Security Analyst - IT Security Specialist I

Title: Security Analyst (IT Security Specialist I)

Location: Columbia, SC,  United States

Salary

$52,100.00 - $88,600.00 Annually

Location 

Richland County, SC

Job Type

FTE - Full-Time

Job Number

181337/61159493-61159494

Agency

SCDES

Class Code:

AM80

Position Number:

61159493/61159494 (181337)

Normal Work Schedule:

Monday - Friday (8:30 - 5:00)

Pay Grade

TEC04

Hiring Range - Min.

$52,100.00

Hiring Range - Max.

$70,300.00

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity Employer

Agency Specific Application Procedures:

All applicants must apply online. Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. A resume may be upload but will not be used to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications.

Job Description:

Careers at SCDES: Where Passion Meets Preservation 

Do you love South Carolina and protecting the environment? 
Come join our team at SCDES, put your passion to work with us! 
We are dedicated to protecting the state of South Carolina and we would love to have you as a member of our team!

 Science | Service | Sustainability

Under limited supervision, the Security Analyst I will monitor, analyze, and respond to security threats and alerts, ensuring the security of the infrastructure and protection of agency data. This position with assist coordinate and assist with all tier 1 threats and alerts. 

Job Responsibilities:

• Monitor and investigate assigned security alerts from tools.

• Analyze and respond to security incidents, performing triage, root cause analysis, documentation, and escalation to CISO as needed.

• Review and interpret identity, access, and audit logs in Microsoft Entra to support investigations, access reviews, and policy validation.

• Analyze and prioritize vulnerability scan data and coordinate with SCDES Office of Technology staff to track remediation and patching efforts. Assist as needed.

• Support, investigate and validate the implementation of security policies such as Conditional Access, Insider-Risk Management, DSPM for AI, Data Loss Prevention Information Protection, and endpoint compliance.

• Assist with user support and awareness, responding to security-related inquiries, phishing reports, and training participation.

• Collaborate with SCDES Office of Technology and SC Administration's Division of Technology teams to ensure alignment with security architecture, shared service boundaries, and tool access.

• Perform other cybersecurity functions as assigned by the Chief Information Security Officer.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in information technology systems, computer science, or a related field and experience in the information technology field to include experience in a security-focused role. 
• Relevant experience may be substituted for the bachelor's degree on a year-for-year basis.

Institutions of Higher Learning must be recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Applicants indicating college credit or degree(s) on the application are encouraged to upload an unofficial copy of the transcript as an attachment to the application. If selected for an interview, a copy of the college transcript will be required via email or at the time of the interview. Please note that some departments within the agency may require an official, certified copy of the transcript prior to hiring or within a specific timeframe required by that area, after hiring. Failure to produce an official, certified transcript may result in not being hired or termination.

Additional Requirements:

• One or more certifications such as Security+, CySA+, CEH, GSEC, MS-SC200 or any other relevant certification. 
• Strong understanding of networking, operating systems, security protocols, and security tools. 
• Ability to analyze security events, identify patterns, and assess risks. 
• Capacity to troubleshoot security issues and develop effective solutions. 
• Ability to clearly communicate security risks and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences. 
• Meticulousness in monitoring systems, analyzing logs, and documenting security incidents. 
• Familiarity with security tools and frameworks (e.g. NIST) 
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to analyze complex security issues and develop effective responses. 
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to collaborate with diverse teams. 
• Relevant certifications (e.g., CompTIA Security+, CEH)

Preferred Qualifications

• 2 years (3 - 4 years preferred) of hands-on experience in cybersecurity or a closely similar role. 
• GCIA, GCIH, PenTest+, CHFI

Additional Comments

SCDES is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. 

 The Department will not sponsor H1B visas for this position.

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees: 

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
• Retirement benefit choices* 
  • State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
  • State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)
• Remote Work: The option to work remotely 2 days per week is available after successful completion of 1 year of employment with SCDES, based on job functions.

*Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.