Personnel Security Specialist

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Service (FPS), Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), Personnel Security Division (PSD), Springfield, Virginia.

Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Minimum Qualification/Specialized Experience requirements as noted below.

Minimum Qualifications: GS-07: Applicant must demonstrate one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties: Gathering and organizing information to develop reports and records to support investigations; Reviewing investigation documents and applications to initiate preliminary investigative actions, such as verifying completeness, requesting information, determining the type or level of investigation, performing database checks, etc.; and Performing administrative actions in support of investigations (e.g., updating databases, contacting relevant parties, sending requests for information, maintaining records, drafting summaries, etc.).

OR Have successfully completed one full year (18 semester hours or equivalent) of graduate education from an accredited college or university in a field that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

Note: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted to support your claim.

OR Have successfully completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university AND meet Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) based on ONE of the following: 1) Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, based on completed courses.

-OR- 2) Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.

(Grade-point averages are to be rounded to one decimal place.

For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9.) -OR- 3) Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies.

Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. Note: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted to support your claim.

OR Have a combination of some specialized experience, but less than one year; and some graduate education but less than one year as described in the paragraphs above, that when combined, equals at least 100% of the total requirement.

Minimum Qualifications: GS-09: Applicant must demonstrate one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties: Examining background investigation information to identify discrepancies or derogatory information for further review; Reviewing submitted documents, databases, and other investigative resources to support the processing of investigations; and Liaising with internal and/or external parties (e.g., senior adjudication specialists, supervisors, customers, other agencies, subjects of investigations, etc.) to facilitate the completion of investigations and rendering of decisions.

OR Have successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree; or two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree; or L.L.B or J.D., if related, that provided the knowledge skills, and abilities necessary to perform this work.

Note: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted to support your claim.

OR Have a combination of specialized experience (less than one year) and graduate education (beyond one year of graduate education), that when combined equals 100% of the qualification requirement.

Note: Only graduate education in excess of one year (generally 18 semester hours) may be used in this calculation.

You must submit a copy of your college transcripts (official or unofficial) and your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet the experience to support your claim.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.

Only two page resumes will be accepted and used to make an eligibility/qualifications determination.

Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying).

Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current competitive service employees applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

NOTE: All current or former Federal employees must provide a copy of their SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one), "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility.

The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure (1 or 2), and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). You may need to submit more than one SF-50 to comply.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

NOTE: 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; religious; 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. Major Duties:

The primary purpose of this position is to support personnel security programs to ensure all federal and contractor personnel have and maintain the appropriate background investigations for suitability, fitness and national security clearance and credentials.

This work is in support of the agency's mission to prevent, protect, respond to, and recover from terrorism, criminal acts, and other hazards threatening the U.S.

Government's critical infrastructure, services, and the people who provide or receive them.

Duties performed: Reviewing and analyzing background investigation forms and applications, fingerprint results and law enforcement agency checks to ensure correctness and resolve conflicting information.

Performing database checks, document reviews, and data entry to gather and record investigation information.

Utilizing various automated systems to manage the processing of security clearances, including receipt of security documents, initiation of background investigations, and adjudication of investigation findings.

Reviewing routine security documents submitted by applicants, employees, and contractors and following up to request additional information as necessary.

Conducting day to day liaison with investigative agencies and customers regarding security clearance and/or investigative actions.