USA Staffing

Position Title: Information Technology Specialist (INFOSEC)
Agency: Veterans Affairs, Inspector General
Announcement Number: 24-VAOIG-12-P Opens in new window
Open Period: Tuesday, November 14, 2023 to Wednesday, November 29, 2023

For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.

1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?

A. No, I do not claim Veterans' Preference

B. 0-point Sole Survivorship Preference (SSP)

C. 5-point preference based on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (TP)

D. 10-point preference for non-compensable disability or Purple Heart (XP)

E. 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of at least 10% but less than 30% (CP)

F. 10 point preference based on widow/widower or parent of a deceased veteran, or spouse or parent of a disabled veteran (XP)

G. 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of 30% or more (CPS)

2. Are you a surplus or displaced Federal employee eligible under the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)? Click CTAP for eligibility and a detailed list of required documents you must submit in order to be eligible.

A. Yes

B. No

3. Are you a displaced Federal employee eligible under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)? Click ICTAP for eligibility and a detailed list of required documents you must submit in order to be eligible.

A. Yes

B. No

4. Reasonable Accommodations for taking the online assessments are provided on a case-by-case basis only to qualified individuals with a disability covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

Do you have a disability (physical or mental) that you believe will interfere with completing the online assessments and require a Reasonable Accommodation?

A. Yes

B. No

1. Are you currently serving or have served in the last five years in a Political Appointment in the Federal Government?

A. Yes

B. No

2. Would you like the opportunity to be considered for similar positions that require the same knowledge, skills and abilities?

A. Yes

B. No

3. If you were born a male after December 31, 1959, and are at least 18 years of age, have you registered with the Selective Service System (select "Not applicable" if this question does not apply to you)?

A. Yes

B. No

C. No, but I have an approved exemption

D. Not applicable

4. Are you a current Federal employee?

A. Yes

B. No

5. If you are, or ever were a Federal civilian employee, indicate the pay plan and grade level or pay band of the highest graded position you have ever held.
(limit 250 characters)

To be qualified for this position at the GS-14 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as work that involves:
- Planning, coordinating, and implementing robust processes to ensure that threats and deficits in IT protection, operating capacities, and network stability are identified and remedied; AND
- Planning, coordinating, and implementing overarching IT security projects and initiatives; AND
- Conducting risk and vulnerability assessments of planned and installed IT systems to identify vulnerabilities, risks, and protection needs.

Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).

1. I am qualified at the GS-14 level, because I have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level as described above.

A. Yes

B. No

For all positions, individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below.

1. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.

2. 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, 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.

3. 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.

4. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).

2. Do you possess all four competencies listed above in your IT related experience?

A. Yes

B. No

3. From the list below, select the answer(s) that accurately describe your experience in the following information technology areas, as it relates to Federal Government information systems.

A. Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA)

B. Privacy Act/Personal Identifiable Information (PII) Protection

C. Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs), Common Desktop Core Configurations (FDCC)

D. Common Identification Standard (PIV, CAC, (etc.) (HSPD-12)

E. Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP)

F. Computer Security Incident Reporting Capability (CSIRC)

G. Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

H. Critical Infrastructure Protection

I. Certification and Accreditation

J. Plans of Actions and Milestones

K. Systems Development Life Cycle

L. None of the above

4. From the list below, select the item(s) that accurately describe your skills and experience as needed to support this position:

A. Provided guidance on cybersecurity policy development.

B. Vulnerability management and reporting.

C. IT Project Management.

D. Risk Management Framework (RMF).

E. Audit reports analysis and remediation.

F. Access Controls.

G. Network Security.

H. Business continuity.

I. System contingency Planning.

J. System Security Documentation.

K. Security Control Assessment Procedures.

L. Assessment and Authorization (A&A) Procedures.

M. Risk Analysis.

N. Secure system configuration / System Baseline development.

O. Cybersecurity Reviews.

P. Configuration Management.

Q. FISMA requirements oversight.

R. Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) management.

S. Executive reports/briefings.

T. Security incident reports.

U. Contract oversight.

V. None of the above

5. Which of the following project management related tasks have you led or been the person with primary responsibility on multifunctional development projects in software analysis, design development, and implementation for a new system or major enhancements to an existing system? Select all that apply.

A. Drafting of project plan

B. Identifying resource requirements

C. Assigning tasks to project members

D. Reporting project progress to management throughout its duration

E. Ensuring customer and management involvement throughout the software development process

F. Resolving critical issues affecting the configuration of the IT infrastructure

G. Coordinating the demonstration of new and enhanced applications to customers and management

H. I have not led or had primary responsibility on any of the above tasks

6. Which statement below best describes your skills and experience with backup, recovery, and maintenance methodologies and processes for IT systems and/or applications?

A. I have fully developed, documented, consistently implemented and tested backup and recovery plans and contingency operations that meet IT system requirements.

B. I have worked as part of a team, which has been tasked to develop disaster recovery documentation and activities.

C. I have not worked in contingency operations or disaster recovery documentation development, but have training in the area.

D. None of the above.

7. Describe where this experienced is described in your resume. (limit 250 characters)

8. Which best describes how you resolve problems?

A. I find innovative ways to resolve difficult business problems within the scope of existing policies and procedures.

B. I review policies and procedures but deviate from them to create better options to resolve difficult business problems.

C. I find ways to resolve difficult business problems regardless of policy and procedures.

D. I vary from policy and procedures occasionally.

E. I follow policies and procedures to deliver results.

F. None of the above

9. Describe your experience documenting problems and resolutions.

A. I consistently document the stated problem, underlying root cause and resolution, and update existing documentation to reflect new information.

B. I thoroughly document the stated problem and underlying root cause and resolution.

C. I document the stated problem and the resolution.

D. I create/update documentation.

E. I do not have this experience.

10. Which of the following best describes your experience researching technical and security information?

A. I have access to a variety trusted sources of technical information which provide me the experience to address a large septum of IT issues or concerns with minimal time and efforts.

B. I'm able to research results to find answers to technical questions usually in 24 hours.

C. I typically use Google or other search engines to find answers.

D. I have no experience researching technical and security information.

11. Please indicate your highest level of experience advancing and communicating IT initiatives.

A. I briefed only my immediate supervisor regarding major IT initiatives and project updates.

B. I briefed the organization's executives and managers regarding major IT initiatives project updates.

C. I provided general briefings to officials external to my organization regarding major IT initiatives.

D. I do not have experience as described above.

12. Which of the following best describes your experience with written communications in the field of information technology? Select all that apply.

A. I have experience preparing and delivering written presentations that involved negotiating and defending IT issues and positions on behalf of my organization.

B. I have extensive experience preparing and publishing written presentations involving IT technical data, information, or procedures to others. (Examples of this experience include: developing training materials, system documentation, preparing system design documents for change management, or preparing briefings of technical data for use in hardening procedures or certification and accreditation support).

C. I have experience preparing status reports and briefing papers involving communicating routine IT information.

D. None of the above

13. Which of the following best describes your experience to interview technical personnel to develop system documentation? Answer to this question is required.

A. I interviewed system administrators, system programmers, application developers or other technical personnel, and was able to comprehend technical information with little or no explanation.

B. I interviewed system administrators, system programmers, application developers or other technical personnel, and was able to comprehend technical information after some explanation.

C. I interviewed system administrators, system programmers, application developers or other technical personnel if they can express themselves in non-technical terms.

D. I did not interview but participated as a team that interviewed and collected all technical information related to IT systems and services.

E. None of the above

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