Information Technology Specialist (Security)

Summary

This position is located in the Monitoring and Incident Response Division (MIRD), Office of Cybersecurity, Testing, Monitoring and Response (CTMR), Cyber Operations Directorate (CO), Bureau of Diplomatic Technology (DT). The division safeguards State Department IT systems by detecting cyber threats, responding to incidents, and monitoring network activity to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical data. The duty station is Beltsville, MD.

Duties

• Utilizes cyber defense tools to continuously monitor and analyze enterprise systems to detect malicious activity.
• Lead analyst teams, as an Incident Commander, in handling novel and sophisticated cyber-attacks and serve as a subject matter expert.
• Analyze malicious activity to determine attack path, exploitation, and effects on systems and information.
• Document and escalate incidents that can potentially cause ongoing and immediate impact to the environment.
• Adhere to incident response processes and recommend process and or policy improvements.
• Provide cybersecurity recommendations to Senior Leadership and advise on deficiencies and corrective actions.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. Applicants applying for the GS-13 grade level must meet the following requirements: Have IT-related experience demonstrating EACH of the four competencies AND specialized experience listed below: Attention to Detail - Monitors and analyzes network activity, documents and correlates incidents, and ensures controls and processes accurately address identified risks. Customer Service - Provides timely alerts, reports, and recommendations to Department leadership and other stakeholders, and follows up to ensure corrective actions are completed. Oral Communication - Delivers clear, authoritative briefings and incident updates to leadership and contractor teams, explaining threats, impacts, and recommended actions. Problem Solving - Manages the full incident lifecycle, evaluates and improves cybersecurity capabilities and processes, leads CIRT projects, and directs contractor efforts to resolve complex cyber threats. AND Have at least 1 full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience as a senior cyber incident responder managing cybersecurity events from detection and monitoring through analysis and mitigation of threats. Experience documenting and escalating cyber incidents, analyzing incident and trend data to assess attack effectiveness, and applying and improving incident response processes. Experience briefing senior leadership and contractor teams on cybersecurity risks and solutions through oral and written reports. NOTE: In order to qualify for this position, your experience MUST be IT related; the experience may be demonstrated by paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (for example, IT certification), as appropriate. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement. How You Will Be Evaluated

The evaluation process consists of the ApplyGov Competency Based Assessments and a crediting plan for which applicants will be assigned a score between 70 and 100. A resume review by subject matter experts will be conducted for the top qualified candidates based on the combined total score. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further. Responses to questions that are not fully supported by your resume may result in a rating adjustment. All applications that meet the required qualifications and the cutoff score will be referred to the selecting official in the order in which the applications were received. You will be assessed on the following job-related competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Non-Supervisory: Oral Communication, Writing, Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, Teamwork, Technology Orientation, Customer Service, Attention to Detail and Self-Management. Set aside at least 2 hours to take the external assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. There are timed sections that must be completed within the allotted timeframe. Your score from the external assessment Non-supervisory will remain on file for 180 days, allowing you to apply for multiple DOS-announced positions without the need to retake the assessments. Top applicants may be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. The assessment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies and KSAs required for this position. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies: Ability to analyze technology hardware & software for solutions. Skill in managing government-wide recommendations for remediating cybersecurity. Knowledge of computer-based information storage & computer systems. Ability to lead multiple, concurrent projects. Ability to clearly and accurately communicate technical information to all audiences. Resume review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. Your resume should demonstrate how you meet all aspects of the specialized experience statement. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., links embedded in your resume will not be opened.). If meeting basic qualifications through education only or a combination of education and experience, applicants will not be referred to the SME panel but will be reviewed by the HR Specialist for referral. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We do not make assumptions regarding your experience. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application may result in your removal from consideration. You may preview questions for this vacancy. Other Information

To request a reasonable accommodation for additional time on the timed sections of the assessment, please submit your request using the “Request a Reasonable Accommodation” button within the Assessment Application. For all other reasonable accommodations at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations (OAA) at [email protected]. OAA is responsible for reviewing and adjudicating reasonable accommodation (RA) requests for the Assessment Battery being used for this announcement. The following applies to all RA requests: RA requests cover additional time on timed sections only. Applicants submitting a RA request MUST attach supporting medical documentation signed by a licensed, treating medical provider. The documentation should describe the nature, severity, and expected duration of the condition, identify the relevant medical condition or diagnosis, and explain the basis for the requested extension. RA requests that do not contain supporting medical documentation attachments at the time of initial request may be subject to further review. Note: the following documents do not, on their own, qualify for automatic approval of the RA request: Schedule A letters, VA benefits letters, or SSA letters. Applicants MUST submit their application before the vacancy closes, even if pending an accommodation decision. Applicants are encouraged to carefully follow instructions related to medical documentation provided in the vacancy announcement prior to beginning the RA process. Applicants will have 48 hours after their RA request is adjudicated to complete the assessment battery. Scores generated after the allotted timeframe will not be admissible and the applicant will not be considered further for the vacancy. If a different type of RA is needed, please contact OAA directly at [email protected]. If eligible, situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions. Under the provisions of the Direct-Hire Authority, veterans' preference and traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply. Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP): View OPM's CTAP & ICTAP eligibility website for more information. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority consideration. To be considered Well-Qualified applicants must: score an 85 or above, meet Minimum Qualifications, and demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all major aspects of the position.