Duties

Summary

The Senior Information Technology Specialist is responsible for IT processes or operations as a technical expert in cloud security.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Major duties include assisting with the implementation and management of FHFA's cloud security strategy. Incumbent is responsible for the maintaining the security and compliance of day-to-day work for IT-related projects within his/her area of expertise. Provides advice, guidance, and training to other IT specialists and may lead IT project teams within area of responsibility. Oversees project responsibilities within assigned area to ensure the proper resources and plans are put into place and are on target.

The cloud security engineer will be responsible to support FHFA's implementation and use of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) capabilities in AWS, Microsoft Azure and Office 365 environments. These activities include the following:

• Serve as an OTIM expert on cloud security architecture;
• Develop and maintain documentation of FHFA's cloud architecture;
• Serve as an OTIM expert in cloud security controls, principles and best practices;
• Develop security policies and practices;
• Provide security engineering support to the development of internet facing systems designed via AWS or Azure;
• Develop and maintain monitoring capabilities to detect malicious or unauthorized activity;
• Advise Operations and Development teams on securely migrating on-prem technologies and services to cloud infrastructure;
• Remain aware of emerging cloud services and technologies offered by AWS or Microsoft;
• Develop recommendations and implementation guidelines related to cloud-based security enhancements including, but not limited to Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) technology, Web Application Firewall (WAF) technology, etc.;
• Research and recommend third party vendor solutions to enhance the native security capabilities of AWS or Microsoft;
• Advise Enterprise Architecture on cloud capabilities; and,
• Serve as contracting officer representative (COR) for multiple technical projects.

Travel Required

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

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Status Candidates (Merit Promotion and VEOA Eligibles) and others eligible through special hiring authorities.
• ***SF 50's are now required with the exception of current FHFA employees. Please include one showing your tenure and competitive status. You will not be considered without this.
• Pursuant to Executive Order 14043, being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is a condition of employment for this position. If selected, you will be required to provide proof of your COVID-19 vaccination status.
• Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. Must be able to obtain and maintain a TS-SCI clearance
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
• Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level).
• Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)

Qualifications

Qualifying experience for the EL/GS-13 level includes one year of specialized experience at least equivalent to EL/GS-12 which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Examples of specialized experience include the following:

• Served as an expert with implementing cloud security architectures.
• Served as an expert in cloud security controls, principles and best practices;
• Developed cloud security policies and procedures or other policy-based documents;
• Implemented cloud security best practices, particularly as they relate to Federal policies and standards.
• Managed or supported cloud-based security technologies.

Must be able to obtain and maintain a TS-SCI clearance

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.

Education

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be 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: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

This announcement has been extended through October 21st.

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans .

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx ).

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .

FHFA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, disability (physical or mental), age (40 years of age or over), genetic information, parental status, marital status, prior protected EEO activity, political affiliation, or other non-merit factors.

REASONABLE ACCOMODATION:

FHFA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, except when doing so would pose an undue hardship on the Agency. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify FHFA. The Agency's decision on granting a reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

• (202) 649-3963
• (800) 877-8339 TTY
• reasonableaccommodations@fhfa.gov

Ethics: FHFA employees are subject to government-wide ethical standards of conduct, financial disclosure requirements, and post-employment prohibitions. In addition, certain FHFA employees are prohibited from accepting compensation from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for a two-year period after terminating employment with FHFA. Furthermore, to avoid financial conflicts-of interest or the appearance of conflicts-of-interest, FHFA employees may need to divest or sell certain assets they, their spouse, or minor children own or control, including securities issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or the Federal Home Loan Banks. Employees who work on Federal Home Loan Bank issues may need to sell or divest financial interests with any of the Federal Home Loan Bank members, which may include stock in bank holding companies, insurance companies, and other financial services firms. Questions regarding these requirements and prohibitions should be directed to the Office of General Counsel at (202) 649-3088.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements:

• Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A
• Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
• Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses
• Other Special Appointment Authorities

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

You will be rated based on your responses to the job specific competencies documented within the questionnaire and assigned a score ranging from 70 to 100 points. The top ten candidates, and those tied for the tenth spot, will be referred for selection. All qualified non-competitive applicants will be referred.

All of the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application forms, by checking references or through other means, such as the interview process. This verification could occur at any stage of the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for rating you ineligible.

Competencies:

• Cloud-based Information Assurance
• Cloud-based Security Compliance -
• Information Systems/Network Security
• Oral Communication:
• Writing:

Please click here for a preview of the questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11255422

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Top Secret

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk

Trust determination process
National security

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your resume showing hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.

2. ***SF 50's are now required with the exception of current FHFA employees. Please include one that shows your tenure and competitive status. You will not be considered without this. The SF 50 should show highest grade held on a permanent basis in the competitive service.

3. Other supporting documents:

• Cover Letter, optional
• College Transcript(s), if qualifying based on education
• Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
• Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting 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 .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.