INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY OFFICER (ISSO) GS-2210-14 FPL GS-14 (DH)

US Department of Education Headquarters; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid (FSA), Chief Technology Division, Security Services Division, is seeking an Information System Security Officer (ISSO).

The incumbent will apply risk management, coordinate with program offices, and ensure compliance with security controls to maintain Authority to Operate for authorized systems.

Qualifications

• Attention to Detail is thorough when performing work and conscientious about details.
• Customer Service: works with clients to assess needs, provide information and resolve problems; understands available products and services.
• Decision Making: makes sound, well-informed decisions and drives action to accomplish goals.
• Information Management: identifies information needs and organizes information systems.
• Interpersonal Skills: shows courtesy and builds effective relationships across backgrounds.
• Oral Communication: conveys information clearly to audiences, considering the content and context.
• Problem Solving: identifies problems and evaluates alternatives to make recommendations.
• Teamwork: promotes cooperation and trust within the group.
• Technical Competence: applies formal training and on-the-job experience to technical issues.

Skills

Attention to Detail

Customer Service

Decision Making

Information Management

Interpersonal Skills

Oral Communication

Problem Solving

Teamwork

Technical Competence

Job description

This position is in the U.S. Department of Education (ED), Federal Student Aid (FSA), Chief Technology Division, Security Services Division as an Information System Security Officer (ISSO). FSA manages the administrative and oversight functions supporting programs authorized under Title I and Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

If you are a current federal employee, you must meet all time-in-grade and time-after competitive appointment qualifications within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement. To verify that you meet these requirements, we will review your responses to the core eligibility questions on the occupational questionnaire, as well as your submitted resume and required documents. To make an accurate determination, you will need to include on your resume your federal position title, pay plan, occupational series, grade level, agency, dates for which you held the grade level (stated as MM/YYYY to MM/YYYY, OR MM/YYYY to PRESENT), and total hours worked per week. 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).

Minimum Qualification Requirements

You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-14, if you possess the specialize experience, education, or a combination of the two.

Specialized Experience for the GS-14 One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-13 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

• Experience supporting risk assessment efforts during Security Assessment and Authorization processes resulting in systems successfully attaining an Authority to Operate(ATO).
• Experience with vulnerabilities identified through risk assessments, audits, and inspections and that Plans of Actions and Milestones (POA&Ms) are created and processed in a timely manner and remediation plans are in place for those identified vulnerabilities.
• Experience supporting successful implementation and functionality of security requirements and information technology (IT) policies and procedures consistent with an organization's mission and goals for authorized systems and continued authorization of same.

Basic Experience Requirements Example (IT Specialist GS-12 and Above GS or Equivalent):

For positions at the GS-12, GS-13, GS-14, or GS-15 grade levels, applicants may qualify by meeting or exceeding the minimum proficiency level established for each of the required competencies, in addition to meeting the specialized experience requirement as demonstrated through the assessment of skills. You must possess IT-related experience (paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (e.g., IT certification), as appropriate) demonstrating each of the nine competencies listed below.

• Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
• Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (i.e., 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.
• Decision Making - Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
• Information Management - Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organizes and maintains information or information management systems.
• Interpersonal Skills - Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations.
• 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.
• Teamwork - Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; f
• Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

• Knowledge of risk management processes (e.g., methods for assessing and mitigating risks).
• Knowledge of cybersecurity and privacy principles; cyberthreats and vulnerabilities; impacts of cybersecurity lapses; encryption algorithms; and applicable business processes of operations of customer organization.
• Knowledge of vulnerability information dissemination sources [e.g. alerts, advisories, errata and bulletins]; incident response and handling methodologies; and industry standard and organizationally-accepted analysis principles and methods.
• Ability to integrate information security requirements into the acquisition process using applicable baseline security controls as one of the sources for security requirements; ensuring a robust software quality control process; and, establishing multiple sources (e.g., delivery routes for critical system elements).
• Skill in researching, choosing, interpreting, modifying, and applying available guidelines for adaptation to specific problem or issues.