Personnel Security Specialist

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Personnel Vetting Operations Division (PVOD), Security Enterprise Services Directorate (SESD), Washington Headquarters Services (WHS).

PVOD performs personnel vetting management and administration functions in direct support of the Office of the Secretary of War, Director of Administration and Management, WHS, and other clients.

Promotion Potential: If you are selected below the full performance level, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if performance is satisfactory, you successfully complete all requirements and are recommended by management.

Promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of promotion is implied. In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements described below.

You may qualify at the GS-09 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your experience: Assisting in the processing of personnel security actions by inputting data into security systems; and Reviewing security forms for completeness, and 3) Preparing case files for review by a senior specialist.

OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related.

OR Combination of education and experience.

You may qualify at the GS-11 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your experience: Performing routine personnel security case management duties (such as reviewing completed background investigations to identify minor derogatory information and drafting initial case summaries or recommendations for a senior adjudicator); and Applying security regulations and procedures to process security clearance nominations.

OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. OR Combination of education and experience.

You may qualify at the GS-12 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your experience: Reviewing and evaluating completed security investigations to make preliminary determinations on suitability and security eligibility; and Providing guidance to security managers on established personnel security policies and procedures.

A combination of education and experience (GS-09 & GS-11 level): Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be used to meet the total qualification requirements.

A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%.

To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18.

Add the two percentages.

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).

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. Your resume may not exceed two (2) pages.

For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume.

If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.

Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission..

A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service.

This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin.

It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters.

Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible".

Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave.

Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level.

If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

Time-in-grade and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. Major Duties:

As a Personnel Security Specialist, you will: Lead and manage end-to-end personnel security clearance operations, implementing streamlined workflows to accelerate onboarding timelines while ensuring full compliance with DoD security protocols and federal investigative standards.

Serve as the primary liaison with external federal agencies (e.g., FBI, CIA, DCSA) to secure expedited reviews, negotiate "trust transfers" of existing clearances, and prioritize investigations for senior leaders and White House appointees.

Determine suitability and security eligibility for sensitive positions by analyzing background investigations, identifying and mitigating potential adverse findings, and issuing or withdrawing temporary security clearances based on a comprehensive risk assessment.

Administer due process by drafting and issuing detailed supporting rationales and official correspondence (such as Statements of Reason or Letters of Intent) to individuals, and provide guidance on responding to questions concerning derogatory information.

Function as a senior subject matter expert, advising organizational security managers and senior leadership on complex personnel security policies and procedures, and represent the organization in interagency working groups to resolve systemic issues.