Summary
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has adopted the HR Modernization and Shared Services Implementation, which is a new model of organizing and consolidating essential Human Resource (HR) functions and services to the Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) level. This streamlined and focused approach moves VHA forward in its continuum of providing comprehensive, compassionate, and coordinated care to Veterans.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Open to current, permanent VISN 7 HRMS employees ONLY....
Duties
The incumbent of this position serves as a Personnel Security Specialist, and the work assigned is of a very confidential, complex and highly sensitive nature. This position performs the security related functions in support of a Network Personnel Suitability and Credentialing Program ("Personnel Security Program") within a Shared Services Unit, and assures that all appointees have the appropriate level of security/suitability clearance commensurate with their assignment. This position also entails Personal Identity Verification Program (PIV) responsibility, which is a Government-wide identification standard for secure and reliable identity credentials issued by the Federal Government to its employees, contractors, affiliates, and volunteers.
This is a developmental position that ranges from GS-07 to the GS-11. At the full performance level, the incumbent will perform the below (not all inclusive) major duties:
- Manages the day-to-day responsibilities of the Personnel Security Program, ensuring the program meets legal and regulatory requirements.
- Utilizes the Veterans Affairs Centralized Adjudication Background Investigation System (VA-CABS) to conduct security and suitability adjudications.
- Serves as a liaison with local agencies (police, criminal investigators, etc.) and other external offices on matters related to the processing of records checks and higher-level background investigations.
- Adjudicates all Special Agreement Checks (SACs) and Tiered investigations received from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) by conducting an in-depth review of the fingerprint and background investigation results.
- Drafts and issues Proposed Action Letters (PALs) and Final Action Letters (FALs) to applicants and appointees whose background investigation results contain actionable suitability information.
- Uses the Position Designation Tool (PDT) to determine appropriate risk levels for position descriptions and ensures accurate coding in HR Smart.
Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM EST.
Compressed/Flexible: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates. The determination of highly qualified will be based on the applicant's competency level and is dependent upon management approval.
Virtual: This is a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Personnel Security Specialist/PD99652S and PD99651S
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
- You may be required to serve a probationary period
- Subject to background/security investigation
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/12/2024.
Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a GS position any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
- For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06.
- For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07.
- For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09.
The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. SF-50(s) that show your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If your most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you may need to provide additional SF-50(s) that clearly demonstrate one-year time-in-grade.
Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.
You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
At the GS-07 level:
- Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: fingerprinting of applicants/employees; assisting with the review of security clearance requests to assure that all required information is provided; requesting missing information from the originators when needed; assisting with the review of reports on background investigations to identify the presence or absence of derogatory information; and assisting with granting clearances when no derogatory information is found. OR,
- Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one (1) full year of graduate level education that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position and that was obtained from an accredited college or university. OR,
- Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.): Applicant's may substitute S.A.A. for the required experience. To qualify based on S.A.A. for this grade level you must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position being filled. S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. OR,
- Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and graduate level education which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position and was obtained from an accredited college or university.
At the GS-09 level:
- Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: reviewing security clearance requests to assure that all required information is provided; requesting missing information from the originators when needed; reviewing reports on background investigations to identify the presence or absence of derogatory information; reviewing the impact of various kinds of derogatory information on the granting, denying, or revoking of security clearances; and granting clearances when no derogatory information is found. OR,
- Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree
- OR 2 full years of progressively higher graduate education leading to such a degree OR an LL.B. or J.D., if related. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position and be obtained from an accredited college or university. OR,
- Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first (1st) year of graduate level education which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position and was obtained from an accredited college or university.
At the GS-11 level:
- Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: using knowledge of security criteria to determine the position sensitivity, risk level, and security clearance required for various position types; adjudication of security clearances including those where derogatory information is present; tracking in process background investigations to ensure timely processing; assisting with the development of guidelines and other materials for use by senior leadership; assisting with the technical oversight of a personnel security program to include access badges/identification cards and background investigation requirements; making preliminary assessments of possible intentional falsification of documents. OR,
- Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full year of progressively higher graduate level education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related. OR,
- Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first two (2) years of graduate level education which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position and was obtained from an accredited college or university.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
- Information Assurance
- Information Management
- Interpersonal Skills
- Personnel Security and Safety
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; religions; 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.
Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary and is accomplished in an office environment; involving everyday risks or discomforts, which require normal safety precautions. Some walking and standing may occur in the course of a normal workday.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Education
A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Note: One (1) year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one (1) year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the one (1) year of full-time study requirement.
Note: Information regarding the requirements for S.A.A can be found in paragraph 4.f of the General Sechedule (GS) Qualification Policies.
Note: Information on crediting combinations of education and experience can be found in paragraph 5 of the General Sechedule (GS) Qualification Policies.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.
Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- Resume
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.
- Cover Letter
- Performance Appraisal
- Resume
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
- Transcript
SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):
- Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
- An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
- Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
- Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
- Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
- Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
- SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.
- Veterans' Preference: Veterans preference does not apply to internal announcements.
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.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 07/12/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12457876.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
|