Personnel Security Specialist

Summary This position is located in the Office of Security at the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA). The Agency is responsible for creating and maintaining coherent and effective programs that increase public safety, prevent crime, reduce recidivism, and support the fair administration of justice. The Office of Security is responsible for ensuring that all personnel have obtained a favorable background investigation and other effective security programs are implemented at CSOSA. Learn more about this agency Duties Review and evaluate background investigations, security questionnaires, and supporting documentation to identify discrepancies, assess the completeness of investigative information, and determine whether additional inquiry or adjudicative action is required. Apply personnel security policies, regulations, and adjudicative guidelines to analyze derogatory or conflicting information, develop recommendations, and support suitability, fitness, or credentialing determinations in accordance with federal standards. Conduct follow-up inquiries, request supplemental documentation, and coordinate with applicants, investigators, or supervisors to resolve issues identified during the review of investigative files or security forms. Use automated personnel security and credentialing systems to track case progress, validate data accuracy, process investigations or clearances, and ensure compliance with established timelines and procedural requirements. Perform HSPD-12 credentialing functions, including identity-proofing, fingerprinting, enrollment, and issuance or maintenance of PIV credentials, ensuring adherence to federal identity management requirements. Requirements Conditions of employment Must be a U.S. Citizen or National Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable Background security investigation, drug test, and favorable adjudication May be required to successfully complete a one year probationary period (unless already completed). All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments directly deposited into a financial institution of their choosing. CSOSA uses E-Verify, if you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System. Bargaining Unit Status: Not Eligible This is not a virtual or remote position; you must live within or be willing to relocate within a commutable distance of the duty location in Washington D.C. Qualifications You may qualify at the GS-11 level, if you fulfill one of the following qualification requirements: A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates your ability to provide guidance to employees, applicants, or supervisors on personnel security requirements, documentation, and processes to ensure compliance with federal security and credentialing standards, review and evaluate background investigations to identify issues and determine suitability or fitness, apply personnel security and adjudicative guidelines to resolve discrepancies and make or recommend determinations, and use personnel security systems and performing HSPD-12 credentialing functions, including identity-proofing, fingerprinting, and PIV processing. OR B. Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or successful completion of three (3) full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position. Examples of qualifying fields include security studies, criminal justice, intelligence, homeland security, public administration, or cybersecurity. OR C. A combination of education and experience as listed above. Qualifying experience is converted to a percentage of the required experience and education is converted to a percentage of the required education. When the two percentages add up to at least 100 percent, the minimum qualification requirements can be met. NOTE: Transcripts are required for all claimed education. 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. Education ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html Additional information Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: 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 RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA 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, based on your adjudication decision. 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 RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/28980686389652-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information) If you are an eligible Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicant, you may apply for special selection over other applicants for this position. Individuals who have special priority selection rights under the CTAP or ICTAP must be well qualified for the position. To be well qualified, applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and meet the mid-level (scoring between 85 and 89) of the rating criteria for all factors or the established cutoff score. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice; a "Notice of Personnel Action" (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456. Additional information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. This vacancy announcement may be used to fill future vacancies for identical positions within the next year. Relocation expenses are not authorized. Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered. You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position. CSOSA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. 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.