Information Security Specialist

The position of Information Security Specialist monitors and maintains information systems to ensure the highest standards of security, makes recommendations concerning security protocols, and assists the IT department with various support tasks as needed.

JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Monitor computer networks for security issues.
• Investigate security breaches and other cyber security incidents.
• Install security measures and operate software to protect information infrastructure.
• Fix detected vulnerabilities to maintain a high security standard.
• Work with computer users and IT staff to understand information security.
• Stay up to date on information technology trends and security standards.
• Assist IT department with daily work.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Assist in emergency outage restoration efforts as directed and outlined in the Emergency Response Plan.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree in a computer related field.

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum five years of experience configuring and maintaining IP networks, Cisco firewalls, and switches, deploying Windows servers in a virtual environment, and at least two years in information security.

LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

• CompTIA Security or equivalent
• CompTIA Cyber Security Analyst or equivalent

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE

• Clerical: Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
• Communication Networks: Knowledge of the construction and operation of communication networks.
• Computer Networking: Knowledge of computer networks, including cyber security, communication protocols, cabling, switches, servers, and firewalls.
• Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. 
• Databases: Knowledge of databases, their organization and design, and how to manipulate and query tables of data.
• Spreadsheets: Knowledge of spreadsheets and how to use them to calculate, manipulate, and present data and format them for formal presentations.

SKILLS

• Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. 
• Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. 
• Adaptability: Changing course of action or approach in order to suit a new situation or expectation or work through challenging issues.
• Communications Troubleshooting: Investigating and testing communication system components to determine the cause of problems or failures.
• Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Computer Skills (MS Office): Proficient in the use of common types of software in the MS Office Suite, such as Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. 
• Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. 
• Equipment Selection: Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
• Installation: Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
• Interpersonal: Qualities and behaviors used to communicate, collaborate, and build relationships successfully with others.
• Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. 
• Network Troubleshooting: Investigating and testing computer network to determine the cause of problems or failures to achieve desired network operation.
• Number Facility: The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
• Planning & Organization: Planning, prioritizing, and achieving work goals and assignments by working in an organized, efficient, and productive manner.
• Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. 
• Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Software Troubleshooting: Investigating and testing software to determine the cause of problems or failures to achieve desired operation.
• Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively. 
• Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
• Systems Evaluation: Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
• Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others. 
• Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it. 
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

ABILITIES

• Composure: The ability to handle difficult and stressful situations with professional composure.
• Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. 
• Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). 
• Managing Priorities & Deadlines: Taking control of multiple tasks, managing time to meet approaching project due dates, handling unexpected or difficult situations, and dealing with pressure and stress.
• Memorization: The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
• Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. 
• Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. 
• Originality: The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
• Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. 
• Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted. 
• Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. 
• Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. 
• Strategic Thinking: Mental or thinking process applied through the generation and application of unique business insights and opportunities intended to achieve success or create competitive advantage for the organization.
• Team Oriented: The ability to work collaboratively and build strategic relations with colleagues, coworkers, constituents and volunteers.
• Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. 
• Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

• Finger Movements: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound.
• Repetitive motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

VISUAL ACUITY

• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes.
• The worker is required to have visual acuity to operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• None. The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (such as in typical office or administrative work.)

RELATIONSHIPS

REPORTS TO

• Manager, Information Technology

DIRECT REPORTS

• None