Security Assistant

Full Job Description

This position is organizationally located in the VISN Human Resources Management's Personnel Security and Credentialing (PIV) Share Services Unit (SSU), at the Pittsburgh VAMC, University Drive Campus, reporting to the Unit Supervisor.

The purpose of the position is to perform administrative/clerical support work supporting SSU personnel security programs.

The incumbent's assignments include collecting, organizing, and tracking information in support of the SSU's Personnel Security Specialist.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/13/2026.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-5 Qualifications: Specialized Experience GS-5: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: training, leading, coordinating or supervising others in related duties such as: Performing standard and non-standard assignments involving different and unrelated processes or methods in varying sequence; possess 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.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed 4 years above high school.

Successfully completed education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite is creditable at GS-5 for all positions except Reporting Stenographer, GS-5.

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

One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school (Transcripts Required).

OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement.

One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience.

GS-6 Qualifications: Specialized Experience GS-6: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: training, leading, coordinating or supervising others in related duties such as: 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's eApp system or in conjunction with the Personnel Security and Adjudications Center (PSAC).

GS-7 Qualifications: Specialized Experience GS-7: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: training, leading, coordinating or supervising others in related duties such as: 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's eApp system or in conjunction with the Personnel Security and Adjudications Center (PSAC).

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 Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) 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.

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 DCSA National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) system or in conjunction with the 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.

Maintains logs of current employees who are in public trust positions and ensures reinvestigations are initiated, reviewed and released using eAPP within the required timeframe as per policy.

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

As needed, works with applicants who may be experiencing difficulties with completion of electronic forms related to the background screening process.

Also works with Recruitment and Staffing to assure required background documents are complete and accurate as per policy (OF-306, SF-85, SF-85P, etc.).

Takes and transmits electronic fingerprints for appointees or when the FBI returns fingerprints unclassifiable for various reasons.

Only in rare instances when there is machine malfunction, manually takes fingerprints for the purpose of background investigations from DCSA..

Enters appropriate data in required databases related to an appointee's suitability from a wide variety of sources, i.e., fingerprint/badge log, notification(s) of investigation(s), requests for additional information, receipt/disposition of 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.

Performs other duties as assigned.

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: 7:00am - 3:30pm or 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Security Assistant/PD99952S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized