IT Specialist (Information Security)

About the role

This position is in Region 4, Mission Support Division, Information and Infrastructure Solutions Branch, IT Information Infrastructure Systems Section.

About this organization: Region 4 This is an office-centered position--you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis. *This announcement has been amended to add language to the Duties section.*

What you will do

• Serve as a Regional or Program Office expert on the design and implementation of information security programs.
• Conduct vulnerability assessments of existing network and system configurations to identify threats, risks, and mitigation needs.
• Develop and implement training and awareness programs related to IT security programs.
• Serve as Project Officer, Contracting Officer Representative (COR) or Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR).
• You will spend less than 25% of your work time on contracts, grants/cooperative agreements, and/or interagency agreements.
• One or more positions may be filled (in the organization advertised and/or in other organizations), if appropriate to the position.

Requirements

• #LI-Onsite You must be a U.S. citizen.
• If you are selected, you may be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
• This position is designated as High Risk and requires a background investigation.
• Unless an appropriate background investigation is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management, you must undergo a background investigation.
• All conditions of the pre-employment security process must be met before an official letter of employment can be issued with a report for duty date.
• REAL ID requirements became effective on 05/07/25.
• If you are selected for this position and plan to use your driver's license or identification card during the onboarding process (i.e., for employment eligibility verification or to obtain your EPA identification card), the document must be a REAL ID-compliant state-issued driver's license or identification card that includes the REAL ID-compliant star marking, or must be an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL).
• You will receive information about alternative acceptable documents (e.g., passport) prior to onboarding.
• For more information about REAL ID, see Dept. of Homeland Security and REAL ID FAQs.
• You will be required to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
• If you are selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure form within 30 days of your first day of employment and annually thereafter.
• Pre-employment drug testing is required and random testing thereafter.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualification requirements 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 (if applicable) to all assessments required for this position.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: *** If you are eligible for consideration, you will be invited, via the email address listed in your USAJOBS profile, to complete a structured interview where you will audio record your response to several structured technical questions; it will take approximately one hour to complete this assessment.

One or more subject matter experts will systematically review your responses to assess the degree to which your answers match the competencies required for successful performance in this position (see the Qualifications section for a list of the critical competencies being evaluated).

Based on the assessment ratings, a score will be calculated; you will be ranked using the category rating method, and you will be placed in one of the following quality categories: Best Qualified (highest), Well Qualified, or Qualified (lowest).

NOTE: Cheating (including the use of a consultant or an AI tool to assist you) on any assessment may result in your removal from consideration for this job. Veterans' preference is applied after applicants are assessed.

Qualified preference eligibles who have a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more are placed at the top of the highest category (except for scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher). All other preference eligibles are placed above non-preference eligibles within their assigned category.

NOTE: Applicants who are referred to the selecting official for consideration and are entitled to veterans' preference in the hiring process must be selected, or decline further consideration, before applicants who are ineligible for veterans' preference can be selected (to learn more, visit Veterans' Preference).

If you are referred for consideration, you may be subject to additional assessments by the selecting official (e.g., technical writing sample or other work sample, job knowledge test, case scenario analysis, scientific data assessment, structured interview, etc.).

Documents you must provide

• ALL APPLICANTS Resume clearly stating your experience related to this position as described in the Duties section and Qualifications section--include specific dates (MM/DD/YY - MM/DD/YY) so we can determine that you have the required amount of experience (if applicable).
• In describing your experience, you need to be clear and specific (we may not make assumptions regarding your experience).
• If your resume includes federal experience, indicate the grade or pay band (e.g., GS-13) for each federal job.
• Resume must not exceed 2 pages.
• If you do not submit a resume that is 2 pages or less, you will be ineligible for further consideration.
• See How to Apply section for more information.
• APPLICANTS CLAIMING VETERANS' PREFERENCE To be eligible for veterans' preference, you must claim preference in your USAJOBS account; you must also submit proof of eligibility as indicated below.
• Separated veterans claiming 0-point preference: DD-214 Member 4 copy (or other copy indicating character of service) or other official document/statement from the Armed Forces showing separation, discharge, or release from active duty; document must show separation is under honorable conditions (Honorable or General Discharge) and that the release or discharge was due to sole survivorship Separated veterans claiming 5-point preference: DD-214 Member 4 copy (or other copy indicating character of service) or other official document/statement from the Armed Forces showing separation, discharge, or release from active duty; document must show separation is under honorable conditions (Honorable or General Discharge) Separated veterans claiming 10-point preference based on compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more: DD-214 Member 4 copy (or other copy indicating character of service); document must show separation is under honorable conditions (Honorable or General Discharge); and VA letter stating overall/combined disability rating (percentage); and SF-15 (use current version: SF-15 Form)--see page 2 for documents that can be submitted in lieu of the DD-214 and VA letter Other separated veterans claiming 10-point preference OR spouses, widows/widowers, or mothers claiming 10-point derived preference: SF-15 (use current version: SF-15 Form); and Other required documentation indicated on the SF-15 Active duty service members: Certification from the Armed Forces (Statement of Service) documenting active duty dates, expected discharge/release date, campaign medals/badges, and character of service (a certification is any written document from the Armed Forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged/released from active duty service in the Armed Forces under honorable conditions (Honorable or General Discharge) within 120 days after you submit the certification) DISPLACED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ICTAP/CTAP ELIGIBLE Most recent performance appraisal Proof of eligibility Most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, tenure, and duty station

Benefits

Join EPA in protecting human health and the environment and enjoy many work life quality options! Working for the EPA offers you a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. To learn more about us, visit Life and Careers at EPA.

If you are selected for this position, situational telework may be approved by your supervisor if you meet eligibility requirements, as allowable by agency policy and/or applicable collective bargaining agreement. EPA policy only allows telework to be approved situationally.

Situational telework is for work or assignments of specific limited duration on an occasional, emergency, or ad hoc basis. NOTE: If you are an EPA employee who currently works at a remote work location (i.e., full-time telework), your approval for remote work does not transfer to this position, subject to Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act.

What to expect next

You can track the progress of your application via your USAJOBS account by clicking the Track This Application link.

Through your USAJOBS account, you will be notified of the status of your application at four touch-points (some of these notifications may be combined): (1) when your application is received; (2) when we conduct an eligibility and qualification review of your application package; (3) when applications are referred (or not) to the hiring manager; (4) when a selection is made (or not) for the position or the job is canceled.

It is your responsibility to check your USAJOBS account for this application status information. In addition, you will be contacted if further evaluation or interviews are required. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the human resources office posting this announcement.

NOTE: We may verify all information you provide in your application package through reference and/or background check, and/or verification of your education. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration.

Additional information

Except in special circumstances, those new to the federal government will be hired at the starting salary (step 1) of the applicable grade range listed in the Overview section. Are you a Displaced Federal Employee?

If so, please read the Required Documents section and visit the EPA website for additional information on the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): CTAP/ICTAP NOTE: To be entitled to selection priority, you must be rated well-qualified (i.e., you must fall into the Well Qualified category or higher--see the How You Will Be Evaluated section).

EPA participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. For additional information: E-Verify.

If you are selected, travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid by EPA. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting to work in this position will be your responsibility. This position is not in the bargaining unit.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION EPA welcomes applications from persons with disabilities. Through the reasonable accommodation process, we provide persons with disabilities an equal opportunity to enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment that persons without disabilities enjoy.

A reasonable accommodation is any change in the work environment or in the way things are customarily done. An accommodation removes workplace barriers and enables an applicant with a disability to have an equal opportunity to participate in the application process, be considered for a position, and, if hired, perform the essential functions of their job.

The EPA National Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators will provide assistance to you, the Human Resources Office, and/or the hiring official as needed. For more information, refer to EPA's Reasonable Accommodation website.

Below is more detailed information about how to request a reasonable accommodation during the application, selection, and hiring process: If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process (submitting the application or completing the application process), contact the Human Resources Office listed below no later than two business days prior to the closing date of this announcement, and the Human Resources Office will work directly with you.

If you are referred to the hiring official for consideration and need an accommodation during the selection process, including the interview, notify the person who contacted you from the hiring official's office.

If you do not hear back within three days about your reasonable accommodation request for the selection process, please notify EPA's National Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators via email at ***. If you are selected and need an accommodation during the hiring process up to orientation, notify the HR Specialist who made the job offer to you.

Please note: Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.