Supervisory Personnel Security Specialist

Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is open to current, permanent (career/career conditional) employees of the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Office of Mission Support (OMS) and CTAP eligibles only.

Specific duties include:

• Directs Personnel Security Specialists in providing guidance and assistance to the Director of Operations, Safety, Security, and Preparedness Directorate in the fulfillment of division goals and objectives. Develop team tasks, set program priorities, and establish schedules for work completion in accordance with the guidance of the supervisor. Oversee operations to ensure tasks are streamlined and accomplished based on regulatory requirements, priorities, quality standards, and capabilities.
• Analyzes and evaluates VBA investigations for compliance within investigation and adjudication standards, granting national security clearances and public trust risk levels to determine grant, deny, evoke, suspend, or restrict security clearances consistent with national security and/or suitability issues. For persons who may fail to satisfy the security or suitability standards, coordinates final decisions with management and ensures due process.
• Develops, promulgates and implements Departmental personnel security and suitability policy consistent with Federal personnel security standards and guidelines. Disseminates operational standards and procedures for the Administration as appropriate.
• Leads team on special projects or studies of considerable scope and depth critical to the resolution of security issues and problems; interprets complex legislative, regulatory, and policy guidance to prepare recommendations for management.
• Sets priorities, assigns, and reviews work; Finds ways and means to improve work methods, productivity, and quality; Adjusts work procedures to accommodate resource allocation decisions.

Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available.
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Personnel Security Specialist; GS-0080-14 PD# 38761-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required.

Conditions of employment

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may 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.

Upon completion of your probationary, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selectees are required to service a one-year supervisory probationary period if not previously completed in a Federal position.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements I-9 Acceptable Documents.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:07/06/2026.

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

• For a GS-14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13 level.

The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below:
GS-14 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience is defined as experience serving as a Personnel Security Specialist and at least 12 months of experience at the GS-13 level (or equivalent) performing duties that demonstrate all of the following:
  
• Extensive knowledge of personnel security policy requirements to function as a technical expert authority in assignments requiring the application of new theories and developments to security problems not susceptible to treatment by accepted security methods, technology, or procedures
• Serving as an expert consultant/advisor to VBA leadership and Personnel Security Specialists peers on highly visible, complex, and difficult issues associated with the effectiveness of VBA personnel security policies and programs
• Ability to justify, defend, or negotiate in representing the personnel security program in obtaining or committing resources, and in gaining compliance with established policies, regulations, or contracts.
• The incumbent plans and delegates work, establishes priorities, and assigns work based on the nature and difficulty of the projects. Tracks progress and quality of performance and decides on the acceptability, rejection, or correction of work products or services.

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; religions; 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.
Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.
Physical Requirements: Position is sedentary.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

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 qualifications 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 to all assessments required for this position.

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

• Conflict Management
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Manages Resources
• Partnering
• Planning and Evaluating

• Personnel Security and Safety: Knowledge of methods and controls of personnel, public safety, and security operations; investigation and inspection techniques; or rules, regulations, precautions, and prevention techniques for the protection of people, data, or property.
• Customer Service: Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
• Written Communication: Expresses facts and ideas in writing in a succinct and organized manner.

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.

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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package to include the documents detailed below. Resumes may not exceed two pages and must be legible for review of eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Your resume and supporting documentation will be verified. Failure to submit the documents as specified may result in loss of consideration for this job announcement.

• Resume:
  • Contact Information:
    • Name and how best to contact you, including email address and phone number
  • Relevant Work Experience:
    • For each relevant work experience, make sure you include:
      • Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions)
      • Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 - 08/2022)
      • The number of hours you worked per week
    • Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications. Brief descriptions should demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level as stated in the job announcement
  • Optional Details:
    • When relevant, include:
      • Current Security Clearance
      • Job-related training
      • Language skills
      • Organizations and affiliations
      • Professional publications
      • Eligibility for special programs (e.g., military spouses, individuals with disabilities, etc.)
• A copy of your most recent NON-award SF-50. The SF-50 must indicate proof of status and should identify your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).
• Your SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade To verify you meet Time-in-Grade requirements, also submit a SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade held (e.g. Promotion, Appointment, etc.).

Additional Documents accepted:

• Most recent Performance Appraisal (VA Form 0750)
• Award SF-50s
• CTAP documentation - RIF notice, SF-50 showing VA employee, and performance appraisal

Next steps