Senior Liaison Officer - Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)


Job Details

Summary

Securing Travel, Protecting People - At the Transportation Security Administration, we serve in a high-stakes environment to safeguard the American way of life. In cities across the country, we secure airports, seaports, railroads, highways, and public transit systems, thus protecting our transportation infrastructure and ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce.

This job is open to

  • Federal employees - Competitive service

    Current or former competitive service federal employees.
  • Federal employees - Excepted service

    Current excepted service federal employees.
  • Senior executives

    Those who meet the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs).
Clarification from the agency

Current/Former Federal employees, SES reinstatement eligibles or OPM Approved SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) Graduates. This position is part of the TSA Leadership Succession Planning and Development Program. This is not a permanent assignment; the length of a duty assignment is generally up to 5 years with a possible extension. Any subsequent tour of duty extension beyond the second tour will be based on the Agency's needs and the projected contribution of the employee.

Duties

The Senior Liaison Officer serves as the Security Operations, Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) principal liaison, advising the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) officials on TSA budget planning, formulation and execution activities as it relates to cybersecurity.In this position you will ensure that TSA and the CISA both have continual situational awareness of current financial and budgetary plans, programs, and strategies impacting cybersecurity.As needed, you will forward or produce written and oral all-source products between the CISA and TSA which can be used to drive operations and mitigate risk.You will participate in meetings/working groups that bring together key players from across the policy, planning, strategy, and homeland security communities to ensure TSA partners and customers have the most up-to-date information available to complete their mission.This position advocates and defends TSA equities with the Department, ensuring a "win-win" scenario for all parties involved.

High level duties include:
  • Overseeing information sharing, policies, plans, programs, strategies, initiatives, efforts, and activities that promote cybersecurity and coordinates with CISA partners to develop a seamless, integrated capability.
  • Coordinating with CISA on program/project resources, allocation plans, workforce development plans, budgetforecasts, initiatives, and policies that impact TSA equities.
  • Coordinating with CISA to incorporate TSA input on post incident reviews of major cybersecurity attacks involving transportation sector assets.
  • Overseeing and/or participating in all critical infrastructure protection activity between TSA and CISA, with a focus on surface, information technology, and cyber related initiatives.
  • Supervising a team of personnel dedicated to cyber security infrastructure protection efforts.
  • Overseeing the Aviation Cyber Initiative (ACI) and associated work with Idaho National Labs.
  • Overseeing the Trusted Agents under the Framework for Improved Cyber Information Sharing and Interagency Coordination.
  • Supporting ACI's work as the DHS ACI lead.
Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  1. You must possess U.S. Citizenship.
  2. You must complete a favorable Tier 5 Background Investigation (T5).
  3. You must pass Drug Screening, subject to random drug tests.
  4. This position requires a TS/SCI (Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information) clearance that must be completed prior to appointment. You will be subject to a 5-year periodic investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance.
  5. Disclosure of your financial information is required.
  6. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created in the wake of 9/11 to strengthen the security of the nation's transportation systems while ensuring the freedom of movement for people and commerce. TSA employs a risk-based strategy to secure U.S. transportation systems, with nearly 50,000 Transportation Security Officers, each day at more than 450 airports nationwide. The agency continuously sets the standard for excellence in transportation security through its people, processes, technologies and use of intelligence to drive operations. As a member of the TSES, you may be subject to frequent changes in posts of duty and positions. Mobility is a condition of employment, so you must be prepared to accept, without objection, the judgment of your superiors concerning reassignments for operational and/or career development purposes, or for other reasons determined to be in the best interest of the Transportation Security Administration.
  7. Must sign mobility agreement upon selection.
  8. See Qualifications section for conditions of employment.
If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment.

You must meet the qualification requirements of this position no later than the closing date of the job opportunity announcement.

Qualifications

As a basic requirement, applicants must demonstrate progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level managerial capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Professional/Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications listed below. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the equivalent of the GS-15 grade level in the Federal service or its equivalent with state and local government, the private sector, or non-governmental organizations.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show in your resume that you possess the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs) listed below. We recommend that your resume emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of programs managed, and your program accomplishments, including results of your actions. Please refer to the Office of Personnel Management's website, for additional information about ECQs.

The application process used to recruit for this position is RESUME-ONLY. Therefore, evidence of each ECQ and PTQ must be CLEARLY REFLECTED in your resume.

If you are a current or reinstatement eligible Career SES/TSES member or a graduate of an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) and your ECQs have been previously certified by OPM's Qualifications Review Board, you are not required to address the ECQs. However, you MUST address all PTQs in your resume.

Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs):

1. Knowledge of theories, practices, and emerging issues to plan, develop, and coordinate information assurance, information security or cybersecurity programs and strategies.

2. Experience in the transportation industry and knowledge of laws, regulations, and/or policies that govern aviation, mass transit, rail, pipeline or other transportation operations and security programs.

3. Knowledge of the relationships between Department of Homeland Security components and programs and private sector organizations and/or other governmental departments, bureaus, and equivalent organizations in monitoring, networking, and managing cybersecurity.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs):

ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE.
This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE. This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

ECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN. This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.

ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN. This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS. This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

FAILURE TO MEET OR FULLY ADDRESS EACH EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATION AND PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS IN THE RESUME WILL ELIMINATE A CANDIDATE FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION.

CURRENT OR FORMER POLITICAL APPOINTEES: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

This position is part of TSA's Leadership Succession Planning and Development Program.

The Senior Liaison Officer position is not a permanent assignment. The length of a duty assignment is generally up to 5 years with a possible extension. The initial tour is normally 36 months, and with agency approval a second tour of duty up to 24 months. Any subsequent tour of duty extension beyond the second tour will be based on the Agency's needs and the projected contribution of the employee.

During your assignment, an employee from Human Capital will work with you to complete a career assessment and to identify future position interests. Using this information, and in consideration with future leadership vacancies, you will be transitioned into another role based on your skills and the agency leadership needs at the termination of your initial assignment.

Conditions of Employment:

MOBILITY: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created in the wake of 9/11 to strengthen the security of the nation's transportation systems while ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce. TSA employs a risk-based strategy to secure U.S. transportation systems, with nearly 50,000 Transportation Security Officers, each day at approximately 450 airports nationwide. The agency continuously sets the standard for excellence in transportation security through its people, processes, technologies and use of intelligence to drive operations. As a member of TSA's Leadership Cadre, you may be subject to frequent changes in posts of duty and positions. Mobility is a condition of employment. Applicants and current TSA employees who are selected for a Senior Leadership position must sign and submit a mobility agreement upon acceptance of a job offer. Executing this agreement is required as a condition of employment for an individual selected for a vacant mobility position.

DRUG TESTING: You must pass a pre-employment drug test. In addition, you may be subject to random drug testing during employment.

SECURITY CLEARANCE: This position requires a TS/SCI (Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information) clearance that must be completed prior to appointment. You will be subject to a 5-year periodic investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance.

Certificates will be issued on an as needed basis, as vacancies occur.

The applicant pool will be honored for a period of 4 months.

If you applied to previous Senior Liaison Officer vacancies, you must reapply.

Additional information
  • The TSA, an excepted service agency, was established by Public Law 107-71, ATSA, on November 19, 2001. ATSA provides TSA with the authority to modify and develop its own human capital program, provided such modifications are consistent with 49 USC 40122.
  • This is an excepted service position. However, there is an interchange agreement with the OPM and TSA that enables Career TSES members who have been approved by the Qualifications Review Board at OPM to qualify for Senior Executive Service (SES) positions without additional competition.
  • You will be required to serve a probationary period of one year unless you previously completed the probationary period in a SES/TSES position.
  • When you enter on duty, you will be required to complete a Public Financial Disclosure Report, OGE Form 278. You will need to provide this information annually.
  • Veteran's Preference does NOT apply to SES/TSES positions.
  • 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 windowLearn more about federal benefits.

    Review our 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.

You will be evaluated on the quality and extent to which your resume shows that you possess the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs) and Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) outlined in the "Qualifications" section of the Job Opportunity Announcement. Your resume may be evaluated by an SES/TSES rating and ranking panel, and afterwards, best qualified candidates may undergo an interview and a reference check. The TSA Executive Resources Council (ERC) will review results and make recommendations on final selections to the appointing authority. Only the selectee will be required to write Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) narratives.

Unless you have already been certified by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Review Board (QRB) in the past, your ECQs must be certified by the QRB before appointment can occur.
  • 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 windowLearn more about federal benefits.

    Review our 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.

    Required Documents:
    1. Your Resume, which incorporates both Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs) responses. (Uploaded resumes must include contact information and for qualifications determinations your resume should contain hours worked per week, the dates of employment, and the level of your experience.)
    2. Associated Questionnaire.
    3. Current SES/TSES members: You must provide a copy of the specific SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which documents conversion or appointment, without time limitation, to the SES/TSES (except current TSA employees).
    4. Reinstatement Eligible SES/TSES members: You must provide a copy of the specific SF-50 which documents conversion or appointment, without time limitation, to your formal SES/TSES position as well as any Federal agency document which confirms your successful completion of an SES/TSES probationary period. (Note: a second SF-50 dated more than a year after SES/TSES conversion or appointment, which documents continued unlimited assignment to the same SES/TSES position, will suffice to document completion of the SES/TSES probationary period).
    5. Graduates of an OPM approved Candidate Development Program (CDP) which resulted in certification by the OPM QRB: You must provide a copy of a QRB endorsed program graduation certificate.
    6. If you are a current or reinstatement eligible Career SES/TSES member or a graduate of an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) and your ECQs have been previously certified by OPM's Qualifications Review Board, you are not required to address the ECQs.
    7. Non-SES/TSES members: You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (except current TSA employees). The SF-50 must demonstrate a tenure code of "1" or "2" in block 24, if it does not then your application may not receive consideration.
    NOTE: An award SF-50 (i.e. cash or time off award) does not indicate grade, pay band, level or tenure and will not be accepted.

    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 of the following must be received in our office by 11:59 PM EST (Eastern Standard time) on the closing date of this announcement. If we do not receive all required information by the closing date, your application may not be considered.

    To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. Your application must include:

    1. Resume: Uploaded resumes will be accepted for this position. If you would like to create and submit your resume using USAJOBS Resume Builder, please follow the link provided. Click Here: USAJOBS Resume Builder. (Uploaded resumes must include contact information and for qualifications determinations your resume should contain hours worked per week, the dates of employment, and the level of your experience.)

    2. Applicable supporting documents (see Required Documents section).

    To begin, click Apply to access the online application.
    • You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
    • Follow the prompts to select your rsum and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
    • After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
    • You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
    • It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
    • Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.
    • We encourage you to apply online. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, please contact ...@tsa.dhs.gov .
    Agency contact information

    Executive Resources

    Email

    ...@tsa.dhs.gov

    Address

    Executive Resources

    DO NOT MAIL

    Springfield, VA 22150

    US

    Next steps

    Once your complete application is received we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 90 days of the closing date of this announcement. We will notify you of the outcome of these steps when they have been completed.

    To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account ( all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit:
  • Fair and Transparent

    The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
    • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
    • Reasonable accommodation policy
    • Financial suitability
    • Selective Service
    • New employee probationary period
    • Signature and false statements
    • Privacy Act
    • Social security number request
Required Documents

Required Documents:
  1. Your Resume, which incorporates both Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs) responses. (Uploaded resumes must include contact information and for qualifications determinations your resume should contain hours worked per week, the dates of employment, and the level of your experience.)
  2. Associated Questionnaire.
  3. Current SES/TSES members: You must provide a copy of the specific SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which documents conversion or appointment, without time limitation, to the SES/TSES (except current TSA employees).
  4. Reinstatement Eligible SES/TSES members: You must provide a copy of the specific SF-50 which documents conversion or appointment, without time limitation, to your formal SES/TSES position as well as any Federal agency document which confirms your successful completion of an SES/TSES probationary period. (Note: a second SF-50 dated more than a year after SES/TSES conversion or appointment, which documents continued unlimited assignment to the same SES/TSES position, will suffice to document completion of the SES/TSES probationary period).
  5. Graduates of an OPM approved Candidate Development Program (CDP) which resulted in certification by the OPM QRB: You must provide a copy of a QRB endorsed program graduation certificate.
  6. If you are a current or reinstatement eligible Career SES/TSES member or a graduate of an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) and your ECQs have been previously certified by OPM's Qualifications Review Board, you are not required to address the ECQs.
  7. Non-SES/TSES members: You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (except current TSA employees). The SF-50 must demonstrate a tenure code of "1" or "2" in block 24, if it does not then your application may not receive consideration.

NOTE: An award SF-50 (i.e. cash or time off award) does not indicate grade, pay band, level or tenure and will not be accepted.

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 of the following must be received in our office by 11:59 PM EST (Eastern Standard time) on the closing date of this announcement. If we do not receive all required information by the closing date, your application may not be considered.

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. Your application must include:

1. Resume: Uploaded resumes will be accepted for this position. If you would like to create and submit your resume using USAJOBS Resume Builder, please follow the link provided. Click Here: USAJOBS Resume Builder. (Uploaded resumes must include contact information and for qualifications determinations your resume should contain hours worked per week, the dates of employment, and the level of your experience.)

2. Applicable supporting documents (see Required Documents section).

To begin, click Apply to access the online application.
  • You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
  • Follow the prompts to select your rsum and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
  • You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
  • It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
  • Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.
  • We encourage you to apply online. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, please contact ...@tsa.dhs.gov .
Agency contact information

Executive Resources

Email

...@tsa.dhs.gov

Address

Executive Resources

DO NOT MAIL

Springfield, VA 22150

US

Next steps

Once your complete application is received we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 90 days of the closing date of this announcement. We will notify you of the outcome of these steps when they have been completed.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account ( all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit:

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request





 Transportation Security Administration

 05/04/2024

 Springfield,VA