Summary
Lead a critical program ensuring personnel security and suitability for the Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia. As a Supervisory Personnel Security Officer, you'll shape policy, manage complex investigations, and influence agency-wide decisions that protect the mission and workforce. Apply your security and leadership expertise in a high-impact role.
Bargaining Unit Status: Not Covered, AFGE Local1456
This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies
This job is open to
Federal employees - Competitive service
Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.
Veterans
Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference
Military spouses
Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.
Individuals with disabilities
Individuals who are eligible under Schedule A.
Clarification from the agency
Status Candidates (Merit Promotion and VEOA Eligibles)
Duties
As a Supervisory Personnel Security Officer, you will:
- Manage and monitor the personnel security program at PSA, making extensive technical decisions on the direction of the PSA Personnel Security Program. Formulate policies, procedures and forms and maintain a viable reinvestigation program as mandated by laws, executive orders, and regulations.
- Independently responsible and lead the full range of personnel security activities to include: conducting preliminary investigations on new hires, interns and contractors; scheduling initial investigations and reinvestigations; submitting detailed requests for investigations into eQIP; monitoring submissions for timeliness and accuracy; reviewing and analyzing preliminary investigation/initial investigation/reinvestigation results; identifying potentially disqualifying offenses/issues; comparing investigatory information with established suitability/fitness/adjudication criteria; and recommending whether to grant eligibility.
- Apply appropriate standards and criteria, national-level guidelines, administrative precedents, and expert judgment in recommending actions necessary to ensure investigative sufficiency and sound adjudicative conclusions.
- Serve as a subject matter expert and advise on personnel security policies and related matters, impact of personnel security requirements on organizational missions, procedures for adverse suitability/security determinations and employee rights, and major policies and precedent-setting matters. Explain personnel security policies and procedures to employees and managers. Train and update OHCM employees as needed on personnel security processes.
- Coordinate the issuance of Agency credentials, PIV cards, and ID badges. Review, update, communicate, and implement procedures as needed to ensure agency compliance with HSPD-12 requirements.
- Serve as the technical advisor and subject matter expert for personnel security issues with relevant other federal agencies, coordinate external investigations, and secure copies of completed investigations.
- Plan, schedule, coordinate and/or conduct studies, inquiries, or special projects across a broad range of security issues and provide recommendations, briefings, and updates to influence agency-wide decision-making and policy development. Evaluate controversial or sensitive issues not covered in existing security directives and implement acceptable solutions to unique situations.
- Develop and manage a case management system to track personnel security and PIV/Badging actions. Write, update, and issue operating procedures to meet changes in directives and regulations.
- Represent PSA at security-related meetings with other agencies. Consult with investigating and adjudicating components in agencies such as OPM, FBI, and ONI to remain up-to-date and proficient in the knowledge of investigative/adjudicative procedures and set up procedures for mutual support.
- Serve as the Principal PSA Drug-Free Workplace Coordinator. Schedule and coordinate drug-testing dates, compose and send instructional guidance regarding testing to randomly selected employees, and work in conjunction with the CSOSA Drug-Free Workplace Coordinator.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
Conditions of Employment
1. Must be a U.S. Citizen
2. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
3. Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
4. May be required to successfully complete a probationary period, if not already completed
5. All applicants are subject to a comprehensive criminal background investigation, and required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment
6. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice
7. Status applicants for promotion must have 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade
8. Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the close of this announcement
9. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
10. Will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Form within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, you must meet the specialized experience requirement below.
To qualify for the GS-13 grade level, you must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience related to the duties of the position that was comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-12 grade level.
Specialized experience is defined as advising management on personnel security issues, developing, and revising personnel security program goals, policies, procedures and establishing new program initiatives.
NOTE: Your resume must clearly show the specialized experience related to this position. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the experience requirements will result in an "Ineligible" rating.
Education
There is no education substitution at this grade level.
Additional information
1. If you are an eligible Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicant or Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) applicant, you may apply for special selection over other applicants for this position. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible displaced Federal/PSA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified, you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. Click here for more information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility.
2. If you are a current career or career-conditional Federal employee or former Federal employee who has reinstatement eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" and/or a copy of the SF-50 that reflects career or career-conditional tenure, or you will not be considered under the merit promotion process. Also, you should submit your most recent performance appraisal.
3. Veterans' Employment Opportunities Act of 1998: Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after 3 years or more of continuous active duty service may apply. If you are applying under this provision, please submit a copy of your DD-214 (unedited long version).
4. You can apply for a non-competitive appointment if you meet the basic eligibility requirements and you are eligible for special appointment such as those authorized for the severely disabled; certain Vietnam era and disabled veterans; returned volunteers from the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps Vista , etc. Please indicate the type of special appointment you are seeking, if any, on your application and follow all other instructions for applying shown in this announcement.
5. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review in our office, in other Federal agency personnel offices, and on OPM's web site at OPM Qualification Standards.
6. In accordance with Executive Order 14170 and the Merit Hiring Plan guidance issued by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, applicants for this position are invited to respond to four essay questions. These questions are designed to provide you with an opportunity to share your commitment to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution, as well as your dedication to public service. While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. Click here to review the questionshttps://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12894687.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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.
Your rating will be based on your responses to the job specific information provided in your resume. Your resume must clearly show how you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities will result in a rating of "Qualified" by the rating panel.
1. Knowledge of the principles, concepts and techniques of security programs relating to personnel security administration in the Federal sector.
2. Ability to conduct investigations relating to personnel security and suitability programs, analyze facts, and prepare reports.
3.Skill in oral communications required to collect and provide information relating to background investigations, suitability and personnel security clearances and skill in written communications required to develop a variety of documents, reports, and operating procedures.
Once the application process is completed, your application will be reviewed to ensure you meet the job requirements. You will be evaluated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training, job- related awards and supervisory appraisal of performance. If you meet the basic qualification requirements, your resume will be forwarded to a panel for rating. Category Rating will be used to evaluate applicants using the following categories to further determine which applicants will be referred to the selecting official for final consideration.
Best Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a superior level on all evaluation criteria.
Well Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a satisfactory level on evaluation criteria.
Qualified: Applicants possessing the specialized experience described above.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your Resume listing hours worked per week, salary, dates of employment and duties performed. Only resumes up to a total of 2 pages will be accepted. Applicants with resumes exceeding 2 pages will removed from consideration. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.
2. Other supporting documents:
- Most recent SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held (if applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service). (Award Notification of Personnel Actions are not acceptable)
- DD-214 (member 4 copy) showing honorable discharge, SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities
- Non-competitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable
- 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.)
- Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent appointment
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
- Only send documentation as requested/required by this announcement and that directly supports your qualifications for this position.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date (03/23/2026) to receive consideration.
- To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.
- You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
- You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.
- To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact Shelly Monroe at 202-740-8543 or Shelly.Monroe@psa.gov to obtain instructions on how to submit an alternative application.
Only resumes up to a total of 2 pages will be accepted. Applicants with resumes exceeding 2 pages will removed from consideration. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.Next steps
Once the on-line application and supporting documents are received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made, you will be notified of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required you will be contacted.