Personnel Security Assistant

Full Job Description

The incumbent of this position serves as a Personnel Security Assistant in the PSU, and the position is to perform security-related functions in support of a Network Personnel Suitability and Credentialing Program within a shared services unit.

The Personnel Security Program assures that all appointees have the appropriate level of security/suitability clearance commensurate with their assignment.

The incumbent serves as an Assistant to the Personnel Security Specialist. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/02/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-04. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06.

The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. 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.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-05 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: performing standard and non- standard assignments involving different and unrelated processes or methods in varying sequence; experience completing work that requires extensive knowledge of rules, operations, or business practices; experience in following accepted practices in resolving non-recurring problems and meeting deadlines; experience in using extensive guidelines in the form of instructions, manuals, and regulations.

OR, Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-05 level.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed four (4) years of education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite.

This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university.

NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-05 level.

To qualify you must possess the equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level.

This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university.

NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials.

Education cannot be credited without documentation To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned).

Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-05.

For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e.

50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

GS-06 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 level in the Federal Service; experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of this specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: extensive knowledge in using initiative and is able to work independently within the framework established by the Supervisor in carrying out recurring assignments such as obtaining, inserting, and correcting missing and incorrect data in Personnel Security files and automated systems; extensive experience in following established procedures or instructions that specifically describe how the work is to be done and the kind of modifications or exceptions that can be made and is able to refer specific problems not covered by the Supervisor's instructions or standard operating procedures to Supervisor or Lead Personnel Security Specialist for assistance and/or a decision; extensive experience in using guidelines in the form of instructions, manuals, and regulations.

GS-07 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-6 level in the Federal Service; experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of this specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: expert knowledge in performing work related to the collection, organization and/or tracking of information in support of the Personnel Security Program; expert experience in processes of initiating, reviewing, and approving background cases for release to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in compliance with policies relating to completion of suitability investigations for Federal employees and others requiring background investigations for non-sensitive and public trust positions; extensive knowledge of assisting the Personnel Security Specialist in collecting appropriate background information, tracking and reviewing data, completion of reports, maintaining databases and processing follow-up actions on various security related matters and assisting with suitability adjudications.

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/.

Major Duties:

The Personnel Security Assistant performs work related to the collection, organization and/or tracking of information in support of the Personnel Security Program.

The Personnel Security Program includes the processes of initiating, reviewing, and approving background cases for release to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in compliance with policies relating to completion of suitability investigations for Federal employees and others requiring background investigations for non-sensitive and public trust positions.

The work of this position centers on assisting the Personnel Security Specialist in collecting appropriate background information, tracking and reviewing data, completion of reports, maintaining databases and processing follow-up actions on various security related matters and assisting with suitability adjudications Review position risk sensitivity levels as full assistant to the Personnel Security Specialist.

Assemble position descriptions and functional statements for the Personnel Security Specialist for review.

Track electronically the level assigned and the appropriate background investigation needed Initiates, reviews and releases appointees background investigations in the NBIS System in conjunction with the VA- Adjudication Center (VA-AC).

in conjunction with the Personnel Security and Adjudication Center Maintains logs of current employees who are in public trust positions and ensures reinvestigations are initiated, reviewed and released using NBIS e-Apps e-QIP within the required timeframe as per policy.

Works closely with the adjudicator to monitor the progress of investigations when applicable.

Takes and transmits electronic fingerprints via USAccess Enters appropriate data in required databases related to an appointee's suitability from a wide variety of sources Support the programming of PIV cards after being manufactured.

Perform minor PIV troubleshooting of the PIV System during malfunctions and resolve system issues.

Performs administrative tasks associated with the authorization and issuance of the PIV card, a standardized identification badge designed to increase security related with physical access to Federal facilities and networks and logical access to computer systems.

Accomplishes special projects in relation to the PIV Program.

Assists with the Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Program in performing functions associated with the daily operations to include performing registrar and/or issuer duties and training sponsors on their roles and responsibilities.

In conjunction with the Personnel Security Specialist and/or lead/supervisor, presents training/briefings for supervisors, managers, and employees related to various aspects of the Personnel Security Program.

Utilize the VA-CABS system building applicant positions; verifying scheduled and favorably adjudicated investigations.

Uses the NP2 systems; PIPS/CVS Reviews applicant's data ensuring that the submitted information matches the demographic data and that all required information has been provided.

Accepts/rejects applicants Ensures that security activities are in accordance with agency security policies.

Keeps security information confidential and assures compliance with the requirements of safeguarding personal and other sensitive data pursuant to the Computer Security Act of 1997, and the Privacy Act of 1974.

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 8:00AM-4:30PM - Negotiable Position Description/PD#: Personnel Security Assistant/PD99952S, PD99952-A, and PD99952A