Information Technology Specialist (Information Security)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture seeks a Cybersecurity Operations Specialist to lead incident response, perform security reviews, and conduct risk assessments for international travel.

This role requires collaboration across divisions to ensure travel guidance aligns with mission needs and strengthens our cybersecurity posture. You will develop and update cybersecurity policies, drive program improvements, and provide leadership with status updates during investigations.

Responsibilities

• Oversees cybersecurity risk assessments for international travel requests to determine approval/disapproval for IT equipment during overseas travel.
• Collaborates with the International Services Division to ensure travel guidance aligns with mission needs.
• Creates and updates cybersecurity policies to minimize gaps and provide guidance on policy questions.
• Improves the effectiveness and efficiency of the Cybersecurity Program based on internal and Department metrics.
• Coordinates investigations across Cyber branches, matures incident response reporting, and provides status updates to Cyber leadership.
• Builds partnerships across ITD Directorates to apply cybersecurity and privacy best practices.

Job description

This position serves as a Cybersecurity Operations Specialist. This includes, but is not limited to, performing cyber incident response activities, leading internal security audits, providing security architecture reviews, performing cyber risk assessments for international travel and assisting with the creation of cybersecurity policy. This position is supervised by the Cyber Operations Branch Chief.

Duties

• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Oversees cybersecurity risk assessments for international travel requests to provide approval/disapproval for IT equipment to be taken on overseas travel to support the mission.
• Collaborates with the International Services Division to maintain up-to-date requirements for international travel to ensure that current guidance aligns with mission needs.
• Creates and updates cybersecurity policies to minimize gaps within those areas which leave the agency vulnerable and provides guidance to the Mission Area on cyber-related policy questions.
• Optimizes the effectiveness and efficiency of the Cybersecurity Program based on internal and Department-mandated performance metrics.
• Coordinates investigations across all Cyber branches, matures the incident response reporting capabilities, and provides status reports to Cyber leadership throughout all stages of each investigation.
• Builds partnerships amongst other ITD Directorates and teams and fosters cross-functional teamwork to apply cybersecurity and privacy best practices.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
• 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 USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.