Suitability Adjudicator
Office of Personnel Management
Posted: April 13, 2026 (0 days ago)
This job was posted recently. Fresh listings typically have less competition.
National Security Agency/Central Security Service
Department of Defense
Location
Fort Meade, Maryland
Salary
$57,736 - $133,142
per year
Type
Full-Time
More Other jobs →Closes
Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900
Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
This job involves reviewing background checks, investigations, and other reports to decide if people can access sensitive classified information at the NSA, helping keep the workforce secure.
Workers evaluate risks, spot issues in records, and make fair decisions based on government rules.
It's a good fit for detail-oriented individuals with experience in security checks or analysis who enjoy investigative work in a national security setting.
Adjudicators ensure a trusted workforce by providing timely and efficient decisions to determine an individual's eligibility for initial or continued access to NSA classified information.
Decisions are based on information developed through Reports of Polygraph Examination, Reports of Investigation, continuous evaluation programs and various other investigative/analytical resources per the criteria established in Intelligence Community Directive 704 (ICD 704).
ENTRY/DEVELOPMENTAL Entry is with a high school diploma or GED plus 4 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's degree plus 2 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree and no experience.
FULL PERFORMANCE Entry is with a high school diploma or GED plus 7 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's degree plus 5 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree plus 3 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 1 year of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree and no experience.
Major Duties:
Security and Counterintelligence is responsible for the protection of NSA/CSS information, people and facilities worldwide.
In support of this mission, Adjudicators are responsible for ensuring a trusted workforce by providing timely and efficient decisions to determine an individual's eligibility for initial or continued access to NSA classified information, to include evaluating candidates sponsored by the military or external agencies for access to NSA operational areas.
Adjudicators work in a myriad of offices within Security and Counterintelligence and their responsibilities include, but are not limited to: - Conducting security adjudicative administrative processes - Conducting the security adjudicative analytic and risk mitigation process - Coordinating the security clearance process, including vetting, approval, denial, and access control - Making security clearance determinations in accordance with DOD, IC, and NSA/CSS personnel security regulations, principles, and processes - Evaluating reports of investigations, interpreting, and applying adjudicative guidelines to formulate a recommended course of action consistent with relevant Executive Orders, OPM, Department of Justice, and NSA related to security/suitability determinations - Corroborating or mitigating serious derogatory information - Reviewing case files of all relevant materials pertaining to a case including all paperwork, any other source materials, and the opinions of other relevant/investigative personnel - Reviewing investigative documents to identify discrepancies, inconsistencies, and areas potentially requiring clarification or additional investigation - Reviewing internal records to determine if there are any open internal cases which may be related to affiliate's background investigation - Determining if additional inquiries are necessary to resolve discrepant, negative, or contradictory information - Retrieving data from credit bureaus, requesting Local Agency checks, reviewing reports to determine criminal records or traffic violations - Reviewing adjudicative determinations of other personnel security professionals (e.g., polygraphers, security information specialists, counterintelligence investigators) - Reviewing and verifying information submitted on applications/Personnel Security Questionnaires
Check your resume before applying to catch common mistakes