Job Description
Join our mission to serve America's heroes at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Portland Health Care System. We're seeking a dedicated IT Specialist to strengthen our cybersecurity infrastructure and protect sensitive veteran data. This full-time federal position offers competitive benefits, career advancement opportunities, and the chance to make a meaningful impact in a dynamic healthcare environment. As a key member of our IT team, you'll implement cutting-edge security protocols while supporting VA's commitment to excellence in veteran care.
Why Join VA?
- Comprehensive federal benefits package (health, dental, vision)
- Generous paid time off and retirement plans
- Tuition assistance and professional development
- Student loan repayment eligibility
- Work-life balance initiatives
Responsibilities
- Develop and implement enterprise cybersecurity strategies to protect VA systems and veteran data
- Conduct vulnerability assessments and penetration testing across network infrastructure
- Manage incident response protocols for security breaches and cyber threats
- Oversee security compliance with federal standards (NIST, FISMA, HIPAA)
- Lead cross-functional teams for security awareness training programs
- Configure and maintain firewalls, IDS/IPS, and encryption systems
- Collaborate with IT leadership to prioritize security initiatives
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, IT, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- Minimum 3 years of cybersecurity experience in government or regulated industry
- Security+ CE certification or equivalent (e.g., CISSP, CEH)
- Proficiency in risk assessment frameworks and security tools
- Knowledge of federal IT security policies and regulations
- Experience with cloud security platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance
- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail