Summary
Through this shared cross-government announcement, we are hiring Personnel Security Specialists to join different agencies across the Federal government to transform and improve the way we serve the public and build, maintain, and measure trust in government. The Federal security community is committed to creating a collaborative environment to share best practices for analyzing personnel security information to make suitability, eligibility, and adjudication recommendations or determinations.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
All U.S. Citizens
Duties
As a Personnel Security Specialist, GS-0080-12, your typical work assignments may include the following:
- Evaluating personnel security forms, eliciting pertinent information and material facts from pre-screen results, and making an adjudicative decision whether to hire or deny access to an applicant, employee, or contractor or to grant, deny, or revoke clearances.
- Evaluating completed background investigations and eliciting relevant information to make a fitness/suitability adjudicative decision.
- Reviewing, evaluating, and adjudicating personnel security investigations conducted by or on behalf of the organization.
- Reviewing, analyzing, and evaluating security forms (e.g., questionnaires, application packets) by applicants and employees for the purpose of granting access to classified information or staff-like access to facilities, information systems, or controlled unclassified information.
- Determining whether additional information is warranted to resolve discrepancies or complexities inherent to investigations and adjudications.
- Preparing written response of recommendation to deciding official of a favorable or unfavorable decision.
As a Personnel Security Specialist, GS-0080-13, your typical work assignments may include the following:
- Advising applicants or employees on procedures for proposed adverse actions (e.g., security, fitness/suitability) and employee rights.
- Promoting information sharing on security requirements, capabilities, deficiencies, and technology applications.
- Monitoring program implementation and control practices to ensure classified information is protected and accounted for.
- Ensuring protection of classified and unclassified sensitive information related to programs, projects, and data used, stored, transmitted, or destroyed.
- Analyzing existing program guidance/policy areas to determine whether policies or guidelines are insufficient or in conflict with local practices or procedures.
- Developing policies, procedures, standards, and methods concerning personnel security programs.
- Implementing procedures for granting and verifying eligibility to hold a sensitive position or access classified information.
- Evaluating compliance of activities with security requirements, identifying deficiencies, and ensuring plausible corrective action is identified and tracked for each deficiency found.
- Developing, implementing, and providing oversight for required trainings and awareness programs.
- Overseeing the validation and submission of personnel security questionnaires, position sensitivity change approvals, access authorization, or interim access.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- This is a cross-government hiring action open to agencies across the Federal government in the competitive service.
- Some agencies may have in-person work with or without telework options, and some may have remote (virtual/work-from-home) positions. Be sure to get clarification from the hiring agency about the duty location and remote or telework policies that apply for each job you consider.
- Completion of the initial online application questionnaire and USA Hire Assessments, if required.
- Completion of one-year probationary period.
- May be covered by a bargaining unit.
- May qualify for bonuses, incentives, and/or reimbursement of relocation expenses, in accordance with agency policy.
- May require financial disclosure filing upon appointment and annually.
- May require a pre-employment drug test and/or random drug testing during the period of employment.
- Must be able to pass a background investigation and/or obtain and hold a security clearance, as determined by the hiring agency.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or national.
- Must provide resume and supporting documents (See Required Documents section below).
- Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov.
- Per Public Law 104-134, all Federal employees are required to have Federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
- Promotion potential varies. May have promotion potential to higher grade levels.
- Selective service registration is required, as applicable.
- Travel and security clearance requirements vary.
Qualifications
This announcement will close at 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/20/2024, or 11:59 PM (ET) the day when 200 applications are received, which may be sooner than the closing date. Applicants must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you meet ALL of the required specialized experience for the grade level(s) to which you are applying.
You qualify for the GS-12 level if you possess the following:
Specialized Experience: Must have at least one full-time year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (or comparable level of experience from outside the Federal service) performing ALL of the following duties:
- Determining employment suitability or security eligibility of individuals for entry and retention in sensitive and non-sensitive positions; and
- Evaluating security forms (e.g., questionnaires, application packets) or investigative materials (e.g., reports, documents) for the purpose of granting employment eligibility or access to sensitive information, facilities, or information systems; and
- Ensuring compliance with policies, procedures, and guidelines for the protection of information, facilities, or assets (e.g., equipment, personnel, information systems).
Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement.
You qualify for the GS-13 level if you possess the following:
Specialized Experience: Must have at least one full-time year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (or comparable level of experience from outside the Federal service) performing ALL of the following duties:
- Analyzing organizational policies to determine if current guidelines and procedures are in compliance with policies issued by governing authorities; and
- Ensuring protection of critical information related to programs, projects, and data used, stored, transmitted, or destroyed to safeguard organizational assets or national security; and
- Reviewing case materials or recommendations to render final determinations for adjudicative actions (e.g., approval or denial of suitability/fitness, eligibility to hold a sensitive position, granting, denying, downgrading, or revocation of security clearances).
Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).
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.
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.
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
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.
You will be evaluated based on your responses to application questionnaire items focused on critical technical competencies, responses to an online assessment focused on critical general competencies, and review of your resume. The following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics) will be evaluated:
- Accountability
- Attention to Detail
- Customer Service
- Decision Making
- Flexibility
- Influencing/Negotiating
- Integrity/Honesty
- Interpersonal Skills
- Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Reasoning
- Self-Management
- Stress Tolerance
- Teamwork
- Technical Competence
Application Questionnaire: Applicants must complete a training-and-experience-based questionnaire as part of the application process. Applicants identified as meeting minimum qualifications for the position may move on to the next phase of the assessment process. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12535969.
Online Assessment: Applicants must complete and pass the online USA Hire Competency Based Assessments measuring critical general competencies required to perform the job. Examples used in the assessment may include general situations not directly related to this position. The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Applicants submitting complete application packages and meeting or exceeding the cut score for the online assessment may move on to the next phase of the assessment process.
Resume Review: HR Specialists will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. HR will review ONLY five (5) pages of your resume, starting at your work experience. HR will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., links embedded in your resume will not be opened). Applicants passing resume review may move on to the next phase of the assessment process.
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
Ranking and Preference: Veterans' preference will be applied to applicants who move forward after the above assessment hurdles are complete. This is a competitive vacancy announcement advertised under Delegated Examining Authority. Selections made under this vacancy announcement will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would therefore be given new appointments to the civil service; however, benefits, time served, and all other Federal entitlements would remain the same.
If you meet the specialized experience and pass the online assessment, your application will be evaluated under Category Rating and Selection procedures for placement in one of the following categories:
- Best Qualified - for those who are superior in the evaluation criteria
- Well Qualified - for those who excel in the evaluation criteria
- Qualified - for those who only meet the minimum qualification requirements
Required Documents
The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/20/2024, or earlier since this announcement will close at 11:59 PM (ET) the day when 200 applications are received, which may be sooner than the closing date.
- Résumé, which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates specified in month and year format, and indicates hours worked per week. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade. NOTE: ONLY five (5) pages of your resume, starting at your work experience, will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the specialized experience. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., links to additional information) will not be reviewed.
- A complete application questionnaire and USA Hire Competency Based Assessments.
- If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here.
- Other Supporting Documents, if applicable:
- Are you claiming veterans' preference?:
- If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Parent or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.
- If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement date from active duty, 2) your discharge will be under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, and 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
- If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of service (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
- Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP/CTAP)?
- Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., Reduction-in-Force (RIF) Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc.; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure, competitive status, promotion potential, and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified, defined as scoring 85 or above on the rating criteria for this position.
- Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee employee?
- Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
- Position title;
- Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);
- Agency; and
- Beginning and end dates of appointment.
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials. You must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.
Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires and assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents sections. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement (or earlier) to receive consideration. (This announcement will close at 11:59 PM (ET) the day when 200 applications are received, which may be sooner than the closing date.) The application process is as follows:
- Click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application, and attach all necessary supporting documentation. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12535969.
- Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date, or earlier since this announcement will close at 11:59 PM (ET) the day when 200 applications are received, which may be sooner than the closing date.
- If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
- Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
- Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
- Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
- Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.
For more general information, system requirements, reasonable accommodation information, and to request assistance regarding the USA Hire Assessments, review the following resources: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=USA_Hire_Assessments.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this: www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.
Next steps
We will notify you of the outcome after each step of the recruitment process has been completed. The tentative timeline is described below:
- September 2024: Job opportunity announcement open.
- October 2024: Reviewing resumes.
- November 2024: Selections begin to be made.
Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the closing date of this announcement. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessment.
Selection Process: Participating agencies will receive the certificates listing qualified candidates eligible for selection and will begin conducting fit interviews and making offers directly to applicants. Once a job offer is extended to you by any agency at a certain grade/promotion potential and you accept, decline, or do not respond to any contact from an agency, you are not guaranteed another offer, but may receive additional offers from other agencies. After making tentative job offers, agencies will conduct suitability/security background investigations.
Future Consideration: This is a cross-government hiring action open to agencies across the Federal government in the competitive service. The lists of qualified candidates may be shared with multiple Federal agencies for 12 months. You will have an opportunity to opt-in if you would like your name, application materials, and assessment results shared to be considered for employment with other agencies. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore job opportunity announcements.
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