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Position Title
Advanced Technology Security Specialist
Agency
DHS Headquarters
Announcement Number
ST-12575333-25-JM Opens in new window
Open Period
Thursday, March 6, 2025 to Thursday, March 20, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
Select the appropriate eligibility item(s) based on the below recruitment considerations.

Merit Promotion: You will only receive consideration (if eligible) under competitive merit promotion procedures if you select any of the following eligibilities: I/CTAP, Competitive Merit Promotion, VEOA, or Land Management Eligible under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act.

Non-Competitive: You will only receive consideration (if eligible) under non-competitive and/or Special Hiring Authority if you select any of the following eligibilities: 30 Percent Disabled Veteran, Certain Military Spouses, Noncompetitive Merit Promotion, OPM Interchange Agreement and Other Miscellaneous Authorities, People with Disabilities Schedule A, or Veterans Recruitment Appointment (up to GS-11 equivalent positions).
(limit characters)
2. Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions AND you:
• have a rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more; OR,
• are retired from active military service with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more?

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. You must also submit the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.
(limit characters)
3. Are you a spouse of an active duty member of the armed forces.

-OR-

Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired with a disability rating at the time of retirement of 100 percent or the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired or separated from the Armed Forces and has a disability rating of 100 percent from the Department of Veterans Affairs?

-OR-

Are you the un-remarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while in active duty status?

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.

To verify your eligibility you may need to submit documentation verifying marriage (i.e. marriage certificate), the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15 and all supporting documentation identified on that document (e.g., Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service; death certificate and documentation identifying marital status at the time of death; disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service, etc.
(limit characters)
4. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:
• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
(limit characters)
5. Are you currently employed as a Federal civilian employee on a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service?

-OR-

Were you formerly employed, but not currently, as a Federal civilian employee on a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status.  Your SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:
• career or career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND,
• your status is in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1). 

Please note: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying).
(limit characters)
6. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:
• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
(limit characters)
7. Are you a Land Management Eligible under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act? (limit characters)
8. Are you a current Federal employee who holds or has previously held a career or career-conditional position in the competitive service with equal or higher promotion potential as the position being announced?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status.  Your SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:
• career or career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND,
• your status is in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1). 

-OR-

Are you a former Federal employee who previously held a career or career-conditional position in the competitive service with equal or higher promotion potential as the position being announced?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your last Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status.  Your SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:
• career or career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND,
• your status is in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1). 

-OR-

Are you a former Federal employee who previously held a career or career-conditional position in the competitive service, separated from the Federal Government over a year ago, and your last performance rating on record as a Federal employee was at least Fully Successful (or equivalent)?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your last Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status AND your last Federal performance appraisal plan.
Your SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:
• career or career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND,
• your status is in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1). 
Your last Federal performance appraisal plan must reflect:
• Rating of Fully Successful (or equivalent)
(limit characters)
9. Are you a current Excepted Service employee of a Federal Agency that has a valid interchange agreement with the Office of Personnel Management?

For more information, review Interchange Agreements with Other Merit Systems. 

-OR-

Are you a current:
• Postal Career Service Employee;
• Postal Rate Commission Employee;
• Government Accountability Office (GAO) Employee; or,
• Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Employee?

For more information, review Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated By U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

-OR-

Are you an individual eligible under other non-competitive appointment authorities such as National Service Employees (Peace Corps/Vista), Foreign Service Employees, Certain Former Overseas Employees, Boren Fellows, Former White House staff, or Certain National Guard technicians?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation. For example, a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form.
(limit characters)
10. Do you have a severe physical, psychiatric or mental disability that qualifies you for Schedule A Disability appointments?

If eligible, provide proof of disability with appropriate medical documentation, i.e., a letter signed by a licensed medical professional or licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist stating your condition and restrictions.

For more information, review USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities resources.
(limit characters)
11. Are you a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions AND you:
• served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (Note: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility); OR,
• are entitled to veterans' preference?

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service.

Please note: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying).
(limit characters)
12. Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions AND you:
• recently separated (within the past 3 years);
• are a disabled veteran;
• served on active duty during a war, campaign or expedition; OR,
• received an Armed Forces Service Medal?

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. If claiming disability preference, you must also submit the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.
(limit characters)
Preferences
1. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
2. In the last five years, based on the closing date of this announcement, have you served or are you currently serving as an Executive Branch political, Schedule C, or Non-career SES appointee? You can find out if you have held one of these appointment types by looking at your Standard Form 50s in your Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF), in Section 5 where the legal authorities are listed.
  • A political appointee is an appointment made by the President without confirmation by the Senate (5 CFR 213.3102(c)) OR an assistant position to a top-level federal official if filled by a person designated by the President as a White House Fellow (5 CFR 213.3102(z)).
  • A Schedule C appointee occupies a position excepted from the competitive service by the President, or by the Director of OPM, because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position duties (5 CFR 213.3301 and 5 CFR 213.3302).
  • A Non-career SES appointee is approved by the White House and serves at the pleasure of the appointing official without time limitations (5 CFR 317 Subpart F).
(limit characters)
Assessment 1
1. Select one statement from the choices below to show how you meet the qualification requirements for this position at the GS-11 level. (limit characters)
2. Select one statement from the choices below to show how you meet the qualification requirements for this position at the GS-12 level. (limit characters)
For each item, select the one response that most accurately describes your current level of experience and capability using the scale below. (limit characters)
3. Assess hardware, software, network, and system security configurations implemented to recommend required actions to correct any vulnerabilities or deviations. (limit characters)
4. Analyze collected assessment information to identify vulnerabilities and potential for exploitation on building and security technologies. (limit characters)
5. Analyze cyber-physical threat information from multiple sources, disciplines, and agencies to synthesize information as it applies to assessments and other technologies encountered during the performance of duties. (limit characters)
6. Assess the capabilities and activities of cyber threat actors to produce findings to help support law enforcement investigations or activities. (limit characters)
7. Provide advice and guidance to managers and employees to assist on matters relating to cybersecurity programs. (limit characters)
8. Recommend protective measures to mitigate cyber-physical risks. (limit characters)
9. Establish relationships between incident response team(s) and other groups, both internal (e.g., legal department) and external (state and local law enforcement agencies and task forces, and vendors) to facilitate cohesive incident response in assigned area of responsibility. (limit characters)
10. Collaborate with multiple federal, state, and local agencies, fusion centers, facility/infrastructure owner/operators, and law enforcement organizations to facilitate information sharing and evaluation of cybersecurity threats, vulnerabilities, trends, and technologies. (limit characters)
11. Monitor recommendations concerning corrective action(s) noted during inspections to ensure they are implemented. (limit characters)
12. Ensure effective program execution by balancing competing priorities in alignment with management and program objectives. (limit characters)
13. Evaluate new or revised policies or directives for impact on work methods, procedures and policies. (limit characters)
14. Conduct functional inspections for compliance with technology security policies. (limit characters)
15. Perform automated and manual checks of system configurations and identifies vulnerabilities and non-compliance with security requirements. (limit characters)
16. Research information on current and emerging threats to determine impact on technologies. (limit characters)