Information Technology Specialist (Information Security)

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Fort Collins, CO

19h

About The Position

This position is located in the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Marketing and Regulatory Programs Business Services (MRPBS), and serves as a Cybersecurity Support Specialist. The role helps ensure prompt and effective responses to cybersecurity incidents, performs cyber risk assessments for international travel, protects organizational assets, and supports compliance with applicable regulations and standards. At developmental grade levels, assignments have a more limited scope and are performed with less independence and complexity than at the full-performance level.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
• Individuals born male after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of a one-year probationary period unless previously served.
• Must pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Must participate in USDA Continuous Vetting.
• For GS-09, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07, including triaging, categorizing, and coordinating Tier 1 cyber incident tickets; providing cybersecurity guidance to users; assisting with security awareness training or creating training materials; and partnering with physical security on overlapping security threats in organizational buildings.
• Alternatively for GS-09, a master's or equivalent graduate degree, two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Qualifying education must be in computer science, computer engineering, information science, cybersecurity, or a field providing at least 24 semester hours in one or more of those fields.
• Applicants qualifying based on education or a combination of education and experience must provide transcripts; qualifying education must be completed at an accredited school, college, or university.
• Applicants qualifying based on experience must demonstrate IT-related experience in attention to detail, customer service, oral communication, and problem solving.
• Applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility requirements by the announcement closing date.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the first point of contact for internal and external stakeholders seeking assistance with cybersecurity issues.
• Receive, log, and categorize Tier 1 and Tier 2 incidents related to cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and user-reported security concerns.
• Guide users on cybersecurity policies, safe computing practices, and incident response procedures.
• Facilitate the intake of international travel requests.
• Provide customers with instructions for requesting cyber threat assessments and IT equipment.
• Implement procedural guides and instructions for receiving delivered services for division directorates and customers.
• Optimize the effectiveness and efficiency of the Cybersecurity Program using internal and Department-mandated performance metrics.
• Provide ad hoc cybersecurity policy training to other ITD Directorates and Programs as needed.
• Stay current on laws, regulations, policies, standards, and guidelines affecting international travel within MRP, including changes and amendments, and support organizational adaptation and compliance.

Benefits

• Federal employees receive a comprehensive benefits package, with benefits available to employees and their families; eligibility depends on position type.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level