Personnel Security Specialist

Summary This position is within the Office of Personnel and Information Security, Office of Security and Continuity of Operations, under the Chief Administrative Office for the Bonneville Power Administration. Ensure the integrity of a trusted workforce! You will manage the secure credentialing and background investigation process for all personnel, ensuring a trusted workforce and protecting critical infrastructure. Your expertise will be essential to our security mission. Learn more about this agency Duties Step into a Critical Role: Safeguard the Pacific Northwest's Power Grid As an essential member of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), you are the gatekeeper responsible for ensuring the integrity and trustworthiness of the entire workforce. Your decisions directly protect the vital energy infrastructure that powers millions of homes and businesses across the Pacific Northwest. This isn't just a job; it is a mission to maintain the security and reliability of one of the nation's most important resources. We are looking for a decisive, analytical, and highly organized professional to take on this critical challenge. Adjudicate Access: Serve as a key decision-maker by reviewing, evaluating, and adjudicating investigation reports to determine whether to grant, deny, or revoke access privileges to government facilities and IT systems. Implement Security Policy: Facilitate and monitor the agency's implementation of the Department of Energy's Personnel Security Program, ensuring all procedures are followed correctly and consistently. Safeguard Sensitive Data: Ensure full compliance with government regulations for protecting sensitive information, including collecting identity documents, fingerprints, and background investigation data with proper controls. Onboard and Guide New Hires: Act as the main customer support contact for new applicants during their onboarding, answering questions and resolving issues to ensure a smooth and secure entry process. Conduct Security Briefings: Prepare and present essential security awareness training and briefings for all personnel, covering topics from initial onboarding to annual refreshers and termination procedures. Develop and Refine Procedures: Participate in committees to develop and improve local security plans and instructions, translating high-level objectives into practical, effective daily operations. Prescreen Security Cases: Scrutinize every personnel security case to ensure all required information is accurate and complete before it is submitted to the Department of Energy, preventing delays and ensuring a timely investigation. Support Special Security Projects: Assist senior security specialists on projects that respond to new government regulations or technology updates, helping to keep the agency's security posture modern and effective. Requirements Conditions of employment In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answer to these questions is not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration When you apply you will be asked a series of questions to determine your eligibility for employment and your qualification for this position specifically. You must answer all of these questions completely and truthfully. Key Requirements: You must be a United States Citizen. This employer participates in the e-Verify program. Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements. You will be required to report in person to the official duty location. Conditions of Employment: This position requires an initial drug test prior to appointment and random drug or drug and alcohol testing thereafter. Failure to test or a positive result on random drug or drug and alcohol tests conducted after appointment may result in removal from Federal employment. This position has been designated as High Risk and requires a security clearance at the DOE "L" level. The incumbent is required to obtain and maintain this clearance level; failure to do so may result in separation from federal service. Qualifications SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: GS-09: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Experience 1) applying established policies and standards to process background checks or personnel suitability assessments for employment or access to sensitive facilities; and 2) managing a caseload of these reviews, under supervision, which includes verifying information, ensuring all required documentation is collected, and resolving common discrepancies or issues. You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Master's or equivalent graduate degree; or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or a LL.B. or J.D. if related; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. -OR- Combination of education and experience as described above. Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first year of full-time study may be credited). One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours the graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. If the graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study is not available, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) is used. When crediting education that requires specific course work the number of hours of related courses required, as a proportion of the total education, is prorated. GS-11: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Experience 1) analyzing investigative reports and other complex information to make formal determinations or recommendations on an individual's suitability for a position of trust; and 2) interpreting policies and risk-assessment criteria to resolve significant issues or conflicting information discovered during the personnel vetting process. You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or a LL.M., if related; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. -OR- Combination of education and experience as described above. Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first two years of full-time study may be credited). One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours the graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. If the graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study is not available, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) is used. When crediting education that requires specific course work the number of hours of related courses required, as a proportion of the total education, is prorated. "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education If substituting education for specialized experience you must submit proof of your qualifying education. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Department of Education Accreditation Search to verify school accreditation. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.DO NOT email or mail in any of your application documents. Documents will not be accepted outside of the online application system. Failure to provide college transcripts may result in a rating of 'Ineligible'. Additional information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE EEO Policy: USAJOBS Center | Equal employment opportunity policy Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement. USAJOBS Center | Reasonable accommodation policy Reasonable Accommodation for USAHire: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here. Veterans Information: USAJOBS Center - Veterans Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Telework: https://www.opm.gov/telework/ Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/ - Who must register: https://www.sss.gov/faq/#who-needs-to-register Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations. BPA strives to ensure a safe and positive work environment. We also understand the importance of work/life balance and offer a variety of programs and policies designed to create more flexible, responsive work environments supportive of commitments to community, home and family members. BPA also supports employees' overall wellness through its Be Well program, which helps employees adopt healthier lifestyles and feel better about their work/life balance. The program supports five key areas of life: career, community, financial, physical and social. Expand Hide  additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.