It Specialist (Infosec)

Summary

This position is located in Office of Information Technology (OIT); Office Information Security (OIS), Information Security Operations (ISO), Enterprise Security Operations (ESO). The incumbent serves as a senior Information System Security Officer (ISSO). The incumbent develops network and systems design; and provides oversight assistance in the implementation of systems security policies and procedures to assure consistency. Conducts systems security evaluations, audits and reviews.

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Duties

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Major duties include but not limited to:

• Develops, implements, monitors and tracks controlled access programs to ensure security viability of appropriate AIS policies, as well as the acquisition of IT security tools.
• Plans, develops, establishes and implements local AIS systems security program(s), such as IT security certification and accreditation processes, regular and recurring COTS analysis and the performance of tests and assessments of security authentication technologies
• Independently conducts or leads ad hoc teams in the conduct of comprehensive program studies and evaluations to assure efficacy and viability of AIS operations, as well as to foster management compliance with and adherence to established Federal and VA/OIT laws, regulations, policies and procedures established to protect AIS from unauthorized access; and sensitive data from fraudulent compromise.
• Develops and implements program procedures to ensure that systems, network and data users are aware of, as well as understand and adhere to AIS policies and procedures.
• Plans, establishes, and implements local AIS systems security program(s), such as IT security, certification and accreditation processes, regular and recurring COTS analysis and the performance of tests and assessments of security authentication technologies.
• Develops and implements program procedures to ensure that systems, network, and data users are aware of, as well as understand and adhere to AIS policies and procedures.
• Ensures the rigorous application of AIS policies, principles, and practices relative to all local IT systems and services.
• Independently investigates or leads ESO security teams in the conduct of investigations of local AIS programs to identify possible breach of security and/or other violations.
• Assesses security incidents to determine impact and initiate corrective action; takes appropriate measures to resolve and report incidents; documents and reports method(s) used to resolve significant security breaches/issues to OIT/ISO and local facility management; and performs follow up action(s) to ensure suitable corrective action(s) are accomplished.
• Conducts systems security evaluations, audits and reviews; and develops AIS security contingency plans and disaster recovery procedures.
• Facilitate and coordinate the gathering, analysis and preservation of evidence used in addressing security violations
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm

Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized

Telework: This position may be authorized for telework.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: It Specialist (Infosec)/PD06078A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period (OR INSERT "2-year trial period") during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period (OR INSERT "trial period"), your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/18/2026.

Applicants must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below at a proficiency level equivalent to the next lower grade level in federal service

You must meet both the Basic Requirement and the Specialized Experience to qualify for this series as described below.

1. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

AND

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience developing network and systems designs and providing oversight or assistance in the implementation of systems security policies and procedures to ensure consistency; developing policies and procedures to ensure Automated Information System (AIS) security, reliability, and accessibility; prevent vulnerabilities and safeguard against unauthorized access to systems, networks, and data; conducting systems security evaluations, audits, and reviews; developing AIS security contingency plans and disaster recovery procedures.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at ;br>
Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at ;br>
Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.

Helpful Hints for Creating a Two-Page Resume:

• Prioritize most relevant and recent experience
• Use concise, results focused language
• Align language from the job announcement
• Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies
• Remove outdated or unrelated experience
• Use the USAJOBS resume builder

Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume building tools can be found at:

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.