Duties

Summary

READ ALL INFORMATION BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION TO ENSURE YOU UNDERSTAND AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

This is a developmental position leading to the GS-12 full performance level. Duties will be gradually increased so the employee is performing at that level.

Work primarily involves the physical protection of sensitive/classified information, personnel, facilities and installations against criminal, terrorist or hostile intelligence activities.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

• Conducts inspections for security vulnerabilities in SSA facilities.
• Performs analyses to determine the existence of actual or potential threats to the security of lives, property and assets on Government owned or leased property.
• Recommends or takes collective actions to eliminate or reduce the threat(s).
• Develops and updates procedures used in the day-to-day physical security operation by SSA employees, as well as contract security guards.
• Analyzes headquarters crime data for trends or security problems and coordinates corrective action.
• As directed, represents the Office Director or Division Director in meetings, discussions and negotiations with key management and supervisory personnel and/or union personnel concerning physical security needs and provides solutions.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Selective Service Registration: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov
• Background and/or security investigation may be required.
• Job offers are contingent on background / security investigation results.
• Federal employees must be in good standing.
• Federal employees must have a successful performance rating.
• Selectees may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period.
• All application materials must be received by the closing date.
• Official Personnel Folders will not be reviewed.
• Requests for copies of application documents will not be accepted.
• All application forms submitted become the property of SSA Human Resources.

Qualifications

You can meet the qualification requirements for this position based on specialized experience and/or education. The full requirements for both are explained below.

EXPERIENCE : You must have at least 52 weeks of *Specialized Experience as described below. This experience must have been gained in a federal position at or above GS-09 OR (if your position/experience is in another federal payscale or outside of federal service) by performing duties at a level equivalent to those performed in a federal position at or above GS-09. This specialized experience must have provided you with the specific knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the functions of this GS-0080-11 Physical Security Specialist position.

*Specialized Experience should primarily pertain to the physical protection of information, personnel or facilities. Duties should include assisting with (1) the review and application of physical or protective security policies, procedures or programs; (2) evaluation and analysis of existing security measures; (3) performing facilities security inspections to identify vulnerabilities and propose recommendations; or (4) analysis of physical security or emergency incidents to determine trends or identify best practices.

Duties of this nature should be typical of your everyday work. Your performance of duties relevant to the specialized experience must be clearly and specifically described in your resume. Experience from participation in a special project or workgroup is not creditable unless that experience equals 52 weeks at the required grade level. If your experience is in a federal position, you must state the grade of that position in your resume.

You must be very specific in describing relevant duties you perform (or performed). It is suggested that you list each position you've held separately (including the full start and stop dates for each position, your grade (if the position is or was federal) and the duties you perform or performed). SF-50s must coincide with the claims made on your resume.

Performance of duties that do not meet the requirements of the Specialized Experience statement (above) will result in a rating of ineligible. If your experience is in a federal position, you must state the grade and pay scale of that position in your resume.

You cannot be credited for federal experience unless you clearly show your pay scale and grade level at the time the experience was gained, as well as the dates you were at each grade level. You must be very specific in describing the duties you perform (or performed) at the required grade level. If your federal pay scale and grade level are not specified with your relevant federal experience you may be eliminated from further consideration. Likewise, if your experience was gained outside of federal employment, list each position separately (including the full dates you worked at each position and the duties you performed).

Affirmative responses to the experience and eligibility questions in the online questionnaire are subject to verification.

EDUCATION : In lieu of specialized experience, you can meet the qualification requirements for this position if you have one of the following:

a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education (generally at least 54 semester hours) leading to a Ph.D. or LL.M.

OR a combination of relevant experience and graduate level education (beyond a Master's Degree) that together meet 100% of the requirements for this position.

NOTE -- you must submit a transcript to substantiate claimed education.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Federal applicants for promotion must have at least 52 weeks at GS-09 (or other federal equivalent).
Time-in-grade requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.


This position is located in:
Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Budget, Finance and Management (DCBFM)
Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness (OSEP)
Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
Headquarters Main Complex, Woodlawn, Maryland

Education

There is no educational requirement for this position, but education, as described above, can be used in lieu of (or in addition to) specialized experience.

If you are using your education to meet the qualifications for this position, you must submit a copy of your relevant transcript(s). You may submit an unofficial transcript, but it must include your name, the name of the educational institution, the date of completion and the degree earned. If you are demonstrating 3+ years of graduate level education leading to a Ph.D., your transcript must show your name, the name of the educational institution and course titles/number of credits completed.

You must upload your transcripts as part of your application package. Documents submitted via email, fax or regular mail will not be accepted.

If selected, you may be required to provide your official college transcripts prior to the effective date of your appointment.

Foreign Education: If your transcripts show education completed in foreign colleges or universities, you must also provide documentation that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in a conventional/accredited U.S. education program; or that full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Combining Education and Experience: Experience and education as described above may be combined to meet the minimum qualification requirements. Experience and education will be computed as percentages of the overall requirements and must equal to 100 percent when combined. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at GS-11 (i.e., education beyond a Master's Degree).

Note: One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school you attended has determined to represent one year of study. If this information cannot be obtained from your school, we will consider 18 semester/27 quarter hours to be equal to one year of full-time study.

Additional information

Vacancy open to federal employees as follows:

Current competitive service -- permanent OR conditional tenure

Current excepted service and non-tenured appointments
(1) agency with competitive service compatibility (Foreign Service, US Postal Service, etc)
(2) agency with Interchange Agreement
(3) Schedule A (block 5 of APPOINTMENT action shows Reg 213.3102(u) AND you have not been converted to competitive service)
(4) VRA (block 5 of APPOINTMENT action shows Pub. L. 107-288 AND you have not been converted to a competitive service position)
(5) time-limited veteran appointment (block 5 of APPOINTMENT action shows Reg. 316.402(b)(4) AND you have not been converted to competitive service)
(6) not described above (Attorneys, Pathways [PMFs, Recent Grads, Interns] or term appointments) who have prior competitive service OR veteran's status.

Former competitive service -- voluntarily separated (resigned or retired)
(1) with permanent tenure (separation at any time)
(2) with conditional tenure (separation within previous 3 years)
(3) with conditional tenure AND veterans preference (separation at any time)

ICTAP/CTAP (must be separated from competitive service due to RIF or have received notice that you will soon be separated due to RIF - does not apply if you voluntarily separated from federal employment OR were terminated for reasons other than a RIF (i.e., resigned, retired, separated for performance or conduct reasons OR separated at the conclusion of a term or temporary appointment)

Certain applicants WITHOUT FEDERAL STATUS* may also apply BUT IF you meet any of the federal status options above, choose that as your eligibility.

-- Military Spouses -- no federal status ( https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/military-spouses/ )

-- Veterans with no federal status who are eligible under Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/veoa/

VEOA is a means of eligibility and does not confer selection priority - VEOA cannot be used to circumvent any provisions of the merit promotion process.

OTHER NOTES :

Position is a career-ladder leading to GS-12.

Position is not eligible for telework consideration.

Position is subject to occasional work schedule changes; e.g., may have to work regular and irregular overtime, holidays or a fixed shift which can include nighttime hours.

Salary will be set in accordance with locality pay provisions. If you currently receive a higher locality pay, you will lose entitlement to the higher locality pay if selected for this position.

Relocation expenses will not be paid.

This is a high risk public trust position. The selected employee will be required to complete a Standard Form 85P, Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions, in order to have the appropriate investigation conducted, unless the employee has been previously certified eligible to occupy a position at this level.

Position to be filled under the provisions of the Management Officials Promotion Plan .

The best-qualified list for this vacancy may be used to fill the same or similar positions in a component(s) under the same Deputy Commissioner.

Additional selections may be made within 6 months of the date the best qualified list is issued.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Preview the questionnaire here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10653204

When completing the online questionnaire, you must indicate the correct federal status and provide the required supporting documents to receive the proper consideration.

Answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. The questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

The score you receive is based on your responses to the online questionnaire. Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire, which is designed to capture the desired competencies for this position. Experience you claim is subject to verification by the selecting official. You may be asked to provide examples or documentation to support your answers or to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task.

Your resume should describe specific duties you perform that pertain to the following knowledge, skills and/or abilities as they relate to the Specialized Experience stated above.

-- Ability to coordinate Command Center functions(possible 20 points)

-- Knowledge of security concepts, standards, principles and practices (possible 16 points)

-- Skill in conducting analysis (possible 16 points)

-- Ability to communicate orally and in writing (possible 16 points)

Your preliminary rating will consist of the following: first, your eligibility for this vacancy will be determined based on your responses to questions 1 and 2. You must submit the documents required for the eligibility you have chosen or you may cause yourself to lose consideration. Choosing an incorrect eligibility at the beginning of the online questionnaire may also eliminate you from consideration.

Responses will be verified using your supporting documents. If you provide a response to the online questionnaire that indicates you are not eligible, fail to provide documents to support your claim OR you are otherwise found ineligible during this part of the review, you will not receive further consideration.

If you are rated 'eligible' you will receive a score based on your responses to the remaining online experience questions.

If you are among the highest-ranking applicants based on that score, your resume will be reviewed to determine if you demonstrate the required specialized experience at the indicated grade level. You must clearly describe the duties you perform as they pertain to the Specialized Experience required for this position. This means your resume must include information in sufficient detail to clearly establish that you have the required specialized experience, at the required level, for the required period of time.

If you are among the highest-ranked applicants and your resume clearly demonstrates that you meet the qualification requirements, your name will be referred to the selecting official and your applicable documents will be forwarded for further review.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

ALL APPLICANTS must submit a resume. (SSA employees may use SSA-45, but must submit all other required documents as specified below.)

Federal employees must also submit relevant SF-50(s) and a current performance appraisal.

Applicants using education in lieu of experience must also submit relevant transcripts.

Resumes must describe duties you perform(ed) as they relate to the specialized experience required for this position. It must include your work schedule (number of hours per week), full start/stop dates for each position and (if your position is or was federal) your federal pay scale and grade. Dates/grades are critical in determining time-in-grade. Information that is copied or restated language from the vacancy announcement, rating criteria or KSAs will not be considered. If this occurs, you may be found ineligible.

SF-50s must show your grade, type of service and career-tenure. SF-50s should coincide with the information in your resume. If you are applying for noncompetitive referral based on grade, you must include the SF-50 showing your placement in a permanent GS-12 position OR your placement in a GS-11 career-ladder leading to GS-12.

Performance Appraisals must be for a period that ended less than a year ago, must be completed and signed and must indicate a rating of satisfactory or better. Do not substitute a 'Performance Plan. ' VEOA-applicants and Military Spouses without federal status are not required to submit a federal performance appraisal.

Transcript (s) - ONLY if you are using education to meet the qualification requirements for this position - see specific information pertaining to transcripts under the Education section.

READ THE INFORMATION BELOW PERTAINING TO YOUR SPECIFIC ELIGIBILITY - if you claim an eligibility and don't fully support it you may cause yourself to be eliminated from consideration.

COMPETITIVE SERVICE EMPLOYEES -- (1) current SF-50 documenting competitive status, grade and career tenure; (2) additional SF-50s (if necessary) to document highest grade held and/or time-in-grade, (3) *performance appraisal AND (4) if applicable, a current payscale.

EXCEPTED SERVICE EMPLOYEES (USPS, Foreign Service, agencies with interchange agreements, etc) -- (1) current SF-50 documenting grade and career tenure; (2) additional SF-50s (if necessary) to document highest grade held and/or time-in-grade; (3) *performance appraisal; (4) (if applicable) a copy of your agency's Interchange Agreement and payscale AND (5) (if applicable) an SF-50 that documents your prior competitive service (e.g., a resignation, retirement or other termination action that shows WHEN you left the competitive service [block 4] AND if you separated with career or career-conditional tenure [block 24].

See Excepted Service Appointments with Competitive Service Compatibility for more information.

SCHEDULE A/TIME-LIMITED VETERAN -- (1) SF-50 you received when you were hired; (2) current SF-50; (3) additional SF-50 (if necessary) documenting highest grade held and/or time-in-grade, (4) *performance appraisal and (5) if applicable, a current payscale.

FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES -- (1) separation SF-50 showing that separation was not for performance or conduct reasons, (2) (if different) SF-50 showing highest grade and career tenure in the competitive service. You must have served in a competitive service position AND have permanent tenure OR have separated less than 3 years ago with conditional tenure (or at any time with veterans preference). You are not required to submit a federal performance appraisal.

VEOA -- (1) DD-214(s) (Member 4 ONLY) showing honorable discharge after serving 3+ years of continuous active duty OR (2) if applicable, documents demonstrating preference (such as a disability letter). If you are still on active duty, you must submit a recently dated official statement of service from your command. For more information visit the Vet Guide .

NOTE: Federal employees who opt to apply under VEOA are still bound by the requirements for federal employees and must still submit the appropriate SF-50s and Performance Appraisals.

CTAP/ICTAP -- for displaced (or soon to be displaced) competitive service employees (does not apply if you voluntarily left your federal position) -- must receive a rating of 85% or higher AND must provide (1) separation notice, agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has terminated, OPM notification that your disability annuity has terminated OR Military Department/National Guard Bureau notice that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456 OR (2) SF-50 documenting your separation. For more information visit http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .

MILITARY SPOUSES: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/military-spouses/

If your federal payscale is not "GS" "WG" "WL" or "WS" please provide a copy of your agency's payscale.