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Posted: January 5, 2026 (9 days ago)

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Supervisory Personnel Security Specialist

Department of State - Agency Wide

Department of State

Recent

Location

Salary

$169,279 - $197,200

per year

Closes

January 14, 2026More State jobs →

GS-14 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $104,604 - $135,987

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-13. Senior expert or supervisor.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves leading a team that reviews background checks to decide if people can access sensitive government information, while also shaping security policies and managing operations for the State Department.

It's ideal for someone with deep experience in security clearances who enjoys supervising others, solving complex problems, and staying calm under pressure.

A good fit would be a seasoned federal employee ready to advise top leaders on protecting national secrets.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience at the GS-14 level in federal service, including planning and prioritizing personnel security investigations and adjudications
  • Expertise in analyzing background investigations and applying criteria to recommend security clearances or public trust certifications
  • Proven ability to serve as a senior advisor on personnel security programs, including investigations, adjudications, continuous vetting, and access to classified information
  • Strong supervisory skills to assign, review, and manage the work of a team
  • Time-in-grade requirement: 52 weeks at the GS-13 level for federal applicants
  • Qualities such as objectivity, adaptability to stress, openness to new ideas, and commitment to completing tasks

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Adjudications Division, Office of Personnel Security and Suitability, Office of the Senior Coordinator for Security Infrastructure, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S.

Department of State. (DS/PSS/ADJ).

You will serve as the Chief, Adjudications Division, responsible for developing and implementing US Government and Intelligence Community (IC) policies, coordinating agency business processes and planning and managing all division activities and operations.

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement.

NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement.

Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F.

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience planning, organizing and setting priorities for a full range of personnel security investigative and adjudicative activities and workload; Experience analyzing background investigations and supplemental investigative information and applying adjudicative criteria to make a recommendation concerning the issuance or continuance of security clearances or public trust certification; Experience serving as an authoritative expert/senior adviser to leadership regarding the management of a personnel security program involved in investigations, adjudications, continuous vetting, and access to sensitive or classified information.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-15 position.

In addition, applicant's experience must also demonstrate that the candidate possesses the following qualities: Ability to assign, review, and supervise the work of others; Objectivity and fairness in judging people on their ability, and situations on the facts and circumstances; Ability to adjust to change, work pressures, or difficult situations without undue stress; Willingness to consider new ideas or divergent points of view; and Capacity to "see the job through." Major Duties:

  • Manages all Adjudications Division activities and operations related to adjudicating background investigations; Establishes goals, objectives, plans and priorities to meet changing requirements and implements new or revised adjudicative policies.
  • Manages resources ensuring integrity and efficiency, preventing fraud, waster and mismanagement. Determines resource needs, develops and defends budget requests, prioritizes the allocation of approved budgets.
  • Establishes and maintains liaison with personnel internal and external to the Department to exchange sensitivities information and coordinate the implementation of personnel security adjudicative programs.
  • Advises management on complex issues related to personnel security policies, regulations, and processes regarding personnel security policies and regulations concerning the continuation of security clearances.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/5/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/6/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: DS-2026-0011