Personnel Security Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security Office of Personnel Security and Suitability Investigations Division (DS/PSS/INV) which is responsible for opening investigations performing adjudication of routine cases and escalating cases to the Adjudications Division for review of more complex cases. This position analyzes information applying national adjudicative criteria and grants interim security clearances public trust determinations and final security clearances.

Duties

• Use analytical skills and knowledge of the Thirteen Adjudicative Guidelines to formally refer cases of higher complexity to the appropriate office for further consideration.
• Conduct investigations and evaluate results for compliance with prescribed standards and criteria ensuring sufficiency of coverage of often complex and controversial investigative information.
• Prepare evaluations of investigations against national level criteria for investigative sufficiency and for suitability/security adjudication.
• Review Presidential appointee cases including adverse information which may have been developed by the investigation and refer the case for concurrence.
• Analyze information applying national adjudicative criteria and grants interim security clearances public trust determinations and final security clearances.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities visit: must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement.

  NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

  Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions per 5CFR 300 Subpart F.

  Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

  Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

  • Experience conducting personnel security/suitability adjudicative assessments by evaluating background information from a variety of sources and reports.
  • Experience preparing evaluations of background investigations for investigative sufficiency and for suitability/security adjudication.
  • Experience analyzing background investigative information and applying adjudicative criteria to make recommendations concerning the issuance of security clearances or public trust certification.

  There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position.

  Education

  Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

  Additional information

  • To request a reasonable accommodation foradditionaltime on thetimed sections of theassessment pleasesubmityour request using the Request a Reasonable Accommodation button within theAssessment Application.

    Forall otherreasonable accommodationsat the U.S. Department of State please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations(OAA)at .

    OAAis responsible forreviewing andadjudicatingreasonable accommodation(RA)requests for the Assessment Battery being usedfor this following applies to all RA requests:

    • RA requestscoveradditionaltime on timed sections only.

    • Applicantssubmittinga RA request MUST attach supporting medical documentation signed by a licensed treatingmedical provider. The documentation should describe the nature severity and expected duration of the conditionidentifythe relevant medical condition or diagnosis and explain the basis for the requested extension. RA requests that do notcontainsupporting medical documentation attachmentsatthetime ofinitialrequest may be subject to further review.

    • Note:the following documents do not on their own qualify for automatic approval oftheRA request:Schedule A letters VA benefits lettersorSSA letters.

    • Applicants MUSTsubmittheir application before the vacancy closes even if pending anaccommodationdecision.

    • Applicants are encouraged to carefully follow instructions related to medical documentation provided in the vacancy announcement prior to beginning the RA process.

    • Applicants will have 48 hours after their RA request isadjudicatedto complete the assessment generated after the allottedtimeframewill not be admissible and the applicant will not be considered further for the vacancy.

    • If a different type of RA is needed please contact OAA directly at .

  • If eligible situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval.
  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days and may require a higher or lower security clearance. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.
  • Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP):View OPMs CTAP & ICTAP eligibilitywebsite for more information. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority be considered Well-Qualified applicants must: score an85 or above meet Minimum Qualifications and demonstrateproficiencyin some but notall major aspects of the position.

  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.

Required Experience:

IC