We’re Hiring

Visual Connections, LLC is seeking Security Specialist. As a Security Specialist, you will play a critical role in supporting the mission of the department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by transforming complex technical information into clear, concise, and user-friendly documentation (e.g., Security Plans, SOPs, ATO documentation), enabling the IT systems to obtain an ATO.

Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Duties

As a Security Specialist supporting Maveris programs, you will be trusted to support the ATO efforts including the creation and maintenance of Authorization and Accreditation documentation. In this role, a typical day will include:

The ISSO is the. Their duties for an ATO include:

• Operate as ATO documentation support for the system and support the system team and the agency's security and authorizing officials.

• Develop and maintain the System Security Plan (SSP), which is the core document for the ATO package.

• Ensure that a comprehensive Contingency Plan (CP) is developed to outline procedures for system recovery in the event of a security incident or disaster.

• For systems handling personally identifiable information (PII), ensure a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is completed to assess and mitigate privacy risks.

• Based on the system's security categorization (low, moderate, or high), work with the system team to select and implement the appropriate security controls from NIST Special Publication 800-53.

• Develop and maintain the plan for continuous monitoring, which ensures that security controls remain effective and that the system's security posture is maintained post-ATO.

• Support the security assessor team (internal or third-party) during the security assessment. This involves providing system documentation and evidence to demonstrate that controls are implemented correctly and are operating as intended.

• For any security weaknesses identified during the assessment, support developing and tracking the Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M):. This is a remedial action plan that details how and when the weaknesses will be mitigated.

• Assist to compile the final ATO package, which includes the SSP, assessment reports, and POA&M, for review by the AO.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree or higher - equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of a degree

• 5+ years of ISSO experience with a federal information system.

• Cybersecurity certifications such as Security+ or similar is a plus

• Understanding of Cybersecurity tooling especially Palo Alto Products such as Prisma Cloud.

• Experience with Agile project management methods and frameworks such as SCRUM and SAFe is preferred

• Working knowledge of program/project management software (Microsoft Project, Jira, Microsoft 365/Teams applications, etc.)  

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

• Strong planning, organizational, and time management skills

• Exceptional analytical and conceptual thinking skills

• Strong leadership skills and ability to work collaboratively with a team of peers

Location & Work Environment

• Remote

• No travel required