Information Technology Specialist (Network Services)

Duties

The Information Technology Specialist (Network Services) is responsible for planning, implementation, testing, and administration of network security hardware and software, enforcing the network security policy and complying with requirements of external security audits and recommendations.

The Information Technology Specialist (Network Services) constantly researches the latest information technology (IT) security trends and technology to decide how tobest protect their organization.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide architecture, design, implementation, and administration for all network security applications and appliances such as Palo Alto Firewalls, Cisco Firewalls, etc.
• Managing, storing, and tracking Firewall changes and security logs.
• Following up on all vulnerability reports from the vendor and mitigating them in a timely manner.
• Provide engineering and design support for security products, the remote access solution, as well as maintenance for TIC components and VPNs.
• Provide support for the internal network security systems integration.
• Periodically, review and evaluate agency network security posture to improve any possible aspects.
• Participate in annual agency security audit as a network security expert.
• Documenting final enterprise architecture, network diagrams, and security best practices.
• Assist in analyzing, and tracking systems, networks, applications, and their vulnerabilities by reviewing scan reports and working with the relevant parties to get the vulnerabilities remediated.
• When a security instance occurs, cooperate with the SOC team to focus all efforts on solving the problem.
• Assist in the coordination, implementation, communication, and enforcement of the IT security policies procedures, and standards.
• Provide advice and guidance to the ISSO and other divisional security key stakeholders on how to improve IT security.
• Advise on the development and design of methodologies to conduct business case analyses of the information security infrastructure.
• Support the analysis, investigation, and closure of audit findings from FISMA security audits, the Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) and the Continuous Controls Assessment (CCA) engagements.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Please read this announcement in its entirety prior to submitting your application.

• You must be a US Citizen.
• You must be CCIE certified.
• You must be 18 years of age or older.
• 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 will be sent instructions on obtaining fingerprints. Please note we are not able to reimburse any fees incurred for fingerprints.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret clearance.
• Subject to drug testing
• Successful completion of one-year trial period.
• 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 E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• All new employees are required to certify and submit a statement of understanding acknowledging adherence to the Peace Corps condition of employment prior to day 1 of employment with the Peace Corps.

Qualifications

All qualification requirements must be met by 04/22/2024 (the closing date of the announcement). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. To ensure full credit for your experience, please indicate the start and end dates (month, day, and year) of employment, the number of hours worked per week, and the location of employment in your resume. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

Time-in-Grade (TIG) Requirements:

Current or Formal Federal employees, including current Peace Corps employees, must meet applicable TIG requirements to be considered eligible. To meet TIG for positions above the FP-09 (GS-05) grade level, you must have served at least one year (52 weeks) at the next lower grade (or equivalent) in the normal line of progression for the position to which you are applying.

All current or former Federal employees (including internal employees) must provide a copy of their SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one), "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility. The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).

Basic Qualifications:

In order to meet basic qualifications for GS-2210 positions, individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the competencies defined 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.

Specialized Experience:

To be minimally qualified for this position at the FP-2 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression, FP-3 or GS-13 level 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.

Specialized experience is defined as: Designing, developing, and managing systems that meet current and future business requirements; apply and extend, enhance, or optimize the existing architecture; managing assigned projects; communicating complex technical requirements to non-technical personnel; and preparing and presenting briefings to senior management officials on complex/controversial issues.

Additional information on qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/

Please note:

• Past experience that satisfies the Specialized Experience MUST be well documented within your resume. Failure to provide this information in your resume with corresponding start and end dates (month, day, and year) of employment, the number of hours worked per week, and location of employment may result in disqualification from further consideration.
• Specialized Experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector, or through volunteer work done with National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) or other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).
• One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis.
• Additional information on qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site.
• Peace Corps employees are employed using the Foreign Personnel (FP) pay scale. The FP pay plan does not follow the same structure as the GS pay plan. In the FP pay plan, as the grade-level numbers decrease the level/pay for the position increases. The FP-09 is the lowest entry-level grade and the FP-01 is the highest senior-level grade.

Education

There is no education substitution at this grade level.