Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens, lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) eligibles and Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) employees.

The selectee will serve as a Personnel Security Specialist in the Office of Security, Personnel Security Vetting Division. Typical work assignments include:

• Performing security duties as it relates to the Personnel Security Program. Providing technical assistance to applicable stakeholders regarding personnel security (i.e., security questionnaires, accounts, and verification/validation and resolution of personnel security clearance issues).
• Assisting with organizing and prioritizing voluminous amounts of information in a systematic approach by identifying information in an effective and efficient manner. Assisting senior specialists in maintaining accurate class rosters and supporting the Personnel Security Program.
• Using judgment and tact to explain sensitive issues and reconciles conflicting viewpoints with employees and supervisors.
• Utilizing systems to manage the processing of security clearances such as receipt of security documents, recording of security interview, authorization of polygraph (if required), initiation of background investigation, adjudication of investigation findings; accessing information and managing the process of contractors gaining access to various facilities and IT access.

Apply for this exciting opportunity to impact the administration of personnel security policies and procedures for the United States Secret Service. This Personnel Security Specialist position starts at a salary of $57,736.00, GS-07, step 1, with promotion potential to $158,322.00, GS-13 step 10.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.

If selected for this position, you will be required to:

• Obtain and maintain a Top Secret Tier 5 clearance. For more information visit OPM Mythbuster Page.
• Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
• Submit a credit check after a conditional offer of employment has been accepted.

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.

Qualifications

To be considered qualified for this position you must meet the following qualification requirements for the respective grade level in which you are applying.

You qualify for the GS-07 level (starting salary $57,736.00) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level performing duties such as:

• Gathering and/or organizing information for use in reports to various stakeholders.
• Utilizing automated systems to maintain records of information for use in processing investigative activities.
• Assisting in the completion of routine personnel security actions such as reviewing documentation to process security clearances.

OR

• One full year of graduate level education at an accredited or pre-accredited college or university.

OR

• Superior Academic Achievement. To be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above. Superior Academic Achievement is based on: (1) Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses, OR (2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR (3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achsnatl.org/).

OR

• A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position if the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages.

You qualify for the GS-09 level (starting salary $70,623.00) if you possess one of the following:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level performing duties such as:

• Reviewing security documents submitted by applicants, employees, and contractors in accordance with guidelines ensuring all background information is complete.
• Processing security clearances.
• Utilizing automated systems to retrieve information, conduct local records checks, and monitor reports generated from security databases.
• Providing and explaining security related information to stakeholders.
• Assisting in making security clearance adjudications, suitability determinations and recommendations.

OR

• Master's or equivalent graduate degree, LL.B., or J.D. or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

OR

• A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position if the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages.

The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

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.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. 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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

This announcement is being filled using the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Direct-Hire Authority. Agencies may appoint candidates directly to jobs, without regard to the provisions of Title 5 U.S.C.3309 through 3318. Therefore, Veterans' preference does not apply when appointing individuals. For more information on Direct Hire Authority please visit: Direct Hire Authority.

Applicants who meet the specialized experience for the position will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration. Traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to the announcement.

Veterans: Although the Direct Hire Authority permits hiring without regard to Veterans Preference, applicants who are eligible for Veterans Preference are encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (See Required Documents section for information on substantiating documents).

Upon review, your resume and/or supporting documents need to support your answer choices to the assessment questionnaire. Your resume must also reflect the one year of specialized experience requirement, in order to be considered. If the one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the next lower grade level cannot be identified in your resume, you will be considered not qualified. The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are:

• Manages and Organizes Information
• Personnel Security and Safety
• Technical Competence
• Written Communication

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the Federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under ICTAP, you must be placed in the well-qualified category for this position, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

An interview may be required for this position. If an interview is required, failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.