Physical Security Specialist

Clarification from the agency

This is a government-wide Merit Promotion announcement for current and former career and career conditional Federal employees, Career Transition eligibles (CTAP & ICTAP) and those who are eligible under the hiring paths listed above. Refer to Required Documents section for more information.

At the full performance level (GS-12) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Serves as the Gulf of America Region (GOAR) Physical Security Program Administrator and principal advisor to the Marine Minerals Administration (MMA), the Deputy Associate Director of the Management Support Division, and all decision-making officials for GOAR-wide physical security projects, operations, and systems.
• Identifies protection and security needs; develops and maintains the physical measures used for protection and security; and develops, implements, and maintains procedural and technical methods that enhance physical protection.
• Reviews policy directives from security authorities [Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of the Interior (DOI), MMA] and develops and prepares implementing procedures and guidelines for MMA facilities in the GOAR to strengthen the local security program.
• Supports, operates, and maintains a wide range of physical security systems, ensuring they are properly installed, configured, and fully functional to support DHS Mega Center monitoring across assigned facilities.
• Performs duties as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) on various contracts and interagency agreements that support the security posture of MMA GOAR facilities.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Salary Range Information (Per Annum):
GS-11: $74,678 - $97,087
GS-12: $89,508 - $116,362

Note: First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Must maintain a Critical-Sensitive security clearance.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Pre-employment and random drug testing is required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.
• You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• You are required to respond to after-hours and weekend emergencies.
• A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR a 2-year trial period (depending on your appointing authority) to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest.

This probationary or trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 09/30/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the education and/or specialized experience requirements, and this information must be clearly supported in your resume. HR may not make any assumptions.

Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet either the (1) educational requirement and/or (2) specialized experience requirement for the grade to which you are applying by the closing date of the announcement.

GS-11: In order to qualify for the GS-11 grade level, your resume must reflect one year of specialized experience equivalent in complexity and difficulty to the GS-09 grade level. Specialized Experience for GS-11 is defined as:

1) Participating in the selection and/or testing of security equipment and systems; and
2) Performing physical security surveys and inspections; and
3) Writing thorough, detailed reports and surveys, and efficiently converting raw data into spreadsheets, PowerPoints, or data-collection documents to support security decisions.

-OR-

Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of a Physical Security Specialist.

-OR-

Combination: Possess a combination of graduate level education and appropriate experience that together meet the qualification requirements for this position. NOTE: If using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application.

GS-12: In order to qualify for the GS-12 grade level, your resume must reflect one year of specialized experience equivalent in complexity and difficulty to the GS-11 grade level. Specialized Experience for GS-12 is defined as:

1) Planning, implementing, and managing the execution of a physical security and crime prevention program to ensure the protection and security of facilities, equipment, key personnel, and access control; and
2) Coordinating the technical activities related to the installation and management of physical security equipment or systems in facilities; and
3) Planning, researching, and drafting guidance related to the Occupant Emergency Plan, Active Threat, and/or Domestic Terrorism concerns; and
4) Demonstrating a working knowledge of various security countermeasures, such as closed-circuit television, fiber-optic media-converting devices, and camera systems; and
5) Writing acquisition requests or Statements of Work for technical security devices and other monitoring systems; and
6) Analyzing, advising, and evaluating key security matters.

Volunteer Experience: 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessment required for this position. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. After submitting your application, you will be notified whether you are required to take an additional online assessment through the USA Hire Competency-Based Assessment system (please check your junk mail).

Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Occupational Reading Assessment: Understands and interprets written material, including technical material, rules, regulations, instructions, reports, charts, graphs, or tables; applies what is learned from written material to specific situations.
• Occupational Judgment Assessment: 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.
• Occupational Reasoning Assessment: Identifies rules, principles, or relationships that explain facts, data, or other information; analyzes information and makes correct inferences or draws accurate conclusions.
• Occupational Interaction Assessment: Measures accountability, attention to detail, customer service, decision making, flexibility, integrity/honesty, teamwork, learning, self-management, stress tolerance, learning and interpersonal skills.

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.

All qualified non-competitive applicants and the best-qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration or your score may be lowered. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) -09/30/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement:

1. Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates in month-year format (include month/day/year format if needed for 52 weeks of experience), and indicate hours worked per week (or full-time). Your resume must clearly show how long you have held each grade/rank. Resumes must not exceed 2 single-sided pages and resumes longer than 2 pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed. Your 2-page resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements. Resume Builder: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include
2. Complete All Required Assessment(s).
3. Performance Appraisals and Awards: All applicants must submit their most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record and signed by a supervisor. If the performance appraisal is not dated within the last 18 months OR no performance appraisal is available, you must submit a statement as to why it is not available (including if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level).
4. All College Transcript(s), if qualifying based on education.
5. Eligibility Documentation:
   • Current and former Federal employees must submit latest SF-50 (i.e. Promotion, Separation, Within Grade Increase (WGI)) showing tenure 1 or 2 in block 24, grade, and if applicable, an additional SF-50 showing the highest grade or promotion potential held. Time in grade will be determined by reviewing your resume and required SF-50s. If your SF-50 showing highest permanent grade held has an effective date within the past year, your resume must clearly show that you held that grade for one year. Do not submit award SF-50s.
   • Veterans Preference Documentation: Veterans eligible under VEOA and 30% or more Disabled must submit the most recent Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions (e.g. DD-214) as listed on the SF15. If you are a Parent or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all documentation as listed on the SF15. You may request a copy of the VA letter from https://www.va.gov/records. 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 from active duty, 2) 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, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
   • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA): If you are applying under LMWFA, you must submit ALL Appointment AND Termination SF-50s for EACH appointment verifying the Position Occupied code 1-Competitive Service (block 34); AND Documentation of satisfactory performance for each period of temporary employment claimed, such as, performance evaluations, memorandum of record, whereas the supervisor(s) documented an acceptable performance level for a specified rating/employment period.
   • Special Appointing Authorities: If you are applying under a special appointing authority (i.e. Schedule A or Military Spouses), you must submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility. If you fail to submit proof, you will not receive consideration. If you're eligible for an authority not listed, you are responsible for submitting documentation that's appropriate for that specific authority.
   • Interagency Career Transition (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): You MUST submit proof of eligibility including 1) copy of the agency notice, e.g., 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 well qualified. For more information visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Career Transition Programs (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).

Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents.

Next steps