What are the responsibilities and job description for the Information Security Specialist position at USDA?
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Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions and specialized experience, as defined below.
Time In Grade:
Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.
FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL
Specialized Experience:
GS-12: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service or equivalent responsibility in the private sector/pay systems that has equipped the candidate with the particular competencies to successfully perform as an Information Security Specialist. For this position, the specialized experience is performing all of the following: researching public laws, Executive Orders, and Code of Federal Regulations in order to analyze security concepts, principles, and practices and resolve complex security problems; implementing and administering information security programs; and, coordinating with multiple security disciplines (e.g. industrial, operations, personnel, etc.).
Specialized Experience:
FOR THE GS-13 LEVEL:
GS-13: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service or equivalent responsibility in the private sector/pay systems that has equipped the candidate with the particular competencies to successfully perform as an Information Security Specialist. For this position, the specialized experience is performing all of the following: researching public laws, Executive Orders, and Code of Federal Regulations in order to analyze security concepts, principles, and practices and resolve complex security problems; implementing and administering information security programs; experience coordinating with multiple security disciplines (e.g. industrial, operations, personnel, etc.); managing all aspects of Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) Facilities (SCIFs); and, providing administrative SCI Security support for cleared personnel, including but not limited to visit certifications, managing Access Control program, processing of foreign contacts, foreign travel, and other appropriate day-to-day security support to SCIF operations.
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
There is no education substitution at the GS-12 or GS-13 level.
Additional information
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.
- If selected, you may be required to serve a probationary or trial period as applicable to appointment type.
- 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 https://www.e-verify.gov/.
- You will be required to sign a Mobility Agreement as mobility is a factor in this occupation. You may be reassigned to a new location during your career based on the needs of the service.
- Selected applicant must undergo and successfully obtain and maintain a background investigation for a Top Secret SCI clearance. You must meet initial and periodic suitability determinations based on favorable background investigations and updates.
- This position requires pre-employment urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use. Drug testing must also be passed on an ongoing basis after appointment, as directed. Appointment to this position is contingent upon negative drug test results.
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions and specialized experience, as defined below.
Time In Grade:
Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.
FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL
Specialized Experience:
GS-12: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service or equivalent responsibility in the private sector/pay systems that has equipped the candidate with the particular competencies to successfully perform as an Information Security Specialist. For this position, the specialized experience is performing all of the following: researching public laws, Executive Orders, and Code of Federal Regulations in order to analyze security concepts, principles, and practices and resolve complex security problems; implementing and administering information security programs; and, coordinating with multiple security disciplines (e.g. industrial, operations, personnel, etc.).
Specialized Experience:
FOR THE GS-13 LEVEL:
GS-13: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service or equivalent responsibility in the private sector/pay systems that has equipped the candidate with the particular competencies to successfully perform as an Information Security Specialist. For this position, the specialized experience is performing all of the following: researching public laws, Executive Orders, and Code of Federal Regulations in order to analyze security concepts, principles, and practices and resolve complex security problems; implementing and administering information security programs; experience coordinating with multiple security disciplines (e.g. industrial, operations, personnel, etc.); managing all aspects of Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) Facilities (SCIFs); and, providing administrative SCI Security support for cleared personnel, including but not limited to visit certifications, managing Access Control program, processing of foreign contacts, foreign travel, and other appropriate day-to-day security support to SCIF operations.
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
There is no education substitution at the GS-12 or GS-13 level.
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.
- Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).
- Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period.
- For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website.
- Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Refer to PUBLIC LAW 114-47-AUG. 7, 2015 for more information.
- If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.
- In the event of an emergency, USDA's Office of Homeland Security (OHS) employees may be subject to 24 hour on-call availability. This service may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official position description. Travel requirements in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites that require functioning under intense physical and mental stress.
- Help Help 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.
