November 16, 2024

US Senate

Washington

FULL TIME

Cybersecurity Principal Specialist #542

Duties

Provides functional and/or technical skills for the assigned cybersecurity unit. Supports the unit’s work effort as required in preparing materials for collaborating with other sections, divisions, departments, and vendors to gather and disseminate information. Contributes to the unit’s work effort as required in preparing analysis and materials for providing expert level support in the assigned area of cybersecurity to SAA IT security branch staff, other SAA technical staff, SAA procurement staff, and other division or departments; and for identifying and resolving critical and complex issues in the assigned unit. Supports the unit’s work effort as directed in providing leadership to the unit’s project teams and contractors. Work includes helping to develop plans, assignments, and coordination of work efforts. Supports the unit’s work effort to develop governing policies, standards, and procedures. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

For conditions of employment and citizenship requirements, please visit the job announcement on the United States Senate Career Page at https://sen.gov/J5NY.

Qualifications

Required Work Experience

Seven to ten years of progressively responsible experience in cybersecurity, with a track record of leading initiatives to resolve highly complex cybersecurity issues. Subject matter expertise in one or more cybersecurity domains. Strong leadership skills, including experience managing project teams and coordinating efforts across multiple departments. Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic cybersecurity policies, standards, and frameworks that align with organizational goals.

As part of our hiring process, we may conduct a skills assessment to better understand an applicant’s proficiency in key areas relevant to the role.
Desired Qualifications
We are seeking a candidate with basic knowledge in key areas of cybersecurity. The ideal candidate should have:

Core Cybersecurity Understanding: A grasp of cybersecurity principles, understanding of cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and methods for their identification and mitigation.

Risk Management Framework: Demonstrated understanding and experience performing systems security assessments, preparing system security documentation and security artifacts, assessing performance of security controls based on NIST 800-53, identifying risks to the organization and their systems, and strong collaboration skills necessary to facilitate risk management on an enterprise scale.
Leadership: Ability to lead a contracting team of RMF experts who will oversee the development, implementation and maintenance of the RMF and serve as the Government central point of contact for all RMF-related activities.
Metrics: The skills to produce data driven metrics which measure and report on the effectiveness and efficiency of all RMF activities.
Customer Service: Experience working with a diverse range of customers to assess systems and controls, recommend solutions, direct mitigating actions to the proper action element, and communicate RMF activities to senior level stakeholders.
Technical Skills and Knowledge: Skill in Risk Management, information assurance, high level communication skills, data collection and analysis, and data management automation, and skill in developing or recommending analytic approaches or solutions to problems and situations for which information is incomplete or for which no precedent exists.
Analytical Abilities: Ability to evaluate, analyze, and synthesize large quantities of into high quality, effective RMF products and processes.
Cybersecurity Techniques: General knowledge of risk management, information assurance, risk assessments, technical compliance components, vulnerability assessments, policies and procedures, enterprise network architecture, assessment and authorization (A&A), system engineering, testing and evaluation, and continuous monitoring.

Working Conditions

This position directly supports essential services of the U.S. Senate. As such, this position requires the employee be available and prepared to work during government shutdowns, in inclement weather, on holidays, weekends, and during late nights to ensure essential services to the Senate continue without interruption. In the context of government furloughs, this position is considered excepted.
The U.S. Senate network cannot be taken offline for maintenance during the workday, or while the Senate is in session. As such, maintenance windows may only occur at night, on weekends, and occasionally on holidays. Employees who perform systems upgrades, maintenance, wiring, backups, support our alternate data centers will have schedules that include working nights, weekends, and holidays.
Sedentary.

Security Clearance

This position requires that the applicant obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Government security clearance.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens in order for the SAA to submit your application for a security clearance.

Education

High School Diploma, GED, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Additional information

The Sergeant at Arms is an equal opportunity employer in accordance with the requirements of Senate rules, regulations, and applicable Federal Laws. This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Decisions to grant reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Please email employment@saa.senate.gov with “Applicant Accommodation” in the subject line. No moving, relocation or pre-employment travel expenses will be paid for this position, or while in application for this position.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your application will be evaluated by a panel on the quality and extent of your total accomplishments, experience, and education. Highly qualified candidates may be interviewed and a reference check conducted.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Documents

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
Subject to background/security investigation.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply

All applicants must apply for jobs online using this link: https://sen.gov/J5NY. Paper application materials, resumes and attachments that are sent via email, mail or brought in-person will not be considered or accepted. All applicants MUST attach their documents to the online employment application.

Agency contact information

Email

employment@saa.senate.gov

Address

U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms
SH-142 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC, Washington, DC 20001

Next steps

Qualified candidates will be contacted directly.
Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
- Criminal history inquiries
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Financial suitability
- New employee probationary period
- Privacy Act
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Selective Service
- Signature and false statements
- Social security number request

Required Documents

Subject to background/security investigation.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

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