Supervisory Personnel Security Specialist

Clarification from the agency

This position is open to Status, VISN employees eligible candidates.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Performs high risk, moderate and low risk adjudications in cases of facility upper management and Network office personnel and/or subordinate organizations as applicable.
• Provides expert advice to subordinate organizations when servicing affiliates, clinical trainees on time limit appointments, contractors, and without compensation employees.
• Assists managers as needed of Personal Identification Cards (PIV) Card Issuing (PCI) managers to ensure uniformity in the interpretation of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and the issuance and revocation the Personal Identification Card (PIV).
• Processes adverse actions as they relate to suitability issues up to, but not limited to the development of suitability and employee relation case files that document contact with the applicant, appointee or employee in the processing of the request for personnel action.
• Processes agency requests to Pass-Over a Preference Eligible or Object to an Eligible as it relates to Suitability IAW: Title 5 CFR 731.202 or Title 5CFR 315.805.
• Establishes, gathers, and coordinates record of evidence in support of proposed personnel security and suitability actions and decisions.
• Responsible for personnel security and suitability program planning at a major organizational level.
• Responsible for responding to questions involving implementation of personnel security and suitability guidelines at lower levels and for inspecting new or established personnel security and suitability programs for adequacy, efficiency, and need for improvement.
• Responsible for interpreting policy originating from higher organizational levels (or national policy), providing authoritative interpretations and guidance to management officials and other personnel security officers at the same and lower levels.
• Responsible for identifying vulnerabilities within new or established personnel security and suitability programs and arranging for the appropriate specialists to remedy these vulnerabilities.
• Develops long range forecasts for personnel security and suitability requirements, develops and implements authoritative personnel security and suitability systems enhancements.
• Identifies and determines training priorities regarding VA's Personnel Security and Suitability Program and is responsible for conducting and administering such training to Human Resources staff and other facility staff as necessary.
• Serves as the Network e-QIP administrator providing expert advice to Human Resource personnel responsible for initiating and reviewing background investigations at facilities within the Network.
• Responsible for coordination, preparation, and submission of all Service-level, facility, Network, and VACO reports that may be required for OPM's eQIP System.
• Plans and directs staffing section operations. Provides guidance and renders decisions on complex determinations unresolved by subordinates on a continuous basis through review of completed work and assessment of results obtained.
• Effects minor disciplinary measures, such as warnings and reprimands, recommending other action in more serious cases and identifies and arranges development and other training needs of employees.
• Counsels subordinates, develops performance standards, and rates staff. Encourages and acts upon employee suggestions for work improvement.
• Oversees the daily operation of the unit and ensures that agency policies and priorities are being followed; gives advice, counsel, and instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters.
• Responsible for furthering the goals of equal employment opportunity (EEO) by taking positive steps to assure the accomplishment of affirmative action objectives and by adhering to nondiscriminatory employment practices in regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or handicap.

Work Schedule: Full time; Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: Not available
Telework: This position is not authorized for telework.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Personnel Security Specialist/PD99949S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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 period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/03/2026.

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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a gs-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the gs-11. 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. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience, there is no educational substitution at the GS-12 grade level, as described below:

GS-12 Grade Requirements: Specialized experience: In addition to meeting the time in grade, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as but not limited to: successful completion of the DCSA Fundamentals of Suitability for Suitability and Fitness Adjudicators or its OPM equivalent; performs high risk, moderate and low risk adjudications; serves as the e-QIP administrator; and responsible for the PIV Program planning at a major organizational level. This specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. (NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your application/resume for full consideration and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week.)

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Administration and Management
• Education and Training
• Managing Human Resources
• Security
• Technical Competence

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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary and is usually accomplished while the employee is comfortably seated at a desk or table. However, some walking and standing may occur in the course of a normal workday in connection with travel to, and attendance at, meetings and conferences away from the primary work site. Incumbent may be required to bend, lift, carry personnel security equipment such as laptops, scanners, etc. long distances at affiliate organizations. Must be able to lift 20-30 lbs. No special physical effort other than lifting/carrying of equipment is required to perform the work.

Preferred Experience: Extensive experience with the adjudication of background investigations, computer systems, and verbal and written communications. Leadership and managerial skills, strong computer skills, team-oriented, and ability to work independently.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://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.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Proof of Marriage Status
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

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