Personnel Security Specialist
What you'd do
This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the Chief Security Officer (OCSO), Personnel Security Division(PSD). The primary purpose of this position is to review, evaluate, and adjudicate personnel security investigations conducted by DHS, Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) and other investigative agencies. Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position.
Major duties
As a Personnel Security Specialist, GS-0080-9/11, your typical work assignments may include the following: Initiate investigative process appropriate to the position sensitivity and/or the level of security clearance required. Review, evaluate, and adjudicate personnel security investigations conducted by the DHS, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Defense agencies, and other investigative agencies. File and prepare the necessary additional records and provide analysis and recommendations during the pre-employment process. Prepare security clearance and revocation proposal and decision letters to employees and applicants, where significant adverse information has been developed in the background investigations. This announcement will be open for 5 business days OR until the first 100 applications have been received, whichever happens first. View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions.
What you need to qualify
There are no Individual Occupational Requirements for this position. You qualify at the GS-09 grade level if you possess one of the following: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in Federal service, that demonstrates the ability to illustrate basic knowledge of personnel entry control and techniques to acquire information. Possess the ability to analyze information to resolve security issues. Knowledge of the investigative information process to assure appropriate access investigation and clearance for all employees, contractors and others. Knowledge of the principles, concepts, regulations and operating techniques related to personnel security program matters including an understanding of the agency jurisdiction and authority to conduct security investigations. Knowledge of the suitability criteria: Adjudicative Guidelines for Determining Eligibility for Access to Classified Information.; OR A 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 to career field; OR A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above that, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application. NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of the first year may be used to qualify for the GS-09 level. You qualify at the GS-11 grade level if you possess one of the following: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in Federal service, that demonstrates the ability to illustrate knowledge of principles, concepts, and operating techniques related to personnel security program matters to include an in-depth understanding of agency jurisdiction and authority to conduct security investigations. Experience in determining investigative information warrants cases to be further investigated, referred, or closed. Thorough knowledge of written and oral communications involving security access. Thorough knowledge of source information and the ability to analyze and use techniques to resolve security issues. Knowledge of personnel entry control systems and the ability to resolve complex security issues. Experience in adjudicating background investigations using the suitability criteria. Possess a working knowledge of Intelligence Community Directive to adjudicate Sensitive Compartmented Information cases; OR A 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 to career field; OR A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above that, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application. NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of the first two years may be used to qualify for the GS-11 level. All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Time-in-grade: Current General Schedule (GS) federal employees, and those that have served in GS positions within the last 52 weeks, must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade, or a combination of the next lower grade level and an equivalent band in the federal service by the closing of this announcement. Note: Current or former Federal employees MUST submit a copy of their SF-50 Form which shows competitive service appointment ("position occupied" block 34 on the SF-50 should show a "1"), tenure group (block 24 should show a 1 or 2), grade, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 Form which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, With-in Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s dated a year apart within the same grade/job. The SF 50 must include your pay band, series, grade, and step). If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof. Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent appointment. IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CONSIDERATION AS A STATUS CANDIDATE. 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. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Before you apply
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