Security Specialist

Summary The position is located in the Security Policy, Appeals, & Performance Oversight Office (SPA&PO), Security Enterprise Services Directorate (SESD), Washington Headquarters Services (WHS). SPA&PO performs personnel security adjudication, security clearance appeal, administration, and policy functions for the Defense Agencies and Field Activities ( collectively referred to as the 4th Estate) falling under the purview of the Director of Administration and Management (DA&M). Responsibilities Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following: Directs the workflow of the Personnel Security Appeals Board (PSAB), reviewing and evaluating highly complex personnel security investigations, adjudicative decisions, counterintelligence reports, and criminal investigations to determine eligibility for national security sensitive positions and access to classified information. Serves as a recognized security authority and liaison, interpreting and applying current security regulations to conduct adjudicative coordination with internal stakeholders, other government agencies, and private organizations, while ensuring the strict custody and protection of active and archived adjudicative files. Collaborates with leadership to develop and refine security policy, identifying and resolving complex discrepancies, evaluating program effectiveness against organizational goals, and devising new methods and procedures to solve critical security and operational problems. Leads strategic automation and business planning initiatives, managing the design, conversion, and implementation of manual and automated record-keeping systems (including case file digitization), while utilizing tools like PowerBI and GenAI to track Directorate performance and identify operational trends. Develops and delivers comprehensive executive correspondence and oral presentations, preparing briefings, training sessions, and strategy consultations to secure cooperation, resolve controversial matters, and convey clear, data-driven security program options to leadership and interagency customers. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Mission Essential: Mission essential employees may be required to report for, or remain at, work in dismissal or closure situations due to adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, or other emergency situations ( e.g., building closure due to power outage) causing disruptions of government operations, and are required to maintain contact with their supervisor during any dismissal or closure situation unless specifically excused by their supervisor. In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements described below. You may qualify at the GS-14 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to: Evaluating and resolving personnel security investigations containing significant adverse suitability or security information to determine eligibility for access to classified information and national security sensitive positions. Formulating security program policies and directives with senior leadership, while leading the implementation of automated systems or data tools (e.g., PowerBI) to track metrics and optimize workflows. Serving as a technical security authority by delivering executive briefings, strategic correspondence, and/or oral presentations to senior leadership, interagency partners, or formal appeals boards to resolve controversial security matters. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. Your resume may not exceed two (2) pages. For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration. Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission.. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible". Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave. Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office. Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. Education Education cannot be substituted for experience. Additional Information Probationary Periods: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: 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. Reemployed Annuitants: Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants (DODI 1400.25, volume 300). Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative. Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.