Personnel Security Assistant

Full Job Description

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has adopted the HR Modernization and Shared Services Implementation, which is a new model of organizing and consolidating essential Human Resource functions and services to the Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) level.

This position serves as a Security Assistant and performs security-related functions in support of a Network Personnel Suitability and Credentialing Program hereinafter, "Personnel Security Program" within a shared services unit.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/17/2026.

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-5 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-4. For a GS-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6.

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: 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: use of various computer, automation systems; computer skills in terms of data entry, compiling information, preparing and submitting reports, and database maintenance and management; ability to maintain confidentiality of information, both electronic and print; and communication and interpersonal relation skills sufficient to appropriately and courteously relate to internal and external customers both verbally and in writing.

OR, EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) Successfully completed 4 years above high school in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite.

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

OR, COMBINATION: Possess an equivalent combination of specialized experience and post high school education as described above that demonstrates my ability to perform the duties of this position.

For the GS-05, only education in excess of 60 semester hours (2 years) is creditable.

GS-06: 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: signing forms administrative tasks associated with the authorization and issuance of the personal identification card, a standardized identification badge designed to increase security related with physical access to Federal facilities and networks and logical access to computer systems.

Obtaining, inserting, and correcting missing and incorrect data in Personnel Security files and automated systems.

Assuring that paperwork related to the suitability process is forwarded for inclusion in the appropriate system of records, i.e., official personnel folders.

GS-07: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Collecting appropriate background security information, tracking and reviewing data, completion of reports, maintaining databases and processing, must have the ability to enter, extract, and evaluate employee information via access to various computer databases, initiating, reviewing, and approving background cases related to the completion of suitability investigations, completion of reports, maintaining databases and processing, position risks sensitivity levels, pre-employment processes, log maintenance, electronic fingerprints, minor identification card troubleshooting, admin tasks associated with authorization of personal identification cards, special projects, performing audits, credentialing rules and regulations.

This specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-6 grade level in the Federal service.

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 sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work.

However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as papers, small boxes, or books.

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 duties include but are not limited too: GS-5 performs standard and non- standard assignments involving different and unrelated processes or methods in varying sequence work requires extensive knowledge of rules, operations, or business practices follows accepted practices in resolving non-recurring problems and meeting deadlines completed products are evaluated for effectiveness in meeting goals extensive guidelines in the form of instructions, manuals, and regulations are applied GS-6 uses initiative and works 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 follows 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 refers 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 GS-7 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.

For pre-employment processes, serves as the initial point of contact for new appointees including but not limited to paid or without compensation employees, volunteers, students, residents, and contractors.

Reviews information submitted by the requesting office to validate level of background required, enters appointee information into a local data base tracking system and refers appointee for fingerprinting.

Initiates, reviews and releases appointees background investigations in the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) National Background Investigations Service Electronic Application (eAPP) Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (eQIP) system or in conjunction with the VA- Personnel Security and Adjudication Center (PSAC) Regularly monitors the status of specific pending items, compiles data to produce reports, follows up to determine status and records results.

Reports are produced on a regular basis (weekly) to keep top level management apprised of the status of the Suitability/Security Program and for performance management/performance improvement initiatives 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: 8:00am-16:30pm Telework: Not eligible for Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Personnel Security Assistant/PD99952S and PD99653S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized