IT Cybersecurity Specialist (INFOSEC)

Summary The Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Information Security (OIS), is launching the VA Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program for Veterans, to recruit, hire, and develop the future cyber workforce. OIS manages VA's cybersecurity program, which is responsible for protecting Veteran data and VA information systems. This program is eligible for GI Bill Benefits. These are Term positions NTE two and 1/2 years but may be converted upon program completion and fit. Duties Assists with monitoring and analysis of network and system activity. Assists with event correlation using information gathered from a variety of sources within the enterprise to gain situational awareness. Assists with monitoring and analysis of network and system activity. Assists with gathering and analyzing facts and draw basic conclusions. Documents and escalates incidents that may cause ongoing and immediate impact. Keeps supervisor and/or team leader informed of difficult and/or controversial issues and unique problems. This position is primarily aligned to the following NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework work roles: 511

• Cyber Defense Analysts
• Uses data collected from a variety of cyber defense tools (e.g., IDS alerts, firewalls, network traffic logs) to analyze events that occur within their environments for the purposes of mitigating threats. For more information about these work roles, where they fit within the larger Cyber Workforce, and how they can support your unique career journey, please visit the Cyber Career Pathways tool on the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies website: Position Description/PD#: IT Cybersecurity Specialist (INFOSEC)/PD00494A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Travel Required: Occasional travel may be required as needed for this position. Work Schedule: Monday
• Friday; 8 am
• 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: As determined by the Supervisor. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Remote: This is not a remote position Promotion Potential: GS-12. The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary. The work may require walking and standing for prolong periods in conjunction with travel and at the onsite assessment location. The incumbent may carry light items such as papers, books or computers, or system/networking equipment. The work does not require any special physical effort. Working Conditions: The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions. Qualifications To qualify for this position, you must possess all of the following minimum qualifications by the closing of the announcement, 10/02/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement. You must meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and Specialized Experience to qualify for this series as described below. EDUCATION: Degree in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems or networks. You must have a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree; or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree. You must submit relevant transcripts if qualifying based on education. -OR- EXPERIENCE: To qualify for this position, you must have information technology-related experience demonstrating all of the four competencies listed below. Ensure that this experience is clearly described in your resume: 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: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Such experience is typically gained in the IT field or through the performance of work where the primary concern is IT. You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 level that includes knowledge of network services and systems, including hardware, software, and virtual environments; understanding the components of a technology system and their roles in system operations; the ability to characterize and analyze data or information from one or multiple sources; and be able to perform assessments of systems and networks, as well as analyze and report results. 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. It is t