Security Specialist

Clarification from the agency

Current permanent EPA employees with competitive status and Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) eligibles.

At the highest advertised grade, you will:

• Monitor and track National Security Information (NSI) Program implementation in support of information security (INFOSEC) and the information classification process for the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Coordinate and perform oversight reviews to monitor program implementation and practices, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, executive orders, and directives for the management, storage, and protection of classified information.
• Coordinate with the Personnel Security Branch (PSB) manager and address requests for Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearances, Homeland Secure Data Network (HSDN) accounts, and Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS) accounts.
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of security policies and procedures, ensuring that security program reference materials and guidelines are available and up to date.

If you are hired at a lower grade level, your duties will be less complex and you will have more supervisory oversight. You may be promoted to more complex duties and work more independently, as your career progresses. NOTE: Career ladder promotions are not automatic, and all eligibility and qualifications requirements must be met in order to progress to the next grade level.

You will spend less than 25% of your work time on contracts, grants/cooperative agreements, and/or interagency agreements.

One or more positions may be filled (in the organization advertised and/or in other organizations), if appropriate to the position.

Conditions of employment

#LI-DNI

You must meet time-in-grade requirements no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement.

This position is designated as High Risk and requires a background investigation. Unless an appropriate background investigation is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management, you must undergo a background investigation. All conditions of the pre-employment security process must be met before an official letter of employment can be issued with a report for duty date.

You will be required to obtain and maintain a top-secret security clearance.

If you are selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure form within 30 days of your first day of employment and annually thereafter.

Pre-employment drug testing is required and random testing thereafter.

Qualifications

To qualify for the GS-11 level, you must have one of the following:

• 1 year of full-time* specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level defined as developing and/or refining educational, instructional, and/or training materials; drafting responses to policy inquiries; and conducting security determinations for documents or persons.
• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.M., if related; the education must provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position
• equivalent combination of education and experience

NOTE: 1 year of full-time undergraduate study is 30 semester or 45 quarter hours. 1 year of full-time graduate education is 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 is considered 1 year of full-time study.

To qualify for the GS-12 level, you must have 1 year of full-time* specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level defined as advising leadership and staff on security protocols; drafting responses to policy inquiries; and supporting personnel security functions, including but not limited to coordinating Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance requests and conducting annual clearance reviews to ensure active and appropriate use.

You will need the following competencies in order to perform the duties of this position successfully:

• Integrity/Honesty
• Personnel Security and Safety* (assessed at GS-12 only)
• Program/Project Management/Evaluation*
• Technical Competence*
• Oral Communication
• Written Communication* (assessed at GS-11 only)

*You will be evaluated on these critical competencies.

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.

*If you have part-time work experience, read this: Part-Time Experience.

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 how well you meet the qualification requirements listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses (if applicable) to all assessments required for this position.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13035936

If you are eligible for consideration, one or more subject matter experts will systematically review your resume to assess the degree to which your background matches the competencies required for successful performance in this position (see the Qualifications section for a list of the critical competencies being evaluated). Based on the assessment ratings, a score will be calculated to determine if you are among the best qualified candidates.

NOTE: Cheating (including the use of a consultant or an AI tool to assist you) on any assessment may result in your removal from consideration for this job.

If you are referred for consideration, you may be subject to additional assessments by the selecting official (e.g., technical writing sample or other work sample, job knowledge test, case scenario analysis, scientific data assessment, structured interview, etc.).

ALL APPLICANTS

• Resume clearly stating your experience related to this position as described in the Duties and Qualifications sections--include specific dates (MM/DD/YY - MM/DD/YY) so we can determine that you have the required amount of experience (if applicable). Your experience description needs to be clear/specific (we may not make assumptions regarding your experience). Include a list of awards you have received if you would like them to be considered. If your resume includes federal experience, indicate the grade or pay band (e.g., GS-13) for each federal job. Resume must not exceed 2 pages. If you do not submit a resume that is 2 pages or less, you will be ineligible for further consideration. See How to Apply section for more information.
• Notification(s) of Personnel Action (SF-50) that includes Position Title, Grade or Level, and Duty Station and proves the following:

1. ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY - SF-50(s) must prove you meet the criteria in the Clarification from the agency section. The most common eligibility requirements are Permanent Employees (proof is reflected in block 24/Tenure on the SF-50), Competitive Status (proof is reflected in blocks 24/Tenure and 34/Position Occupied on the SF-50), In the Office of (proof is reflected in block 22/Name and Location of Position's Organization on the SF-50), and In the Commuting Area (proof is reflected in block 39/Duty Station on the SF-50).
2. TIME-IN-GRADE - If you are applying for a higher grade, SF-50(s) must prove you havecompleted 52 weeks at the next lower grade (next lower grade is identified in the Qualifications section); acceptable SF-50s are two SF-50s at the next lower grade dated at least a year apart OR a within-grade increase at the next lower grade (if you have completed 52 weeks at the next lower grade but have not yet received an additional SF-50 since you entered the grade, submit your appointment/initial SF-50 and an explanation). If you are not applying for a higher grade, SF-50 must prove you have been at the grade to which you are applying (or a higher grade).

• Most recent completed annual performance appraisal dated within the last 18 months (if it is not dated within the last 18 months or you have not received a performance appraisal, you must upload a signed/dated explanation why). Your submitted performance appraisal must show the overall rating and manager/supervisor's signature that certifies the rating at the time it was given.

APPLICANTS QUALIFYING BASED ON EDUCATION OR A COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• College transcripts - unofficial or official transcripts or a list of courses that includes school(s) attended, school address, course title, grades earned, completion dates, department, and quarter/semester hours earned. NOTE: Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if you are selected, you must provide official transcripts before you start work. IF EDUCATION WAS COMPLETED AT A FOREIGN INSTITUTION: You must submit an equivalency evaluation with your application as described here: Accreditation

DISPLACED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ICTAP/CTAP ELIGIBLE

• Most recent performance appraisal
• Proof of eligibility
• Most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, tenure, and duty station

Next steps