Security Specialist

Clarification from the agency

Current Federal employees with competitive status or other eligibility; Former Federal employees with reinstatement eligibility; CTAP/ICTAP eligibles; Veterans with VOW, VEOA, or 30% disability; Military Spouses; Individuals with Disabilities Schedule A; Peace Corps, Vista (AmeriCorps) eligibles; Those eligible under an OPM interchange agreement or other special appointing authority, in the local commuting area (only).

As a Security Specialist, you will:

• Provide expert guidance and oversight for Safeguards and Security (S&S) programs, ensuring contractor compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and NNSA requirements. Evaluates contractor performance, identifies risks, and recommends corrective actions to support safe and secure operations.
• Lead assessments and oversight activities to evaluate contractor security programs, management systems, and internal controls. Analyzes performance trends, documents operational awareness activities, and ensures security issues are identified and resolved before affecting mission operations.
• Serve as a technical authority on complex Safeguards and Security matters by interpreting policy, advising leadership on emerging issues, setting program priorities, and recommending improvements to enhance program effectiveness. Provides expertise in physical security, protective forces, personnel security, classified information protection, special nuclear material accountability, and security program management.
• Collaborate with NNSA leadership, contractors, federal, state, and local agencies, and other stakeholders to resolve complex security issues. Prepares and delivers technical briefings, recommendations, and written reports to support informed decision-making and program execution.
• Demonstrate adaptability and commitment to continuous training and qualification, managing multi-site responsibilities and responding to high-stakes technical decisions with significant safety or national security implications.

Conditions of employment

• Subject to Random Drug Testing
• Must pass a pre-employment drug test.
• Favorable suitability determination required.
• Financial Disclosure is required.
• Must be able to obtain/maintain a Q level Security Clearance.
• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
• Compliance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12) governing personal identity which will require that you provide two forms of identification.
• May be required to successfully complete a one (1) year probationary period. Employees serving on a probationary period may be terminated at any time during the probationary period for performance, conduct, or business-related reasons in the interest of Federal service.
• Must be able to obtain certification in the DOE's Technical Qualification Program (TQP) within 18 months of start date. This position is covered by the Technical Qualification Program (TQP), which requires the incumbent to acquire and demonstrate competencies identified in the TQP Functional Area Qualification and Field Office specific standards and requires certification of the competencies by NNSA supervision and TQP qualifying officials.https://ntc.doe.gov/student/stp/techqualprogram.
• Please limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. If more than two pages are submitted, you will be disqualified.

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA Demonstration Project pay band or GS grade level in the Federal service, i.e., NQ-2 level (GS12).
Specialized experience is defined as experience applying advanced knowledge of safeguards and security principles, regulations, and compliance requirements to independently evaluate, assess, and improve contractor security programs. Qualifying experience includes planning and conducting security assessments, analyzing program performance, identifying security vulnerabilities and trends, interpreting complex regulatory requirements, and providing technical guidance and recommendations to ensure compliance with Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) security requirements.

Examples of specialized experience includes:
1. Oversight and Compliance Auditing - Independently planned and executed comprehensive compliance assessments to evaluate contractor security programs, such as physical security, information security, and protective force programs, for compliance with DOE/NNSA regulations. Identified, documented, and tracked non-compliance findings through corrective actions and final resolution.
2. System Analysis and Trend Identification - Conducted analyses of contractor security program performance by evaluating operational precursors, security incidents, and performance indicators over time. Identified emerging trends, assessed associated risks, and developed or recommended corrective actions to strengthen security posture and reduce vulnerabilities.
3. Technical Inspection and Survey Planning - Coordinated and led technical security inspections and vulnerability surveys by developing schedules, reviewing historical performance data, evaluating on-site security controls, and documenting findings. Prepared and delivered comprehensive vulnerability assessment reports with actionable recommendations for management.
4. Reporting and Regulatory Interpretation - Analyzed and interpreted complex security regulations, including DOE Orders and related directives, to prepare executive-level reports, policy interpretations, technical recommendations, and formal briefings for senior leadership and external stakeholders in support of defense nuclear facility safety, security, and regulatory compliance.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section. If you are eligible for career transition assistance plans such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the definition of "well qualified" which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

THE APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS WILL BE IN TWO STAGES:

Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Office will review the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications.

Structured Interview Assessment: The Subject matter experts (SMEs) will conduct the interviews to determine the best qualified applicants.

Additional documentation (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) may not be considered.

Your application and resume shall demonstrate that you possess the following Competencies. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your application how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the Competencies identified below. Cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. DO NOT write "see resume" in your application.

• Flexibility
• Oral Communication
• Problem Solving 1
• Security
• Technical Competence

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified'.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the link below.
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13013248

To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes:

ALL APPLICANTS: You must submit a resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire.

• Your two (2) page RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
• For more information about what to include in your resume, please view this USAJOBS Resume Tutorial video on YouTube.

Most DOE offices will allow you to submit a resume in the format of your choice (as an attached document or as a USAJOBS Resume Builder format). However, some offices may require one specific format. You will be notified at the time you click 'Apply Online' which type of resume is acceptable. It is important that you are complete and thorough in your resume. If any of the above information is not included in your resume, we may not be able to fully credit you for your experience.

• Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume.

Submit one or more of the following to support your eligibility(s) to apply to this job announcement:
SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" (current federal employees):

To properly verify status eligibility, your SF-50 must show the following. If you do not submit an appropriate SF-50, we cannot verify your status eligibility! Full position title; appointment type; occupational series; pay plan, grade, and step; tenure code; and service computation date (SCD).

If your current position SF50 does not indicate you have competitive service status or does not reflect the pay plan and grade of the highest position you have held in the competitive service, in addition to your current SF50, you must provide your previous SF-50s that provide the proof of competitive status and highest grade held on a permanent basis.

Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency 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.) For more information see the OPM Guide to Career Transition.

Performance Appraisals: Submit your two (2) most recent performance appraisals. Your performance appraisals and incentive awards will be given due consideration in the selection process based on their relation to the duties of the position and the consistency with which they may be considered in evaluating you against other applicants. If the performance appraisals are not available, please provide a written statement of explanation and upload as a separate document.

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

Next steps