Duties

Summary

This position is located within the Executive Office of the President (EOP), Office of Administration (OA), Office of the Chief Security Officer (OS), Personnel Security Division (PSD). The incumbent will serve as a Personnel Security Specialist, performing duties associated with analysis of personnel security information to make suitability, eligibility, and adjudication recommendations or determinations.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

As a Personnel Security Specialist, GS-0080-11/12, your typical work assignments may include the following:

• Analysis - Review systems, databases, responses to security questionnaires, reports of investigation (ROI), law enforcement documents, incident reports, and other source security information that contain personal history and related information associated with a candidate to make suitability, eligibility and adjudication recommendations or determinations. Make fair and unbiased recommendations and decisions.
• Compliance - Knowledge or awareness and adherence to government policies or regulations governing security suitability and eligibility, such as Federal Investigative Standards (FIS), Executive Orders (E.O.) 12968, 13526, and Code of Federal Regulations 5 CFR 731 (Suitability), Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) 704, or other guidelines to make suitability, eligibility and adjudication determinations.
• Customer Support - Request additional information or documentation as needed to support data analysis. Provide timely responses to inquiries regarding personnel security processes, status of background investigations, verification of clearance levels and self reported security information.
• Communication - Strong verbal and written communication skills across all mediums and levels of the organization to deliver clear and concise personal security data, related sensitive information, and security requirements in a professional and effective manner.
• Data Integrity - Accurately evaluate, enter, and update data into relevant internal and external systems and databases with strong attention to detail.
• Organization - Strong organizational skills and ability to effectively multitask and manage multiple cases, requests, and responsibilities.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Resident is required for this appointment.
• Males born on (or after) 12/31/1959, must be registered with the Selective Service System or have an approved exemption. Visit www.SSS.gov for more info.
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Direct deposit is required per Public Law 104-134.
• Relocation expense will not be paid.
• Subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Must obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance prior to appointment date. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply).
• Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level).
• Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements:
All applicants must meet the qualification requirements outlined below to be considered minimally qualified for this position. The qualification requirements are in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards. All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Time-In-Grade-Requirements:
Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level or pay band in Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.

In order to qualify at the GS-11 level, applicants must meet one of the criteria listed below:
A) Applicant must possess one full year of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level or pay band in Federal service or equivalent experience in private or public sector: advising management on personnel security policies and reviewing, evaluating, and adjudicating reports of investigation, personnel files, and other records to determine whether to grant, deny, revoke, suspend, or restrict security clearances consistent with national security and/or suitability issues. -OR-

B) Applicant possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or have completed three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent degree; or have obtained a LL.M. degree that is related to the position being filled. NOTE: College transcripts must be included in your application package, if you are qualifying based on your education. -OR-

C) Applicant possess a combination of education and experience as described in the above statement that equates to one full year of experience. NOTE: College transcripts must be included in your application package, if you are qualifying based on your education.

In order to qualify at the GS-12 level, applicants must meet the specialized experience listed below:
Applicant must possess one full year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level or pay band in Federal service or equivalent experience in private or public sector: advising management on personnel security policies and reviewing, evaluating, and adjudicating reports of investigation, personnel files, and other records to determine whether to grant, deny, revoke, suspend, or restrict security clearances consistent with national security and/or suitability issues.

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.

Promotion to the next highest grade level is neither guaranteed nor implied.

Education

Education Substitute: Education must demonstrate the applicant obtained the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. One year of full-time education is considered 18 semester hours.

Are you using education to qualify? Applicants must provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

Pass/Fail Courses: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

Graduate Education: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

Foreign Education: Applicants using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, must show 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 an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans .

Active Duty Military Members may apply under this announcement due to the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act. You must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions along with your application for Federal employment. A certification is a document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days from the date of application. If selected, appointment eligibility requirements must be met prior to the effective date of appointment.

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx ).

Inter-Agency Career Transition Assistance Programs & Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp. For more information about ICTAP eligibility please review the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/ictap/

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm

Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Main_Page

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternative Application .

NOTE: More than one selection may be made within 90 days of the issuance of the certificate, if additional vacancies occur.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.

Decision Making - Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.

Security - Knowledge of the laws, regulations, and guidelines related to securing personnel, facilities, and information, including the requirements for handling, transporting, and protecting classified information and proper reporting of security incidents.

Self Management - Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve, demonstrates responsible behavior.

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of Veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed
2. Other supporting documents:

• Cover Letter, optional
• College transcript(s), if the position you are utilizing education as part of your qualifications.
• Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member 4 or Service 2 Copy which reflects the type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
• Career Transition Assistant Program/Inter-Agency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)

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.