Duties

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING DAY TO DAY

As a Personnel Security Specialist GS-0080-9/1/12 , you will use your knowledge of and experience to optimize business results and customer experience being responsible for the day-to-day activities of the Suitability and Credentialing aspects of Identity, Credentialing, and Access Management that include but are not limited to:

• • Directs operational control of the HSPD-12 (PIV) card issuance stations, enrollment, identity proofing, and PCIF related processes. Collaborates with the Organization Identity Management Official (OIMO) on policy review and update.
  • developing training materials on credentialing, or other personnel vetting adjudication processes and procedures and delivering presentations on personnel vetting policies to include credentialing to audiences of varying backgrounds and interests (i.e., new employees, sponsor, managers)
  • creating security profiles in security case management databases
  • validating reciprocity and/or initiating eQIP
  • enrolling, issuing, and managing PIV credential activities
  • conducting HSPD-12 credentialing, fitness and suitability adjudications
    • review fingerprint and background investigations results and recommend or make decisions concerning the adjudication of all Special Agreement Checks (SACs) and Tiered investigations received from DCSA.
    • Recommend or take action on cases where the facts are not completely ascertained, or where there is contradictory evidence or incomplete, inconclusive or controversial material.
    • in-depth review of the results, analysis of the nature of the offenses or issues, investigation of the disposition of any charges by law enforcement and the courts, interviewing applicants, employees, and supervisors, analysis of all information gathered, and rendering a final decision based on the whole-person concept

As a Personnel Security Specialist GS-0080-13 , you will use your knowledge of and experience to provide oversight of the day-to-day activities of the Suitability and Credentialing aspects for the Intake, Suitability, and Badging lifecycle that include but are not limited to:

• Contributing to the formulation of personnel security policy, procedures, system requirements, and programs involving loyalty, suitability and reliability of the workforce
• Provide advice or guidance to internal or external customers, including responding to inquiries (written or oral), regarding credentialing policy and applicable guidance documents and their applicability to the agency workforce;
• Collaborating with organization managers and other specialists to develop, review, and analyze a wide range of modified, new, or proposed security policies, instructions, guidelines, opinions, and decisions.
• Providing oversight for junior specialists with pre-appointment screenings, final adjudications, and post-appointment matters that may result in the inability to hire, removal, and debarment.
• Assisting or performing limited responsibilities associated with review and adjudication of employee and contactor background investigations for employment suitability.
• Ensuring adherence to position designation employment life-cycle (pre-screening, background investigations, adjudications, and post appointment inquiries).
• Serving as technical expert in ICAM suitability, fitness, onboarding surge management, and/or facilitating nationwide fingerprinting operations, and/or negotiating with nationwide state-based child care check repositories for vetting potential sponsors for unaccompanied minors or for federal employment purposes.
• Providing program management that includes business operations management (such as budget, staff assignment, and resource management), action tracking, metrics, counseling, guidance, specialized reports and briefing documents, and direction to junior specialists and key stakeholders for regular and surge volume.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service - http://www.sss.gov
• Suitable for federal employment
• Meet time in grade restrictions by the closing date of the announcement
• Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. All information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation.
• Documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date.
• Financial disclosure statement may be required.
• One-year probationary period may be required.
• THIS POSITION IS SUBJECT TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 14043 MANDATING COVID-19 VACCINATION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

Qualifications

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The preferred candidate for an Personnel Security Specialist GS-0080-9/11/12 would have the following knowledge or experience:

• GS-9 - Ability to apply security principles, concepts, and methodologies in carrying out assignments and developing skills in performing independent work; apply application of judgment in the use of security knowledge; skill in weighing the impact of variables such as cost, critical personnel qualification, and other issues that influence the course of actions taken in resolving security questions or issues; knowledge of security criteria, equipment, or techniques to resolve complex questions or conditions; knowledge of spreadsheet and database software for reports, as well as Microsoft Word or other similar software for correspondence, etc.; knowledge of security program interrelationships, i.e., personnel and information security, for the purpose of coordinating objectives and plans for the Personnel Security Program.
• GS-11- Competent knowledge of emerging federal law, federal regulations, agency policies, management practices, and information technology procedures sufficient to recognize areas of interaction and overlap between existing and proposed allocations; ability to interpret policy originating from higher organizational levels for local adaptation; knowledge of how to resolve difficult and complex security problems; possess technical competence in automated information systems; sound knowledge of information security practices.
• GS-12 - Direct experience with provide regular training to all supervisors and staff related to onboarding security packages and/or eQIP quality reviews and background investigation requirements as it relates to personnel security and risk/sensitivity designation. Directing and coordinating investigations of applicants and employees to ensure they meet security standards; overseeing and determining compliance with personnel security procedures and requirements; and provide leadership/technical oversight of supported personnel involved in the review of security forms/background investigations with an emphasis on proper handling, safeguarding, accounting, and timely tracking.
• GS-13 - One year of specialized experience which includes at least one of the following: 1) performing a wide range of personnel security duties such as initiating background investigations/periodic security clearance reviews, suitability adjudication, etc.; 2) reviewing, analyzing, and/or resolving difficult and complex security requirements and/or problems dealing with personnel security policies/programs; 3) utilizing automated security systems (such as NP2 Portal, Biometric Web Application, Fieldprint Portal, Personnel Investigations Processing System (PIPS), Central Verification System (CVS), Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIP), etc.) to complete security/suitability investigations and/or inform results for placement determinations; and 4) providing supervision, leadership, oversight or direction to employees and their work.

Candidates may also qualify based on education for grades GS-09 through GS-11
For GS-09:

A. Must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in any field of study or LL.B. or J.D., if related. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement.

OR

B. Must have a combination of experience and graduate education as described above.

For GS-11:

A. Must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in any field of study or LL.M., if related. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement.

OR

B. Must have a combination of experience and graduate education as described above.

Must have at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Additional qualification requirements will be dependent upon the position title, series and grade.

Documenting experience:
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

n accordance with Office of Personnel Management policy, federal employees are assumed to have gained experience by performing duties and responsibilities appropriate for their official series and grade level as described in their position description. Experience that would not normally be part of the employee's position is creditable, however, when documented by satisfactory evidence, such as a signed memorandum from the employee's supervisor or an SF-50 or SF-52 documenting an official detail or other official assignment. The documentation must indicate whether the duties were performed full time or, if part time, the "percentage of times" the other duties were performed. It is expected that this documentation is included in the employee's official personnel record. In order to receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your official position, you must provide a copy of the appropriate documentation of such experience as indicated above.

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; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to gain employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. If such experience is on a part-time basis, you must provide the average number of hours worked per week as well as the beginning and ending dates of the experience so it can be fully credited.

OPM Qualification General Policies Website

Education

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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 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 .

Note: Applications can be accepted from students who expect to complete qualifying education within 9 months from the date of application. Education was completed successfully before the applicant can be appointed.

Additional information

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Vaccination Mandate : In accordance with Executive Order 14043 , Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to exceptions that may be required by law. If selected, you will be required to submit proof of vaccination by November 22, 2021 or before your entrance on duty if you are selected after the compliance date. Your HR Consultant will provide a list of documents acceptable as proof of vaccination and instructions for how to submit a request for a legally required exception, if needed, to comply with vaccination requirement.

Expanded/Maximum Telework Posture : Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in a maximum telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to telework upon your appointment. As employees are permitted to return to the office, you may be required to report to the duty station listed on this announcement, even if your home/temporary telework site is located outside the local commuting area. Your position may be eligible for workplace flexibilities which may include remote work or telework options, and/or flexible work scheduling. These flexibilities may be requested in accordance with the HHS Workplace Flexibilities policy.

Incentives may be authorized; however, this is contingent upon multiple factors, including funds availability. If authorized, certain incentives may require you to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a period of up to 3 years. Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid. Incentives may include the following: moving expenses, recruitment or relocation incentive; student loan repayment, superior qualifications appointment, creditable service for annual leave for prior non-federal work experience or prior uniformed military service, etc.

Bargaining Unit Position: No

Research position: No

Drug Screening Required: Yes

Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans - https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/

Special Hiring Authorities for Military Spouses - https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/military-spouses/

People With Disabilities (Schedule A) - https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Individuals_with_Disabilities

Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP/ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an CTAP/ICTAP eligible see http://opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp#ictap . To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85.0 or above on the rating criteria for this position.

Beginning January 1, 2010, agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.