Information Technology Cybersecurity Specialist

Job Details

Qualifications & Requirements

You must meet both the Basic Requirement and the Specialized Experience to qualify for this series as described below. BASIC REQUIREMENT: Applicants must have IT-related education and experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below at a proficiency level equivalent to the next lower grade level in federal service. 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. 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. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: GS-13: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting 2 of the 3 of the following: Designing, configuring, and testing enterprise host networks and infrastructure components to maintain optimal security posture in alignment with industry-standard frameworks (such as NIST, ISO, or COBIT). Performing independent risk, vulnerability, and compliance assessments on active information systems to identify potential threats and generating technical mitigation plans. Preparing and formally presenting technical threat data, risk analyses, and security recommendations to senior organizational leaders, of varying technical backgrounds. GS-14: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-13 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting 2 of the 3 of the following: Evaluating and certifying the feasibility, threat resiliency, and policy compliance of enterprise-level IT hardware, software network architectures, and/or information integration systems. Investigating network security incidents, analyzing major technical uncertainties, and rendering final operational decisions to mitigate active threats and protect mission-critical operations. Translating complex executive orders, national policy directives, and industry frameworks (such as NIST or OMB circulars) into unified, long-term organizational cybersecurity programs, security architectures, or project execution plans. "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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. CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Position Overview

This position is part of the Office of Environmental Management - Carlsbad Field Office, Department of Energy. As a Information Technology Cybersecurity Specialist, you will be performing assignments in managing security controls and conducting risk assessments for both classified and unclassified information systems. You will also determine and advise on threat mitigation, system vulnerabilities, and the secure authorization of critical information networks.

Duties

• As an Information Technology Cybersecurity Specialist, you will: Deliver cybersecurity guidance, technical advice, and policy recommendations to senior leadership and management. Act as the technical lead over federal and contractor IT professionals, coordinating projects, tasks, and daily operational activities to meet agency cybersecurity standards. Plan, design, test, and integrate IT systems, ensuring they are continuously maintained, modified, and securely aligned with federal IT compliance. Monitor networks to detect and prevent vulnerabilities, evaluate emerging risks, and rigorously apply advanced cybersecurity methods to protect agency data and systems. Serve as a representative or leader on standard and ad-hoc IT management boards, committees, and working groups to align organizational plans with agency-wide strategy. Prepare and present technical briefings, correspondence, and reports to leadership, and respond to inquiries regarding federal and organizational cybersecurity policies and procedures.