Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Cybersecurity Division, Technology Office (TO), Business Center Operations Office, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Development (RD).

Direct Hire Authority: These positions are being filled through the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Direct-Hire Authority for this occupation.

The Locality Pay of this position will be determined based on the location of the selectee.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

• The incumbent will serve as an Information Security (IT) security compliance analyst.
• Interprets, develops, recommends, evaluates effectiveness of, and disseminates policy and guidance on Information Assurance program requirements.
• Performs systems security evaluations, Investigations, audits, and reviews related to the formal Assessment and Authorization process, culminating in a signed Authority to Operate (ATO) for each RD IT system.
• Serves as a key advisor in risk assessments of IT systems and adheres to configuration management best practices to ensure security controls are maintained over the life of IT systems.
• Responsible for implementing the RD FedRAMP Sponsorship Strategy to initiate the Agency-specific certification of Cloud Service Providers.
• Responsible for conducting risk assessments of planned and installed information systems to identify vulnerabilities, risks, and protection needs.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.
Basic Requirement:
1. Attention to Detail
2. Customer Service
3. Oral Communication
4. Problem Solving

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, qualified applicants must possess:
For the GS-13 level: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates: In-depth knowledge of federal and industry IT Security guidelines. Experience with the process of integrating Cybersecurity throughout the IT system development lifecycle (SDLC); providing risk and vulnerability assessment of the full lifecycle of IT systems. Performing systems security evaluations, investigations, audits, and reviews. Experience assessing controls and have reduced risk to the extent possible; and authorize acceptance of the risk to put the system on the network. Ability to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the IT security compliance program, in addition to maintaining security compliance metrics. Identifying, assessing, prioritizing, and monitoring the progress of corrective efforts for security weaknesses/deficiencies/vulnerabilities found in program and systems. Knowledge of project management techniques to perform cost/benefit analysis, and direct the development of overall plans. Experience with briefing senior management officials on complex issues; communicating complex technical requirements to technical and non-technical personnel. There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-13 level.

NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-2210 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement. A copy is available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

To be eligible for appointment to this position, the new hire must be cleared to come on board once the results of the fingerprint check, review of the OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and the candidate's Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (eQIP) entries have been reviewed and determined to be satisfactory. This position requires a favorable credit check as part of the background investigation.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc) should contact: USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). This position is eligible for telework and other flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of two or three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies:

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10652743

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

• Resume that includes:1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) other qualifications.
• Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.