What are the responsibilities and job description for the IT Specialist (ISSO) position at US Federal Communications Commission?
Duties
The Information Systems Security Officer (ISSO) shall be responsible to the Authorizing Official (AO), Information System Owner, and Chief information Security Officer (CISO) for ensuring that the appropriate operational security posture (i.e., physical, and environmental protection, personnel security, incident handling, and security training and awareness) is maintained for an information system or program. As the principal advisor to the AO, Information System Owner, or CISO on all matters, technical and otherwise, involving the security of an information system, the ISSO shall duties and responsibilities also include the following:
- Analysis of security findings, issues, and plans.
- Interpretation and clarification of security policy, guidance and new or changing IT System requirements.
- Recommendation for action(s) to resolve or mitigate known weaknesses, or for preventive measures and safeguards for potential threats.
- Guidance in resolving known system weaknesses according to available enterprise-level plans or solutions.
- Situational awareness through notification of enterprise security issues, solutions, projects and plans that may impact the system(s) under their purview.
- Be responsible for ensuring the security of the system is following the requirements throughout the system life cycle (from design through disposal).
- Actively support the development and maintenance of the system security plan, to include coordinating system changes with the information system owner and assessing the security impact of those changes.
- Perform and/or provide oversight and guidance for day-to-day security activities for assigned systems.
- Coordinate changes to the system with the system owner and the information owner, as needed.
- Assess security or privacy impact of system changes.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- US Citizenship.
- Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation.
- Serve a probationary period of one year, if applicable.
- Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
- Financial disclosure statement may be required upon assuming the position.
- Security Clearance Required
- Drug Testing Required.
Please note your resume must thoroughly support your responses to the vacancy questions. Your resume is an integral part of the process for determining if you meet the basic qualifications of the position and determining if you are to be among the best qualified.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Time in grade restrictions do not apply to Direct Hire procedures.
Basic Requirements:
Individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below:
Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
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.
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.
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:
In order to be deemed as qualified, candidates must have one year of specialized experience which is equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as follows:
1. Experience providing technical advice and guidance to management regarding Cybersecurity risks to an organization's information technology (IT) assets (data, networks, and applications) while performing as a technical and policy ISSO.
2. Experience coordinating ongoing Cybersecurity inspections, tests, and reviews to improve the effectiveness of IT security goals and objectives and reduce overall organizational risk.
3. Experience recommending and interpreting information security services policies, procedures and strategies throughout an organization.
4. Experience identifying technical and/or procedural information security problems/issues and recommending improvements or changes.
5. Experience using GRC tools to identify and mitigate risks within information systems/boundaries.
PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: 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
Any/all educational requirements (if applicable) are listed and outlined within the "Qualifications" section.
Additional information
EEO Policy Statement
Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement
Veterans Information
Legal and Regulatory Guidance
- Before hiring, an agency will ask you to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. The agency will also ask you to sign and certify the accuracy of all the information in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be fined or jailed. If you are a male over age 18 who was born after December 31, 1959, you must have registered with the Selective Service System (or have an exemption) to be eligible for a Federal job.
- If applicable, you will be required to serve a trial period of one year.
- In order for you to be employed at the FCC, there are certain Commission and Federal laws governing the financial interests of you and members of your immediate family. If selected for the position, you must submit a financial disclosure statement upon assuming the position.
Benefits
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.
The FCC offers a wide range of employee benefits, including:
Health Insurance
Life Insurance
Dental & Vision Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Long-Term Care Insurance
Holidays and Leave
Retirement
Thrift Savings Plan
Transit Benefit
Alternative Work Schedule
TelecommutingEligibility 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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
All applicants will be rated on the extent and quality of experience and education relevant to the duties of the position. The FCC determines the BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES based upon whether or not all of the qualification requirements have been met (education, basic experience requirements and specialized experience requirements).
As this position is being advertised under Direct Hire procedures, veterans preference does not apply.
A selecting official may make a selection from the list of candidates who are deemed as "Best Qualified".
Applicants under Merit Promotion will be considered in accordance with the agency's merit promotion plan and union agreement.
There are several parts to the application process that affect the overall evaluation of your application including:
1. Resume-Must address the specialized experience
2. SF-50-For current federal employees
3. Supplemental documentation (e.g., DD-214, SF-50, SF-15, cover letter), if applicable; and
4. Unofficial or official transcripts
Applicants will be rated ineligible if they do not meet all of the qualification requirements (education, basic experience requirements and specialized experience requirements).
You will be evaluated for this position on the following Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other characteristics (KSAOs):
- Expert knowledge of a vast range of information systems vulnerabilities and protection concepts, principles, and practices to resolve extremely difficult and complex security and information systems controls challenges
- Mastery of, and skill in applying, advanced information systems and cybersecurity laws, Federal and regulations, Executive directives/orders, Federal information systems protocols, systems security assessment and authorization requirements and processes, and core information systems security concepts, principles, and requirements to an enterprise protection environment.
- Mastery of, and skill in applying information systems security principles and concepts; infrastructure protection environment; interrelationships of multiple IT disciplines; and the Federal IT security hierarchy sufficient to: (a) implement higher level security requirements such as those resulting from laws, regulations, or Presidential directives; (b) integrate security programs across disciplines; and (c) define the scope and level of detail for security plans and policies applicable to the security program.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Benefits
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.
The FCC offers a wide range of employee benefits, including:
Health Insurance
Life Insurance
Dental & Vision Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Long-Term Care Insurance
Holidays and Leave
Retirement
Thrift Savings Plan
Transit Benefit
Alternative Work Schedule
TelecommutingEligibility 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.
Required Documents
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
***Your resume must clearly document how you meet the specialized experience in order to meet the minimum qualification requirements for this vacancy. Some positions require supplemental document(s). All required supporting documents MUST be received by midnight U.S. Eastern Time of the closing date of the announcement, as specified in this announcement. If you do not submit a required document (e.g. transcripts, etc.) your application will be considered incomplete and you will not receive further consideration. Once you apply to this vacancy you will be prompted by the system to upload the documents. If you are unable to upload the required documentation, contact the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement prior to 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.***
Required Documents
1. Resume
Required Documentation for CTAP and ICTAP eligibles
1. An SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, or other official documentation, which shows that you were declared displaced or surplus while serving as a career or career conditional competitive service employee, in tenure group 1 or 2, OR are a current or former Executive Branch agency employee in the excepted service serving on an appointment without time limit, at grade levels GS-15 or equivalent and below, and who has been conferred noncompetitive appointment eligibility and special selection priority by statute for positions in the competitive service.
2. An SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, or other official documentation which shows the position you may be or are being separated from has the same or higher promotion potential as that of the vacancy.
Additionally for CTAP eligibles
A copy of your Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice;
- A notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function outside the local commuting area;
- A Certificate of Expected Separation; your agency's certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
Additionally for ICTAP eligibles
- A copy of your RIF separation notice, a notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function outside the local commuting area;
- An OPM notice that your disability annuity has been (or will be) terminated;
- Certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or
- Certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for a disability retirement and will receive the special OPM annuity.
- A copy of a current (or last) performance rating of record of at least fully successful or equivalent (not required if you are an ICTAP eligible due to compensable injury or disability retirement).
For more information on CTAP and ICTAP download a copy of The Employee's Guide to Career Transition at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdfIf 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.
How to Apply
To apply to this announcement go to the website: https://www.usajobs.gov/Search/Results?a=FC00&k=Federal Communications Commission
Your application, including resume, all supplemental documents, registration information and answers to job specific questions must be received no later than midnight U.S. Eastern time of the closing date. For more information on applying federal jobs, please check this webpage: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/process
If applying online poses a hardship, you may contact either the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement or you may contact the Monster Government Solutions help desk (prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement) via e-mail at mgshelp@monster.com or you may reach them directly at 866-656-6831. The Monster Help Desk is available Monday-Friday 7:00 am to 7:00 pm EST.
Qualified applicants may be further reviewed and rated by Subject Matter Experts to determine the validity of on-line question.
The Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) are programs designed to afford selection priority to well-qualified Federal employees who meet the definition of a “surplus” or “displaced” employee.
To be eligible for consideration under CTAP, you must be a current FCC employee who has received an official notice stating that your position is no longer needed, or that you will be separated by reduction in force (RIF).
To be eligible for consideration under ICTAP, you must be one of the following:
Be a displaced Federal employee and have a current duty station within the local commuting area of this vacancy. You must submit a copy of the appropriate documentation such as a RIF separation notice, a letter from OPM or your agency documenting your priority consideration status with your application package.
The following categories of candidates are considered displaced Employees:
- Current or former career or career-conditional (tenure group I or II) competitive service employees who: 1. Received a specific RIF separation notice; or 2. Separated because of a compensable injury, whose compensation has been terminated, and whose former agency certifies that it is unable to place; or 3. Retired with a disability and whose disability annuity has been or is being terminated; or 4. Upon receipt of a RIF separation notice retired on the effective date of the RIF and submits a Standard Form 50 that indicates "Retirement in lieu of RIF", or 5. Retired under the discontinued service retirement option, or 6. Was separated because he/she declined a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area.
- Former Military Reserve or National Guard Technicians who are receiving a special Office of Personnel Management (OPM) disability retirement annuity under section 337 (h) or 8456 of title 5 United States Code.
- Be applying for a position at or below the grade level of the position from which you have been separated. The position must not have a greater promotion potential than the position from which you were separated.
- Have a current (or last) performance rating of record of at least fully successful or equivalent. This must be submitted with your application package. (This requirement does not apply to candidates who are eligible due to compensable injury or disability retirement.
- Occupy or be displaced from a position in the same local commuting area of the position for which you are requesting priority consideration.
NOTE: To be considered for an announced vacancy in the area of consideration within which the employee is eligible to compete, the employee must apply online using the Commission’s automated recruitment system. Employees must submit all necessary application materials identified in the announcement by the specified closing date.Agency contact information
Nichole AndersonPhone202-418-1891EmailNichole.Anderson@fcc.govAddressFederal Communications Commission
45 L Street NE
Washington, District of Columbia 20554
United StatesNext steps
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications to determine your ranking. The best-qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the outcome.
Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
- Criminal history inquiries
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Financial suitability
- New employee probationary period
- Privacy Act
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Selective Service
- Signature and false statements
- Social security number request
Required Documents
***Your resume must clearly document how you meet the specialized experience in order to meet the minimum qualification requirements for this vacancy. Some positions require supplemental document(s). All required supporting documents MUST be received by midnight U.S. Eastern Time of the closing date of the announcement, as specified in this announcement. If you do not submit a required document (e.g. transcripts, etc.) your application will be considered incomplete and you will not receive further consideration. Once you apply to this vacancy you will be prompted by the system to upload the documents. If you are unable to upload the required documentation, contact the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement prior to 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.***
Required Documents
1. Resume
Required Documentation for CTAP and ICTAP eligibles
2. An SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, or other official documentation which shows the position you may be or are being separated from has the same or higher promotion potential as that of the vacancy.
Additionally for CTAP eligibles
A copy of your Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice;
- A notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function outside the local commuting area;
- A Certificate of Expected Separation; your agency's certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
Additionally for ICTAP eligibles
- A copy of your RIF separation notice, a notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function outside the local commuting area;
- An OPM notice that your disability annuity has been (or will be) terminated;
- Certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or
- Certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for a disability retirement and will receive the special OPM annuity.
- A copy of a current (or last) performance rating of record of at least fully successful or equivalent (not required if you are an ICTAP eligible due to compensable injury or disability retirement).
For more information on CTAP and ICTAP download a copy of The Employee's Guide to Career Transition at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf
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.
This job is open to
- The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
- Federal employees - Competitive service
Current or former competitive service federal employees.
- Federal employees - Excepted service
Current excepted service federal employees.
- Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
- Veterans
- Individuals with disabilities
- Military spouses
- Special authorities
Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed above, but defined in the federal hiring regulations.
- Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista
- Family of overseas employees
Family members of a federal employee or uniformed service member who is or was, working overseas.
- National Guard and reserves
Current members, those who want to join or transitioning military members.
- Land and base management
Certain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency.
- Native Americans
Native Americans or Alaskan Natives with a tribal affiliation.
Clarification from the agency
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - Open to all U.S. Citizens. Individuals who typically apply for positions under other authorities may also apply competitively to this position. (e.g. VRA, Schedule A, Peace Corps, Students, Recent Graduates, Military Spouses, National Guard, Indian Preference, Land Management, Family of Overseas Employees, Federal Employees, Agency Employees, ICTAP) Non-citizens may be eligible for this excepted service position under certain circumstances.