Summary This position is located within the Department of Technology Services (DTS), Information Technology Security Office (ITSO). The candidates will be responsible for leading threat detection and incident coordination efforts within ITSO's 24/7 Security Operations Center and are empowered to task and direct all incident response activities in support of defensive cyber operations internal defense measures. Responsibilities The incumbent is methodical, analytical, has strong attention to detail, and has strong leadership and briefing skills. Technical knowledge and skills are required but the Judiciary Watch Officer is not necessarily the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for hands-on response but has sufficient technical knowledge to identify and task appropriate SMEs when required. Such expertise requires a broad technical background with emphasis on operational procedures. Duties include, but are not limited to the following: Overseeing and directing cybersecurity and Information Technology (IT) operational teams. Ensure teams are effectively prioritized and assigned tasks based on the severity and impact of cybersecurity incidents or operational issues, while maintaining a timely and coordinated response. Enforcing and oversee technical and management notification and escalation procedures, maintaining proper communication channels to engage stakeholders, senior leadership, and subject matter experts (SMEs) as required. Leading incident and problem resolution by coordinating efforts across cybersecurity, IT, and business teams, leveraging SMEs to contain threats, mitigate risks, and efficiently restore systems to normal operations. Maintaining comprehensive and accurate documentation of all incidents, actions taken, and lessons learned, ensuring compliance with judiciary guidelines, and supporting continuous process improvement through root cause analysis and post incident reviews. Fostering collaboration with cross-functional teams to strengthen the judiciary's security posture by proactively identifying vulnerabilities, sharing insights from incidents, and driving security awareness initiatives. Delivering clear, concise, and timely status updates to management and key stakeholders, translating complex technical findings into actionable business insights to facilitate informed decision-making. Participating in a rotating on-call schedule to guarantee 24/7 incident response coverage, providing rapid and effective reaction to cybersecurity threats and operational disruptions. Exhibiting exceptional critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills to effectively assess and respond to cybersecurity incidents and operational challenges under high-pressure situations with minimal impact to business operations. Identifying opportunities for enhancing incident response capabilities by proposing and implementing innovative security solutions, automating repetitive tasks, and staying ahead of emerging threats while adhering to industry and federal best practices. Contributing to the enhancement of Security Operations Center efficiency and customer service by refining incident response processes, optimizing workflows, and promoting a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Overseeing and execute cybersecurity incident response procedures as outlined in established playbooks, directing containment, eradication, and recovery efforts with precision and efficiency. Providing daily briefings to executives and key stakeholders on the status of ongoing incidents and problems, offering strategic insights and actionable recommendations to support risk-based decision-making. Requirements Conditions of Employment CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT All information is subject to verification. Applicants are advised that false answers or omissions of information on application materials or inability to meet the following conditions may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment, or dismissal after being employed. Selection for this position is contingent upon completion of OF-306, Declaration of Federal Employment during the pre-employment process and proof of U.S. citizenship for competitive status positions or conversion to a competitive status position with the AO. If non-citizens are considered for hire into a temporary or any other position with non-competitive status or when it is confirmed by the AO Human Resources Office there are no qualified U.S. citizens for a competitive status position (unless prohibited by a law or statue), non-citizens must provide proof of authorization to work in the U.S. and proof of entitlement to receive compensation. Additional information on the employment of non-citizens can be found at USAJOBS Help Center | Employment of non-citizens/. For a list of documents that may be used to provide proof of citizenship or authorization to work in the United States, please refer to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. All new AO employees will be required to complete an FBI fingerprint-based national criminal database and records check and pass a public trust suitability check. New employees to the AO will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights/responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. All new AO employees are required to identify a financial institution for direct deposit of pay before appointment. You will be required to serve a trial period if selected for a first-time appointment to the Federal government, transferring from another Federal agency, or serving as a first-time supervisor. Failure to successfully complete the trial period may result in termination of employment. If appointed to a temporary position, management may have the discretion of converting the position to permanent depending upon funding and staffing allocation. Qualifications Applicants must have demonstrated experience as listed below. This requirement is according to the AO Classification, Compensation, and Recruitment Systems which include interpretive guidance and reference to the OPM Operating Manual for Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions. 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 the general public, 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. Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of this position. Specialized experience is demonstrated experience must demonstrate ALL areas defined below: Investigating compromised host machines using endpoint detection and response (EDR) platforms and other logging solutions. Knowledge of networking protocols to include detailed understanding of Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model. Experience with security infrastructure components, including firewalls, web application firewalls (WAFs), proxies, DNS, and routing protocols, with a deep understanding of their role in enterprise defense strategies. Knowledge of operating system internals and built-in security mechanisms, enabling effective identification and remediation of vulnerabilities across Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms. Knowledge of adversarial tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), with the ability to analyze and respond to evolving cybersecurity threats through proactive defensive measures. Desired, but Not Required: Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH) GIAC Security Operations Certified (GSOC) GIAC Cloud Incident Response (GCIR) Education This position does not require education to qualify. Additional Information The AO is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
