IT Branch Manager - Security Operations #177

Summary

The Senate Sergeant at Arms is seeking a IT Branch Manager - Security Operations. The complete vacancy announcement and application can be found on the United States Senate Career Page at https://sen.gov/1VNZQ. This vacancy announcement closes at 11:59pm EST on the closing date. Late applications will not be accepted.

Duties

Sets technical performance standards for outsourced services, evaluates vendor contract compliance, and leads all phases of contract re-competitions, including requirements development and RFP management. Directs strategic planning and oversees branch operations, ensuring effective prioritization, resource allocation, personnel management, and project oversight. Develops and manages the branch budget, including forecasting, expenditure control, justification materials, and contributions to budget testimony; applies cost-benefit analysis to optimize service efficiency. Oversees all aspects of staff management, including recruitment, onboarding, training, development, motivation, and performance evaluation within the branch. Establishes and enforces branch and department policies, procedures, and operational standards. Prepares operational reports, approves procurement actions, and manages essential administrative functions. Other duties as assigned. Qualifications

Other Duties/ Responsibilities May serve as Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for one or more contracts. Establishes policies and practices governing the operation, services, and staff of the branch. Serves as the Director in their absence. Leads or participates in user groups, task forces, and steering committee activities with other Senate or legislative branch organizations. Represents the SAA in meetings and activities with senior management of other Senate or legislative branch organizations. Required Work Experience At least eight years of progressively responsible experience in information technology, information security, cybersecurity, or a related technical field, including at least six years of leadership experience within a cybersecurity environment. Required Special Skills/ Knowledge Strategic leadership of complex cybersecurity and IT programs, including priority-setting, resource allocation, and risk evaluation. Proven ability to lead, manage, and develop technical, professional, and managerial staff. Advanced knowledge of cybersecurity, IT principles, frameworks, security controls, and emerging technologies. Strong understanding of public-sector procurement, contracting, budgeting, personnel management, and project management. Experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets, major contracts, vendors, and investment portfolios. Ability to analyze complex technical, operational, financial, and organizational issues and make sound decisions. Executive-level communication skills for advising leadership, building consensus, and engaging diverse stakeholders. Ability to establish and enforce cybersecurity policies, standards, and operational practices. Skilled in planning and overseeing multiple technical units and IT projects from conception to completion. Ability to contribute to and execute strategic IT and cybersecurity plans aligned with organizational goals. Commitment to ongoing professional development and staying current with IT and cybersecurity trends. Ability to obtain and maintain CISSP certification. As part of our hiring process, we may conduct a skills assessment to better understand an applicant’s proficiency in key areas relevant to the role. Desired Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field preferred. Experience: 8+ years in IT/program management, with at least 6 years managing teams in a cybersecurity environment. Operational Leadership: Direct management experience leading a SOC, Incident Response, or Threat Hunt team (managing staff, not just as a senior individual contributor). Certifications: Active CISSP or CISM preferred. Clearance: Prior clearance history is a plus. Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a security clearance. Key Competencies: Strong analytical, critical thinking, and team development skills, with a track record of clearly briefing non-technical leadership. Skills and Abilities Technical Skills Operating Systems: Deep working knowledge of Windows, Linux, and macOS internals. Exposure to Cisco IOS, Solaris, or mobile OS environments is a plus. Detection Engineering: Hands-on experience authoring, reviewing, and tuning Sigma, YARA, Snort, and Suricata rules. Forensics: Hands-on with major host forensic toolsets/artifacts across Windows, Linux, and macOS, plus packet capture and NetFlow analysis for network forensics. Malware Analysis: Ability to perform triage-level analysis during incidents (script de-obfuscation, basic binary analysis, live process examination). Red Team & Automation: Solid understanding of offensive tactics to validate detections and spot coverage gaps. Proficiency in at least one scripting language (PowerShell, Python, Bash, Ruby, or Perl) for operational automation. Threat Intelligence: Ability to turn fragmented data into clear, actionable intelligence products. Leadership & Management Skills Team Development: Experience recruiting, mentoring, and retaining high-performing security staff through structured coaching and development plans. Operations at Scale: Proven ability to manage shift-based or on-call operations, workload triage, and high-tempo incident escalations. Cross-Functional Partnering: Skilled at collaborating across IT, legal, compliance, and senior executive teams. Executive Reporting: Ability to turn complex technical findings into clean briefings and structured documentation that builds institutional knowledge. Working Conditions Work is performed in an office environment. Work requires occasional walking, standing, bending, and safely carrying items weighing less than 50 pounds, such as laptops, desktops, servers, and routers. Work requires extended periods of computer use. To meet the needs of the U.S. Senate, individuals in this position may be required to be on call or report onsite on a rotational basis within 24 hours. Occasionally, late-night and weekend work is required. Essential Services are functions and activities that are critical to the continuous operation, security, and support of the United States Senate. These services must remain operational without interruption to ensure the Senate can conduct official business. Positions supporting essential services require employees to be available and prepared to work, including during inclement weather, holidays, weekends, late nights, and overnight hours. Due to the nature of Senate operations, essential services, including network operations and infrastructure, cannot be suspended while the Senate is in session, and maintenance activities may be required outside of normal business hours. Excepted Services refer to functions and activities that are authorized to continue during a lapse of appropriations because they are necessary to the performance of the Senate’s constitutional functions, address emergency circumstances that imminently threaten the safety of human life or the protection of property, or directly support essential services of the United States Senate. Employees in excepted positions are generally required to work and remain operational during a lapse of appropriations to ensure continuity of critical Senate functions. These positions may involve working non-standard schedules, including nights, weekends, holidays, and extended hours, to maintain uninterrupted service and operational readiness. Security Clearance This position requires that the applicant obtain and maintain a Top Secret U.S. Government security clearance. Applicants must be U.S. citizens in order for the SAA to submit your application for a security clearance.

Education

Bachelor's Degree. How You Will Be Evaluated

Your application will be evaluated by a panel on the quality and extent of your total accomplishments, experience, and education. Highly qualified candidates may be interviewed and a reference check conducted. Other Information

The Sergeant at Arms is an equal opportunity employer in accordance with the requirements of Senate rules, regulations, and applicable Federal Laws. This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Decisions to grant reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Please email [email protected] with “Applicant Accommodation” in the subject line. No moving, relocation or pre-employment travel expenses will be paid for this position, or while in application for this position.