Summary This position has full responsibility to administer the Network Personnel Suitability and Credentialing Program (hereinafter, "Personnel Security Program") within a shared services unit. The Personnel Security Program assures that all appointees have the appropriate level of background investigation to commensurate with their assignment. Work assigned is of a very confidential and highly sensitive nature. Responsibilities Major duties include but aren't limited to: Security/Suitability Coordinator 45% Maintaining consistency in adjudicative practices within their VISNs by reviewing suitability cases with significant issues at a VISN level in accordance with 5 CFR 731.202 and other relevant VHA/VACO-established adjudicative standards. Providing suitability subject matter expertise and support to medical facility Human Resources (HR) Offices in matters that are not appropriately resolved at a local level. For highly controversial or technical issues, elevating to and acting as a liaison with VHACOPERSEC and communicating resolution to necessary parties. Notifying VHACOPERSEC when facilities and/or VISNs receive and choose to mitigate cases with significant issues. Ensuring that all adjudicators conducting agency-wide debarment reviews within their VISNs are properly trained on OPM National Training Standards. Performing a second-level quality review of facility suitability actions when cases are submitted by VA medical facilities that may warrant a request for agency-wide debarment. This second-level quality review consists of a check to ensure that all relevant documentation has been provided, and that the proposed action is appropriate. 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. Communicates directly with the Delegated Examining Unit (DEU) and VACO's Personnel Security and Credential Management Office to ensure that all required documentation meets their standards involving Pass-Over Request. Compliance 25% Interprets and analyzes Network policies and practices to ensure uniformity in suitability processes. Implements regional suitability policies and procedures. Identify, analyze, and resolves complex problems which require the interpretation and adaptation of personnel security policy guidance that is only partially applicable and where few precedents exist. Researches and interprets Federal regulations and policies relating to suitability adjudications, personnel security program management, employment eligibility, Veterans preference, competitive and non-competitive hiring, position risk designation, rank in position versus rank in person classification and qualification concepts, application fraud, employee removals, merit system principles, prohibited personnel actions, and OPM investigative referrals. Ensures the integrity and efficiency of the Personnel Security and Suitability programs at the regional level. Specifically working with Strategic Business Unit (SBU) Officers, management staff, HR Specialists and security personnel at the facilities. Responsible to ensure that adjudications remain consistent within the Network by reviewing significant issue suitability cases and notify VHACO when facilities and/or Network receives and favorable adjudicate significant issue cases. PCI MANAGER DUTIES 30%: Serves as the authoritative role that assumes the responsibility and a accountability for the complete VA PIV card issuance process. Managing the day-to-day operations of the PIV issuance process at the facility. Ensuring all aspects of the PIV Card Issuance process is conducted reliably. Appointing all PIV Administrative Roles and ensuring the individuals are certified. Ensuring all PIV privacy requirements and audit requirements are complied with. Manage the entire PIV Identity Management System (IDMS) within the @context of the VA PIV card lifecycle. Adjudicating any process related issues that should arise during the PIV lifecycle. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: This position may be authorized for ad-hoc telework and has NOT been authorized as virtual or remote. Work location may be discussed during the interview process to meet the Return to Office requirement. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Personnel Security Specialist- Suitability Chief/PD99948S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Physical Requirements: The incumbent's work is usually accomplished while seated at a desk or table. Some walking and standing may occur in connection with travel to and attendance of meetings and conferences away from the work place. 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 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, 04/20/2026. 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-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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. For details, employees do not have to meet the qualification requirements for the position to which they are detailed, except for minimum education, licensure, and certification requirements. Preferred Experience: At least one year of personnel security and supervisory experience. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: mastery of, and skill in applying, key decision-making and policy-developing responsibilities in very difficult assignments such as planning for significantly new or far-reaching security program requirements, or leading or participating as a technical expert in interagency study groups for resolving problems in existing security systems and programs requiring innovative solutions. Skill in and knowledge of security program interrelationships to coordinate the objectives and plans of two or more specialized programs; make accommodations in study or survey recommendations to allow for differing program requirements; develop and/or implement procedures and practices to cover multiple security objectives; serve on inter-agency or inter-organization committees and groups to identify and resolve, or to assign responsibilities for resolving, security issues; or to perform similar work. Expertise in the particular security specialty area, is responsible for planning and carrying out the work, resolving most of the conflicts that arise, integrating and coordinating the work of others as necessary, and interpreting policy in terms of established objectives. Experience making extensive unreviewed technical judgments concerning the interpretation and implementation of existing security policy for the assigned specialty area(s) and in deciding which analytical and technical decisions lead to, or form the basis for, major security program policy and operational decisions by top management. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Communication Compliance Inspection Decision Making Influencing/Negotiating 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. 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/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA 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. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. For a Detail there will be no change to the current federal salary. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
