Summary The Personnel Security Specialist performs the security related functions in support of a Network Personnel Suitability and Credentialing Program and assures that all appointees have the appropriate level of security/suitability clearance commensurate with their assignment. Responsibilities Duties include, but are not limited to: Reviews requests for security clearances for VA personnel and adjudicates personnel security investigations. Within delegated authority, grants security clearances and forward recommendations for security clearance denials. Maintains associated personnel security records. Receives requests for appointment to sensitive positions, determines the appropriate investigation required for the positions, ensures the required paperwork is submitted, conducts personnel security interviews, and forwards the investigation and other information to the proper investigative authority. Conducts security and suitability adjudications related to background investigations. Reviews completed personnel suitability investigations with the purpose of providing recommendations on pre-employment and continued employment considerations. Review personnel security investigation components for the purpose of summarizing issues and providing recommendations to the Human Resources Officer on pre-employment and continued employment considerations, and placement of personnel. All other duties as assigned and/or outlined in the Position Description Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Ad-hoc Telework only when official duty station is closed due to emergency situations, inclement weather, etc. Position Description Title/PD#: Personnel Security Specialist/PD99950S, PD99652S, and PD99651S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Requirements 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 You may be required to serve a probationary/trial period 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 dentification 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) Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/18/2025. 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-7 Grade level - In addition to the Time-in-Grade requirement, you must have one of the following to be eligible at the GS-7 grade level: Specialized Experience GS-07: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: knowledge of in training or early development stages in personnel security work, acquire and use knowledge of the basic principles, concepts, policies, practices, and methods of personnel security administration in one or more of the security functional specialties. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must possess 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equivalent combination of specialized experience and education beyond four years of education leading to a Bachelor's degree. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) GS-9 Grade Level - In addition to the Time-in-Grade requirement, you must have one of the following to be eligible at the GS-9 grade level: Specialized Experience GS-09: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: conducts security and suitability adjudications related to background investigations, reviews completed suitability investigations with the purpose of providing recommendations on pre-employment and continues employment considerations, maintains liaison with local agencies (police, criminal investigations, etc.) to ensure timely record checks are conducted on personnel, notifies employees in a timely manner of requirements for initiation of periodic reinvestigations. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree; or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.B. or J.D., if related. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) GS-11 Grade Level - In addition to the Time-in-Grade requirement, you must have one of the following to be eligible at the GS-11 grade level: Specialized Experience GS-11: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: experience with adjudicating National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACIs), Special Agreement Checks (SACs), (Moderate Risk Background Investigations (MBIs), and Background Investigations (BIs); gathering and coordinating records of evidence in support of proposed personnel security and suitability actions and decisions; providing technical advice and guidance to employees, contractors, affiliates, and volunteers regarding Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIP) submission and reviewing e-QIPs for accuracy and completeness prior to submission to e-QIP approver and/or Office of Personnel Management (OPM); submitting disposition requests to the appropriate court, law enforcement agency, or other source in order to obtain clarification or additional information regarding cases. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and graduate level education that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) Preferred experience: Highly Qualified candidates will have completed a required Suitability Adjudicator Certification Course such as The Fundamentals of Suitability for Suitability and Fitness Adjudicators course and the Suitability Action/ Procedures for Suitability Adjudicators Course. EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards. SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements: Analytical Reasoning Personnel Security and Safety Technical Competence Technical Credibility 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/Working Conditions: The work is primarily sedentary and is accomplished in an office environment. Some walking and standing may occur in the course of a normal workday. Education Transcript Reminder - A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
