Cyber Security Specialist (Network Security) - U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

$86,573 - $167,349 (CL 28 – CL 29)*

San Francisco, CA, or an alternative duty station within the contiguous United States

Telework options available

Do you possess excellent communication and critical thinking skills? Can you stay cool under pressure? Are you highly motivated and looking to work with a top-notch team? If you are interested in a position that supports the federal judiciary's mission of ensuring equal justice under the law, come join our talented and diverse team at the Office of the Circuit Executive (OCE)!

This is a temporary position with a term of up to four years and one day. There is potential for this term to be extended depending on workload and funding.

About the Role

The Cyber Security Specialist (Network Security) continuously identifies, tracks, shares, and supports operational IT security requirements across the Ninth Circuit, with an emphasis on network security. Work includes incident response, training, identification and implementation of best practices, and risk assessment in terms of threats and vulnerabilities. This position is dependent on funding provided by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO).

Representative duties include:

• Provide technical advice on design, procurement, and implementation of networks for Ninth Circuit court units.

• Answer technical questions for Ninth Circuit court units regarding national network security requirements, including the Administrative Office of the United States Courts' (AO's) Scorecard requirements.

• Provide subject matter expertise on issues regarding firewalls, DNS, and other specific network technologies.

• Maintain documentation related to network security configurations and procedures.

• Assist local courts with implementing network access control measures.

• Use cyber defense tools for continual monitoring and analysis of system activity to identify suspicious and malicious activity.

• Perform analysis of log files from a variety of sources (e.g., individual host logs, network traffic logs, firewall logs, and intrusion detection system [IDS] logs) to identify possible threats to network security.

•Provide timely detection, identification, and alerting of possible attacks/intrusions, anomalous activities, and misuse activities and distinguish these incidents and events from benign activities.

•Conduct risk assessments based on the CIS Critical Controls, providing expertise in the area of network security

Required skills:

•Ability to identify and analyze network and other IT security risks and to implement resolutions.

•Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.

•Ability to work well with diverse teams and coordinate multiple tasks and responsibilities.

•Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to tailor information to effectively communicate with various audiences including federal judges, court unit executives, and court unit staff.

•Strong public speaking and presentation skills, and the ability to give organized, confident trainings and presentations on IT Security topics to a non-technical layperson audience.

•Ability to use tact and diplomacy in dealing effectively with all stakeholders.

•Ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines.

Required Qualifications

•Security+ or similar certification

•At least 4 years of professional IT experience

•Strong understanding of IT Security best practices

•Demonstrated ability to collaboratively analyze, design, and implement effective IT security solutions

Preferred Qualifications

•A bachelor's degree from an accredited college

•Cisco CCNA or similar certification

•CISSP, CISA, or similar certification

•Experience implementing and/or assessing the CIS Critical Security Controls

About the Office

The Office of the Circuit Executive (OCE) serves the Ninth Judicial Circuit of the United States, which is the largest federal circuit in the country, comprising nine western states and two United States territories. The OCE serves the Court of Appeals as well as all of the District Courts, Bankruptcy Courts, Probation and Pretrial Services Offices, and Federal Public Defender's Offices within the Ninth Circuit.

The OCE was created by statute to provide professional administrative staffing to circuit councils, which are composed primarily of judges engaged full-time in deciding cases. The OCE provides administrative support to the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit and its various committees. It also provides direct services to all judicial court units within the Circuit. All OCE responsibilities flow from directives of the Judicial Council or the Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit. The OCE is organized around the Judicial Council's core functions.

The OCE is committed to providing professional support to the Judicial Council and all court units within the Ninth Circuit and ensuring the highest level of public trust in the administration of justice. This support includes identifying needs, conducting studies, proactively developing and implementing innovative policies, providing training, providing public information and human resources support, coordinating building and IT projects, and advising the Judicial Council on procedural and ethical matters.

Position Details

Location: The Office of the Circuit Executive (OCE) is based at the James R. Browning United States Courthouse in San Francisco, California. Remote work options (telework) are available for this position.

Rewards & Perks

Salary: $86,573 - $167,349 (CL 28 - CL 29), depending on duty station, qualifications, and experience.*

Time off: 11 paid holidays, 13 vacation days, and 13 sick leave days per year. After three years (including any prior federal work experience), vacation days accrue at a higher rate.

Benefits:

•Federal pension plan and optional employer-matching Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401K).

•Choice of a variety of employer-subsidized federal health and life insurance plans.

•Optional dental, vision, and long-term care coverage.

•Flexible spending account to pay out-of-pocket health and dependent care expenses with tax-free dollars.

•Public transit subsidy.

•On-site gym (in Browning Courthouse).

•Remote/Telework/Work-From-Home options are available.

How to Apply

Please submit a single PDF through the Career Portal that includes: (1) a cover letter directly responding to this vacancy announcement; (2) an up-to-date resume; (3) a list of three work references, two of which must be current or former supervisors; and (4) proof of any relevant certifications. Only applications with these required materials will be considered.

Next Steps

•Priority consideration will be given to applicants who apply by April 24, 2024.

•Position will remain open until filled.

Conditions of Employment

Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in the process of applying for citizenship. Successful applicants are provisionally hired pending results of background investigation and fingerprinting. Positions with the U.S. Courts are at-will, excepted service appointments, and may be terminated with or without cause by the OCE. Employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees. Direct deposit of pay is required. The Court requires all its employees to be vaccinated against COVID 19 absent an exemption from the requirement based on a documented medical reason or a sincerely held religious belief.

The OCE reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, or to withdraw the announcement, for any reason including but not limited to budgetary issues. Said modifications may occur without prior written or other notice.

Equity Focused Employer

We value diversity and are committed to equity and inclusion in our workplace. The OCE encourages applications from all qualified individuals and seeks a diverse pool of applicants in terms of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, languages spoken, veteran's status, disability, religion, and socio-economic circumstance.