements, Specialized Experience and Selective Placement Factors to qualify for this series as described below.

Minimum Qualifications Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must have information technology-related experience demonstrating all of the four competencies listed below. Ensure that this experience is clearly described in your resume:

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.

-AND-

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Such experience is typically gained in the IT field or through the performance of work where the primary concern is IT.

Specialized experience for this position is defined as evaluating technical information related to the job, and advising on technical issues; applying principles, methods, and tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, monitoring, evaluating, and managing projects and resources, including technical performance and requirement compliance; identifying and analyzing problems by weighing relevancy and accuracy of all available information to generate and evaluate alternative solutions and make concrete recommendations.

-AND-

Selective Placement Factor: This position includes a skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to -and essential for- satisfactory performance of the job. Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. Evidence of the Selective Placement Factor must be reflected in your resume.

Selective Placement Factor for this position is successfully identifying and evaluating new and emerging enterprise technologies, defining, managing and leading cybersecurity related programs and/or projects, to include cloud and artificial intelligence technologies.

Evidence of all of these requirements must be reflected in your resume.

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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those who have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Education

There is no educational substitution for this position at this grade level.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related 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. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR [redacted](u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

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 r