IT Cybersecurity Specialist (Recent Graduates)

About the role

A USAHIRE ASSESSMENT is required as part of your application (see How To Apply). The SSA Recent Graduates Program provides Recent Graduates with entry-level developmental experience and is designed to lead to a career in the federal government.

Upon successful completion of the program, you may be non-competitively converted to a term (not to exceed 1-4 years) or permanent appointment.

What you will do

• As a participant in the Recent Graduates Program, you will receive both formal and on-the-job training to develop the required knowledge and skill to successfully perform the duties of the position.
• At the full performance level, supports the day-to-day functionality and protection of SSA information technology (IT) systems by developing and implementing cybersecurity programs, policies, procedures and digital tools.
• Ensures the security and integrity of systems, networks and data through various methods.
• Performs cybersecurity duties in support of cybersecurity operations, incident response, system administration and security, compliance and policy implementation, user support and training, documentation and reporting and continuous improvement.

Education

TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED TO DEMONSTRATE ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE RECENT GRADUATES PROGRAM.

DO NOT SUBMIT A DIPLOMA IN LIEU OF A FULL TRANSCRIPT THAT SHOWS THE REQUIRED INFORMATION.

TRANSCRIPTS TO SUPPORT RECENT GRADUATES PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY: submit a copy of your full transcript showing your name, the name of the school, the program in which you were enrolled and the date your degree was conferred. The confer date must be within the previous 2 years.

Transcripts without a confer date cannot be considered to have resulted in a degree and cannot be used to demonstrate your eligibility for the Recent Graduates Program. TRANSCRIPTS TO SUPPORT EDUCATION IN LIEU OF SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: this may be the same transcript that supports your Recent Graduates Program eligibility or may be in addition to that transcript.

To support education in lieu of Specialized Experience, your transcript must show your name, the name of the school, the program in which you were enrolled and the date your degree was conferred.

Transcripts without a confer date cannot be considered to have resulted in a degree and may not be usable to demonstrate your "in lieu of Specialized Experience qualifications." FOR GS-07: If you claim a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement, in lieu of Specialized Experience, you must submit: (1) a full transcript showing the confer date and final GPA OR (2) a full transcript showing the confer date and official documentation showing your class-ranking OR (3) a full transcript showing the confer date and official documentation showing your National Honor Society Membership.

If you claim a bachelor's degree followed by at least 1 academic year of graduate-level education (generally at least 18 graduate-level credits) in a relevant technology field (such as cybersecurity, computer science, information systems management, engineering, mathematics or operations research) you must submit a full transcript for your qualifying bachelor's degree in addition to a transcript for your graduate education.

FOR GS-09: If you claim a master's degree in lieu of Specialized Experience submit your full transcript showing your name, the name of the school, the program in which you were enrolled and the date your degree was conferred.

Transcripts without a confer date cannot be considered to have resulted in a degree and may not be usable to demonstrate your "in lieu of Specialized Experience qualifications." Your degree must be from an accredited institution in a relevant technology field (such as cybersecurity, computer science, information systems management, engineering, mathematics or operations research) or include at least 24 semester hours of coursework in those areas.

If you claim a bachelor's degree followed by 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree in a relevant technology field (such as cybersecurity, computer science, information systems management, engineering, mathematics or operations research) submit the full transcript for your bachelor's degree as well as the transcript that supports your 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree.

Unofficial transcripts or screenshots of electronic/web transcripts with the required information will be accepted at the time of application.

CHECK YOUR UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT TO CONFIRM IT SHOWS THE REQUIRED INFORMATION.

You must upload your transcripts as part of your application.

Documents will not be accepted via email or regular mail.

Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the education requirement, but you must also provide documentation that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in a conventional/accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to acquire and provide Certification of US equivalency as part of your application. For a list of Credential Evaluation Services see: Credential Evaluation Services. If selected, you will be required to provide your official college transcripts prior to the effective date of your appointment.

How you will be evaluated

You must complete a USAHire Assessment as part of your application (see HOW TO APPLY for more information).

(1) You will receive a score based on your responses to the USAHire Assessment, which will evaluate your knowledge, skills and abilities as they pertain to: Accountability Arithmetic Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Mathematical Reasoning Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork The USAHire Assessment includes a cut-off score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in the critical competencies.

You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut-off score or fail to complete the assessments. (2) HR will review transcripts for applicants who meet or exceed the USAHire cut-off score to determine eligibility for the Recent Graduates Program.

(3) Resumes and transcripts for applicants who meet or exceed the USAHire cut-off score and demonstrate eligibility for the Recent Graduates Program will be forwarded to the hiring office for further consideration. The hiring office will review those documents and determine which applicants they want to interview.

Remember that your application documents will form the hiring office's first impression of your qualifications. Not all applicants will be interviewed so it's important to be clear and specific about your education, IT Competencies and experience.

APPLICANTS WITHOUT SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: It's expected that some applicants may qualify on education alone and may not have relevant work experience, but you must still submit a resume that details your qualifications.

For entry level positions, any tasks you performed, for example, during a capstone project, internship or heavy coursework can be considered experience and should be included in your resume.

Documents you must provide

• Resume -- all applicants Transcript - all applicants (to support Recent Graduates eligibility and optional education, if claimed)) Certification -- if applicable DD-214 - veterans applying beyond the initial 2-year eligibility period SF-50 -- recommended for all current and former federal employees DOCUMENTS PREVIOUSLY UPLOADED TO YOUR USAJOBS ACCOUNT MAY BE OUTDATED AND CAN CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONSIDERATION.
• RESUME (2-page maximum) must include: -- your name and contact information -- employer name (if applicable), full-time or part-time hours worked per week -- full start and stop dates (month/day/year) for each position -- your grade and pay scale (if your position is or was federal) and -- a clear description of your education and/or duties you perform as they relate to the experience and/or IT Competencies required for this position.
• Information not specifically stated in your resume cannot be assumed.
• Information copied or restated from the announcement or rating criteria will not be considered.
• If this occurs, you may be found ineligible.
• Do not simply list projects on which you worked or list experience in terms of accomplishments or achievements.
• You must describe, in your own words, the duties you perform that pertain to the requirements for this position.
• It is not sufficient to make claims in the questionnaire that are not supported in your resume.
• See QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION and HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED for information on what your resume must demonstrate.
• TRANSCRIPT: must show your degree was conferred within the past 2 years to demonstrate eligibility for Recent Graduates Program (see QUALIFICATIONS and EDUCATION for more transcript requirements to support optional education).
• CERTIFICATION: if you have a certification relevant to this position, you may upload it under the Document Type "Other" DD-214: required for veterans applying beyond the initial 2-year eligibility period (the active duty start date must be within 2 years of the confer date on your transcript; the discharge date must be within 6 years of the confer date on your transcript).
• SF-50: recommended for all current or former federal employees

What to expect next

Incorrect information in your USAJobs Account means you may not receive important emails pertaining to this announcement. SSA/HR is not responsible if outdated information in your USAJobs Account causes you to miss emailed notifications or job offers.

No matter what information is provided on your resume, HR and USAStaffing can only contact you using the information in your USAJobs Account. Your Biographic Information for this vacancy cannot be changed once your application has been submitted.

If you applied correctly and provided a valid email address in your Biographic Information, you will receive an Acknowledgement of Occupational Questionnaire. This is not an indication that your application is complete. Follow the instructions in the "How to Apply" and "Required Documents" sections to ensure that you submit a complete application.

A second email will provide information about the USAHire Assessment. If it indicates the assessment isn't required, your application is complete (assuming you submitted all required documents). If you need to take the USAHire Assessment, follow the instructions carefully.

HR cannot provide copies of announcements or application documents to you. You are responsible for verifying that your application is complete and your documents have been properly submitted.

After initial HR evaluations, eligible applicants will be referred to the hiring office and you will be notified of your status (e.g., eligible and referred to the selecting official; or ineligible and not referred).

INTERVIEWS may or may not be conducted, but if an interview is desired, it will be scheduled by the hiring office and a representative from that office will contact you directly. HR will not have information pertaining to the scheduling of interviews and cannot provide feedback pertaining to completed interviews. For a status of your application, go to your USAJobs account.

Select Application Status then More Information to see if updates are available. Updates will not be available during the interview/selection process, which may take up to 90 days. After selections have been completed, final notices will be sent to applicants who were referred to the selecting official.

Applicants who are not referred will not receive a final notice.

Additional information

Additional selections for this position may be made for up to six months from the closing date of this announcement. If you are a male born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt under the Selective Service Law. See *** .

If you are a federal contractor, do not identify yourself as a federal employee. See QUALIFICATIONS and EDUCATION for important information pertaining to this position. See HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED, HOW TO APPLY and REQUIRED DOCUMENTS for information on applying for this position.

This is a developmental /career-ladder position offering the opportunity for noncompetitive promotion up to GS-12 based on performance. Selectees will participate in a 1-year developmental program. Upon successful completion of the program, you may be non-competitively converted to a term (not to exceed 1-4 years) or permanent appointment.

This is an Excepted Service, non-bargaining unit position on a full-time, flex-time schedule. This position is not authorized to be filled virtually or through outstationing. One or more positions may be filled at any of the listed locations / Official Duty Stations (ODS).

To participate in telework, when authorized, you must reside within a 2-hour commute to your assigned/chosen ODS. Relocation expenses will not be paid; salary will be set in accordance with locality pay provisions.

DENVER: GS-07 $56,262 - $73,142 GS-09 $68,819 - $89,470 DURHAM: GS-07 $52,693 - $68,502 GS-09 $64,453 - $83,794 WOODLAWN: GS-07 $58,193 - $75,653 GS-09 $70,623 - $91,815 Work is performed in an office environment but may involve occasional travel or after-hours work during security incidents or system upgrades. No special physical effort is required.

Successful performance of work in this position and adherence to conditions of this position will be assessed during the 1-year trial period served by new appointees under the Recent Graduates Program. This is a special sensitive position. You may be required to complete Standard Form 86, Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions, to have the appropriate investigation conducted.

Program participants serving on appointments for 1 year or less are generally not eligible for the Federal Employees Retirement System or the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance program and the Thrift Savings Program. Participants serving on appointments for more than 90 days may be eligible for the Federal Employees Health Benefits program.

Position is assigned to: Security and Resiliency Cybersecurity