It Specialist (Infosec)
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Job description
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.
Duties:
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
Location: Location Negotiable After Selection (and 19 other locations)
Education:
There is no educational substitution at this grade level.
How you will be evaluated:
Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position: Accountability Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork USA Hire Assessments include a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. 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; religions; 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. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
Other information:
This is not a remote position. OIT has multiple worksites at various duty locations, and the individual(s) selected may be assigned to any federal government work site. This announcement will NOT be used for changing duty locations. If selected, and you are a current VA employee, and not on an approved exemption, you will continue to report to your current duty location. If selected you will be required to report to one of the following locations: Anchorage, AK Tuskegee, AL Prescott, AZ Tucson, AZ Sacramento, CA San Diego, CA Grand Junction, CO Wilmington, DE Gainesville, FL Orlando, FL Tampa, FL Augusta, GA Dublin, GA Boise, ID Chicago, IL Danville, IL Marion, IL North Chicago, IL Ft. Wayne, IN Indianapolis, IN Topeka, KS Lexington, KY Alexandria, LA Shreveport, LA Bedford, MA Boston, MA Ann Arbor, MI Detroit, MI Saginaw, MI Minneapolis, MN St. Cloud, MN St. Paul, MN Columbia, MO Kansas City, MO Poplar Bluff, MO Biloxi, MS Manchester, NH Newark, NJ Albany, NY Bath, NY Bronx, NY Canandaigua, NY Syracuse, NY Wappingers Falls, NY Las Vegas, NV Cleveland, OH Dayton, OH White City, OR Coatesville, PA Erie, PA Lebanon, PA San Juan, PR Providence, RI Mountain Home, TN Murfreesboro, TN Nashville, TN San Antonio, TX Salem, VA White River Junction, VT Seattle, WA Spokane, WA Walla Walla, WA Tomah, WI Clarksburg, WV Huntington, WV Cheyenne, WY If space is not immediately available a temporary exception to telework may be granted. If/when workspace is identified, the employee is expected to report to their assigned duty location. 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. 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 http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
How to apply:
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online questionnaire and submission of the required documentation specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13041631. The application process is as follows: To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date, 09/03/2026. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. NOTE: Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. For more general information, system requirements, reasonable accommodation information, and to request assistance regarding the USA Hire Assessments, review the following resources: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=USA_Hire_Assessments To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.