IT Cybersecurity Specialist (INFOSEC)

About the role

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.

What you will do

• 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.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Selectee is subject to background/suitability investigation.
• Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment.
• To be considered for this position, applicants must complete all required steps in the process.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (***).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: - your performance and conduct; - the needs and interests of the agency; - whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and - whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For additional information, refer to the U.S. Department of Education web site at ***

Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) or you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the courses.

Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States.

For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application.

See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Occupational Reasoning Occupational Interaction Occupational Judgment Occupational Reading The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies.

You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered.

You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.

Documents you must provide

• To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes one or more of the following documents.
• Please use this checklist to make sure you have included documents required for your application.
• You will not be contacted for additional information: Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, dates specified in month and year format, and the two-page resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time).
• If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.
• If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
• Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position.
• Complete All Required Assessments.
• College transcripts, if qualifying based on education.
• Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.) Documentation is required to award preference.
• For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit ***
• When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
• You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable or general discharge).
• If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active-duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
• Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.
• If your application is rated as well-qualified (score 85 or above) and you are claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (I/CTAP) submit: a copy of your agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
• Do not submit photographs with your application package.
• Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc. Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents.
• Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.
• Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.
• Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).
• You will not be contacted for additional information.
• Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

What to expect next

After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.

Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

Additional information

The targeted candidates for this program are Veterans with targeted military job specialty codes and should meet the following criteria: Veteran Status: Must be honorably discharged veterans of any Branch of the United States Armed Forces Military Background: Must have served in a technical occupational specialty.

Each Branch categorizes occupational specialties using the following codes: Army and Marine Corps: Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Air Force: Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) Navy: Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC)/Rating Space Force: Space Force Specialty Code (SFSC) Technical Background: Some form of technical knowledge or experience is required to support successful completion of the Program Location: Candidates must currently reside in or relocate to W.

Virginia or the surrounding area for the duration of the Program Note: Cybersecurity knowledge is NOT a requirement for this Program.

The following is a list of some of the military job specialty codes targeted for the Program (the list is not all inclusive): Army: 25B, 25H, 25S, 25U, 35G, 35N, 35S, 352N,255A, 255N, 353T Marines: 0241, 0261, 0621, 0629, 0631, 0639, 0671, 0679, 0681, 0699, 2629, 2631, 2651, 2691, 2831, 2841, 2847, 2862, 2891, 0206, 0630, 0602 Air Force: 1D7X3, 1N1X1, 1N2X1, 1A8X2, 17D, 17W, 1820 Navy: ET, IT, ITE, ITN, ITR, 782X, Space Force: 1N1X1, 1N2X1 Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee.

VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.

Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.

If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.

You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: *** This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.