The official title of this position is Security Specialist, GS-0080-11/12.

Duties

This position is located in the Infrastructure Security Division (ISD) which focuses on protecting critical infrastructure from all hazards by managing risk and enhancing resilience through collaboration with the critical infrastructure community, which includes private sector owners, operators, and employees; state, local, tribal, and territorial officials; and other federal agencies.

Typical work assignments at the full performance level include, but are not limited to:

• Leading or contributing to unmanned aircraft system security projects, stakeholder engagements and outreach, and development of security guidance, tools, or resources.
• Reviewing and analyzing threat information, incidents, laws, regulations, and technology developments to identify trends and generate insights that inform program or organizational decisions.
• Advising/assisting internal and external stakeholders in understanding airspace restrictions, types of unmanned aircraft systems, potential vulnerabilities to aerial threats, security recommendations, and pertinent laws and regulations surrounding unmanned aircraft system operations, detection technology, and counter-unmanned aircraft system actions.
• Developing guidance, tools, and resources that help stakeholders understand unmanned aircraft system-related security risks and identify potential vulnerabilities and risk reduction options.
• Establishing and maintaining partnerships with federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and private-sector stakeholders to enhance unity of effort in countering unmanned aircraft system threats to critical infrastructure.
• Developing memos, talking points, briefings, training content or other correspondence for various internal and external audiences.
• Presenting findings, options, and recommendations, via briefing memos, reports, project papers, or presentations
• Representing the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in internal, inter-agency, and external forums to raise awareness of unmanned aircraft system threats, available resources, and security best practices.
• Delivering virtual and in person unmanned aircraft system security briefings and trainings.

Military Spouses & U.S. Foreign Service Spouses Only: This position is remote work and telework eligible consistent with the Agency's telework and remote work program policy. Applicants who live within the local commuting area (i.e., a 50-mile or less radius from Glebe Road, Arlington VA (not driving distance)) are eligible for 100% telework in accordance with agency policy.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen.
• Complete the initial online assessment and USA Hire Assessment, if required.
• Selective Service - Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service see http://www.sss.gov/
• All Federal employees are required to participate in Direct Deposit/ Electronic Funds Transfer for salary payments.
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance suitable for Federal employment as determined by a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
• Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements.
• This position may be designated as essential personnel. Essential personnel must be able to serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of liberal leave or government closures due to weather, protests, and acts of terrorism or lack of funding. Failure to report for or remain in this position may result in disciplinary or adverse action in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations (5 U.S.C. [redacted] and 5 CFR Part 752, as applicable).

Qualifications

Do NOT copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. Your resume must describe your work and experience, in your own words.

To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required education and/or experience for the respective grade level in which you are applying.

You qualify at the GS-11 grade level, if you have:

EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level (or equivalent) performing all the following duties:

1. Supporting plans, development, implementation, or evaluation of programs, policies, or operations involving unmanned aircraft systems, drones, or counter-unmanned aircraft systems;
2. Researching emerging threats, security concerns, or legislative, regulatory, or policy changes related to critical infrastructure or public gathering security; AND
3. Gathering and organizing routine information-such as basic security guidance, training materials, briefings, or reports to support internal or external engagements.

OR

EDUCATION:

A. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited institution that included major study in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position.

OR

B. Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited institution that included major study in the field of study described in statement "A" above.

OR

C. LL.M. (Master of Laws) degree, if related

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: An equivalent combination of education and experience as described above may be used to substitute for the specialized experience requirement. Only graduate education in excess of the second year (determined by the institution) or 36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement.

You qualify at the GS-12 grade level, if you have:

EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level (or equivalent) performing all the following duties:

1. Planning, developing, implementing, or evaluating programs, policies, or operations involving unmanned aircraft systems, drones, or counter-unmanned aircraft systems;
2. Analyzing emerging threats, security concerns, or legislative, regulatory, or policy changes related to critical infrastructure or public gathering security; AND
3. Presenting information such as security guidance, training, briefings, or reports to internal or external audiences.

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.

Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule (GS) position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying). NOTE: Current or former GS federal civilian employees, within the previous 52 weeks, applying for a position under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) must meet time-in-grade requirements.

Time After Competitive Appointment: By the closing date specified in this job announcement, current Federal civilian employees must wait at least 90 days after their latest non-temporary appointment from a competitive service referral certificate before promotion, transfer, reinstatement, reassignment, or detail.

All qualification requirements, including Time-in-Grade, must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification AND Time-in-Grade claims will be subject to verification.

Education

No Educational Substitution: There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 grade level. You must meet the qualifications listed in the "Requirements" section of this announcement.

For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for a position by substituting education or training for experience, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted that includes your name, the name of the educational institution, course title(s), number of credits, grade, and date of completion. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

Education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Graduate Education: One academic year of graduate education is the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the qualification requirements. You must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private U.S. organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.

Additional information

• Other incentives may be authorized.
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.
• Additional vacancies may be filled with this announcement.
• A one-year probationary period may be required during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued 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.
• Military Spouses & U.S. Foreign Service Spouses Only:The actual salary will be adjusted based on the grade, step, and locality for the selectee's geographic location. The remote worker's locality pay is based on the location of the employee's residence. General Schedule (GS) locality pay tables may be found at Salaries & Wages.
• If selected below the full performance level, you may be noncompetitively promoted to the next higher grade level after meeting all regulatory requirements, and upon the recommendation of management. Promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.