Personnel Security Specialist (Adjudicator)

Who May Be Considered:

• Status Candidates
• Veterans
• Land Management Eligibles under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act.

View common definitions of terms found in this announcement.Qualifications: You may qualify for this position if you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade from which you are applying.
GS-011: You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess one of the following:
A. Specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service is defined as:

1. Operating security systems such as: Integrated Security Management System (ISMS), Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS), Clearance Verification System (CVS) or Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (eQip), Treasury Enforcement Communications System (TECS), Person Centric Query Service (PCQS/CIS), Scattered Castles (SCATS).
2. Adjudicating security clearance requests involving mixtures of such things as derogatory information, applicants or employees with hard-to-get skills.
3. Reviewing background investigations and other documents to ensure that all required information is provided and request missing information when needed.

B. Substitution of Education for Experience: Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, may be substituted to meet the specialized experience requirement.
or
C. Combining Education and Experience: Appropriate combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience also may be used to meet the total qualification requirements.
GS-12: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess the following:
Specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service is defined as:

1. Operating security systems such as: Integrated Security Management System (ISMS), Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS), Clearance Verification System (CVS) or Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (eQip), Treasury Enforcement Communications System (TECS), Person Centric Query Service (PCQS/CIS), Scattered Castles (SCATS).
2. Adjudicating security clearance requests involving mixtures of such things as derogatory information, applicants or employees with hard to get skills.
3. Reviewing background investigations and other documents to ensure that all required information is provided and request missing information when needed.
4. Advising other staff and other stakeholders on adverse action recommendations for suitability, fitness, national security, security clearance, or SCI eligibility.
5. Independently reviewing complex background investigations and make decisions regarding pre-employment vetting, suitability for federal employment, fitness to work for or on behalf of the federal government.

National Service Experience (i.e., 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; religious; 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.
Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying).
Time After Competitive Appointment: By the closing date specified in this job announcement, current Federal civilian employees must wait at least 90 days after their latest non-temporary appointment from a competitive service referral certificate before promotion, transfer, reinstatement, reassignment, or detail.
All qualification requirements, including Time-in-Grade, must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification AND Time-in-Grade claims will be subject to verification.Education: For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for a position by substituting education or training for experience, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted that includes your name, the name of the educational institution, course title(s), number of credits, grade, and date of completion. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.
Education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the qualification requirements. You must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private U.S. organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.Employment Type: FULL_TIME