The incumbent of this position serves as a Personnel Security Specialist, and the work assigned is of a very confidential, complex and highly sensitive nature. This position performs the securityrelated functions in support of a Network Personnel Suitability and Credentialing Program (hereinafter, "Personnel Security Program") within a Shared Services Unit, and assures that all appointees have the appropriate level of security/suitability clearance commensurate with their assignment.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/03/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a GS position any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Preferred experience: Certification of Fundamentals of Suitability and Fitness Adjudicators You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: At the GS-07 level: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: assists with reviewing requests for personnel or facility security clearances, granting clearances when derogatory information is absent, reviewing reports of personnel investigations to identify the presence or absence of derogatory information, and brings to the attention of other problems not covered by insructions. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one (1) full year of graduate level education that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position and that was obtained from an accredited college or university. OR, Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.): Applicant's may substitute S.A.A. for the required experience. To qualify based on S.A.A. for this grade level you must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position being filled. S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and graduate level education which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position and was obtained from an accredited college or university. At the GS-09 level: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: applying knowledge of security principles, concepts, and methodologies in carrying out assignments and developing skills by performing limited independent work. Comprehension of criteria, equipment, or techniques for security specialization to resolve well-defined questions or conditions. Extensive knowledge of standardized applications or established variations in security criteria involving considerations such as clearance level required, adjudication of security clearances when clear-cut derogatory information is present in the investigative information, nature of materials or information to the protected, cost-benefit relationships for security devices or equipment systems, and similar considerations. consults with the lead/supervisor in determining which projects to initiate, develops deadlines, and identifies resources required to carry out an assignment. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree OR 2 full years of progressively higher graduate education leading to such a degree OR an LL.B. or J.D., if related. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position and be obtained from an accredited college or university. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first (1st) year of graduate level education which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position and was obtained from an accredited college or university. At the GS-11 level: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: knowledge of emerging federal law, a wide range of federal regulations, agency policies, management practices, and information technology procedures, resolves difficult and complex security problems such as overlapping and conflicting requirements within the Personnel Security Program, have technical competence in automated information systems, a sound knowledge of information security practices, and a basic knowledge of facility applications., Consults with the lead/supervisor in determining which projects to initiate, develops deadlines, and identifies resources required to carry out an assignment. Extensive knowledge of security program interrelationships, i.e., personnel and information security, for the purpose of coordinating objectives and plans for the Personnel Security Program. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full year of progressively higher graduate level education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first two (2) years of graduate level education which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position and was obtained from an accredited college or university. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary and is accomplished in an office environment. Some walking and standing may occur in the course of a normal workday. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
This is a developmental position that ranges from GS-07 to the GS-11. At the full performance level, the incumbent will perform the below (not all inclusive) major duties: Conducts security and suitability adjudications related to background investigations Reviews completed suitability investigations with the purpose of providing recommendations on pre-employment and continued employment considerations Determines the impact of potential adverse or derogatory information; exercises personal judgement and discretion to evaluate the nature of information received and recommends or takes appropriate action. Maintains liaison with local agencies (police, criminal investigators, etc.,) to ensure timely record checks are conducted on personnel Reviews personnel security investigation components for the purpose of summarizing issues and providing recommendations to the Human Resources Officer on pre-employment and continued employment considerations, and placement of personnel Reviews fingerprint submissions and background investugation results and makes decisions concerning the adjudication of all Special Agreement Checks (SACs) and Tiered investigations received from OPM Utilizes Veterans Affairs Centralized Adjudication Background Investigation System (VA-CABS) to perform all functions related to the adjudication of background investigations Drafts and issue Proposed Action Letters (PALs) to applicants and appointees whose investigative results contain actionable suitability information Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Work schedule subject to change based on agency needs. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Personnel Security Specialist/PD99950S, PD99652S, and PD99651 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized