Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Energy, Office of Enterprise Assessments (EA) in the Office of Security Assessments. A successful candidate in this position will evaluate site security management practices related to the planning process; budget process; organization and staffing; program direction; personnel security; and control systems. The incumbent will also serve as the office's principle expert on the security planning process.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

As a Security Specialist (Protection Program Management), you will:

• Collaborate with the Director for the Office of Security Assessments Office Deputy Director, other senior Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) staff, and contractor representatives in the planning, issues/topic selecting and developing, coordinating, scheduling, and implementing of the DOE Safeguards and Security oversight program.
• Serve as the office's expert in security system modeling, vulnerability analysis (VA) process, personnel security, and development of Safeguards and Security Program. As such, you will be called upon to study and evaluate the soundness of this critical aspect of DOE sites' safeguards and security planning efforts.
• Lead teams of Federal and contract technical experts on a regular and reoccurring basis in the conduct of Protection Program Management (PPM) appraisals, reviews, and special studies at DOE and NNSA facilities and laboratories nationwide. Teams consist of one or more Federal and/or contractor personnel, and represent such occupations as physical scientists, security specialists, and engineers concentrating on programs and activities concerning either one or more specific issues or protection elements of several S&S topics/issues at selected DOE and NNSA facilities.
• Assure that team members validate findings and that assessment conclusions are sound and based facts; and collaborating with site management officials and their staff to assure that ongoing activities and conducts facility walk-downs to assess the effectiveness of line management in implementing its security responsibilities. These activities involve the evaluation of DOE line management's implementation of protection programs and strategies by validating that line management policies, programs, and management systems are being carried out with significant accountability, commitment, and technical understanding and by verifying that management controls and actual program results at are effective and in conformance with established policies, orders, rules, and applicable laws.
• Communicate assignments and completion schedules, coaches team members, and balances and adjusts the workload and monitor work status and quality to ensure timely work completion. Report to cognizant management on team work accomplishments, progress, and difficulties. Apply a wide range of methods to analyze and improve team effectiveness, efficiency, and work results.
• Provide supporting data to substantiate and illustrate the necessity or justification for determinations made on security matters. Represent DOE on agency and interagency committees concerned with developing broad-based oversight policy. Participate in outside agency reviews of security systems to provide unique expertise and maintain a current "state-of-the-art" awareness of protection procedures, equipment, and management techniques used for evaluating performance. Keep the Office Director and Deputy Director apprised of the status of protection program issues, and briefs the Office of Security Assessments Deputy Director and Director, as well as other officials, when appropriate.

Travel Required

50% or less - The incumbent will be required to travel approximately 30% of the time for a period of 2 weeks at a time that results in being away from home for approximately 3 to 4 weeks over a 3-month inspection cycle to attend meetings, conferences and pre-appraisal activities.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
• May be required to complete a one-year supervisory probationary period.
• Selectee must complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure, OGE-450 form.
• Resume and question responses must be submitted online.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Education cannot be substituted for specialized experience for the GS-15 grade level.

Telework availability will be for situational telework only and is in accordance to agency policy and at supervisor's discretion.

This position is not covered under a Bargaining Unit.

Eligible candidates for this position must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance. The duties and responsibilities of this position require that the incumbent have access to documents and/or material containing Secret Restricted Data which are related to sensitive issues. Therefore, the position demands the highest degree of public trust and requires that the incumbent possess a DOE "Q" Clearance.

This position has also been designated as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) subject to testing for illegal drug use. The selectee must test negative prior to being appointed to this position and will be subject to random testing thereafter. Failure to pass or refusal to take subsequent tests could result in non- selection or disciplinary action, up to and including removal from the Federal service.

You may be required to complete a one-year probationary period, if not previously completed in a competitive or other excepted service position.

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly .

If selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure, OGE-450 form upon entry into the position and annually thereafter.

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: experience in a range of nuclear safeguards (which includes but is not limited to: security system modeling, tactical doctrine deployment, vulnerability analysis (VA) processes, radiological sabotage dispersal analysis, chemical sabotage analysis, personnel security processes, and development of Site Security Plans (SSPs); ensuring adherence to security legislation, regulations, policies and procedures; and the complications associated with their application at nuclear and non-nuclear facilities.

Your application and resume should demonstrate that you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your application how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the KSAs identified below. Cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. DO NOT write "see resume" in your application!

Knowledge of all Protection Program Management (PPM) topics to include: planning process; budget process; organization and staffing; program direction; personnel security; and control systems.

Knowledge of the general fields of protection of special technical knowledge in nuclear material controls and accounting, protective force operations, physical security system design and performance , protection of classified and sensitive unclassified information, and its requirements.

Knowledge of federal, state and local government regulations and directives and of the full range of nuclear safeguard and security (S&S) legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures, security principles, concepts, and practices, security goals, requirements, policies, issues, and developments in the Federal, State, and local government, private industry, as well as the planning and implementation of security programs.

Skill in the general field of security appraisal and review theories, survey and assessment methods, and practices required to effectively evaluate the status of the S&S programs.

Ability to communicate orally with tact and diplomacy to make recommendation, influence, motivate and encourage subordinates and management officials.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

Time-in-Grade: Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

EDUCATION:

There's no positive education requirements for this position.

Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

Additional information

The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• New employees to the Department of Energy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify .
• Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website.
• If you believe that you are eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), please visit the OPM ICTAP/CTAP website for more information. In order to be considered under the ICTAP program, your application must score within the pre-established "well qualified" category as stated in the Qualifications section.
• More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.
• Some positions may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year.
• Many positions require successful completion of a background investigation.
• All males born after December 31st 1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register . If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.

EEO Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/EEO_Policy_Statement
Reasonable Accommodation Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Reasonable_Accommodation_Policy_Statement
Veterans Information: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Veterans_Information
Telework: www.telework.gov
Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

The Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate the responses you provide in the applicant assessment questionnaire to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications necessary for this position. Then, the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to determine if your qualifications meet the criteria for referral to the selecting official.

We will also verify that you are eligible for Merit Promotion positions by reviewing your previous Federal employment to ensure you meet Time-in-Grade requirements. If you are eligible to apply to Merit Promotion announcements based on Veteran or other non-competitive statuses, we will verify your supporting documentation prior to referral.

If you are eligible for career transition assistance plans such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the definition of "well qualified" which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly.
To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Q Access Authorization

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants. If you are unsure, click the link for each document type to read more.

ALL APPLICANTS: You must submit a about what is expected in your resume." href="https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/How_to_create_your_resume" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire.

• Your resume should list all work experience (paid and unpaid); you must list the full name and address of the each employer.
• For all types of work experience, you should indicate the start and end dates (include month, day, and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that you worked.
• For paid work experience, please indicate your starting grade/salary for each position and the highest grade/salary you earned (if different).
• Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
• For more information about what to include in your resume, please view this USAJOBS Resume Tutorial video on YouTube.

Most DOE offices will allow you to submit a resume in the format of your choice (as an attached document or as a USAJOBS Resume Builder format). However, some offices may require one specific format. You will be notified at the time you click 'Apply Online' which type of resume is acceptable. It is important that you are complete and thorough in your resume. If any of the above information is not included in your resume, we may not be able to fully credit you for your experience.

Current and former Federal employees: Most recent SF-50 (Standard Form 50 - Notice of Personnel Action).

To properly verify status eligibility, your SF-50 must show the following. If you do not submit an appropriate SF-50, we cannot verify your status eligibility!

Full position title;

appointment type;

occupational series;

pay plan, grade, and step;

tenure code; and

service computation date (SCD).

If specific educational requirements are indicated for this vacancy: experience." href="https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Education" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Documentation verifying your educational claims which can include unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned and final grade. Please see the Education section for more information.

Veterans: authorities and the documentation you need to submit" href="http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/shav/index.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">veteran eligibility documentation (DD-214 Member #4 Copy, VA Letter, Standard Form (SF) 15 as applicable). Please note: If you are a veteran who has not yet been discharged, you may provide a statement of intent to discharge from your agency to receive Veterans Preference under the VOW (Veterans Opportunity to Work) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011.

Persons with Disabilities: Individuals with intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities may apply for appointment through the Schedule A hiring authority. flexibilities for persons with disabilities" href="https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Certified verification of a disability from a licensed medical professional; a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist; or any Federal, state, or District of Columbia agency or U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits will be required.

Displaced Federal employees who qualify for CTAP/ICTAP: If you are a former Federal employee who was displaced due to a Reduction-in-Force (RIF) or surplused by some other means, please submit a copy of the separation letter or RIF notice from your agency. To be selected under I/CTAP, you must still be found well-qualified for this position. Please see the OPM Guide to Career Transition for more information.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.