Clarification from the agency

United States Citizens. If you are a current or former federal employee or are eligible under a special hiring authority (VEOA, Schedule A, etc.), you may be eligible to apply under the concurrently advertised merit promotion vacancy announcement: OFO-2026-0006.

APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 150 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 150th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first.  

We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application.

As a Personnel Security Specialist, GS-0080-09/11, you will be responsible for:

• Ensuring timely and accurate input of case data into all appropriate databases reflecting current status of actions involving public trust and national security positions.
• Ensuring requested investigations will meet the individual's Position Designation and all appropriate documentation has been provided before releasing to National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB).
• Responding to problems or questions regarding the personnel security program, and reviewing appropriate e-QIP forms and Request for Personnel Security Services packages submitted for processing.
• Reviewing security forms to identify the presence or absence of derogatory information, evaluating the impact of various kinds of derogatory information on the granting, denying, or revoking of security clearances and federal employment eligibility.
• Making Entry On Duty determinations for Department of Education employees, detailees, appointees and contractor information.
• Rejecting requests for investigations and return documents to the requesters when the information provided is inadequate for case processing.
• Analyzing reports of investigation, provide a written outline of the issues and any mitigating factors affecting the issues, and provide recommendations for appropriate action.
• Preparing correspondence to subjects of investigation identifying the reason(s) for any unfavorable personnel security or suitability action, provide to supervisor or senior adjudicator for review, and finalize for supervisor's signature. Reviewing rebuttals and make recommendations for final decision.

Conditions of employment

• Relocation will not be paid.
• You may be subject to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Must be a US Citizen.
• Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Must Complete a Background Investigation and Fingerprint check.

Condition of Employment:

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a probationary period or trial 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 OR trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy 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. We will consider all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements
You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-09, if you possess the specialize experience, education, or a combination of the two.

Specialized Experience for the GS-09
One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-07 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:
1.  Experience using personnel security databases and investigative processing systems to input, review, and maintain case data; verify completeness and accuracy of investigative packages; and ensure compliance with personnel security laws, regulations, policies, and procedures through intake and adjudicative processes.
2.  Experience reviewing and evaluating personnel security and suitability information, including background investigations, criminal history, fingerprint results, and arrest and disposition data in order to identify issues, assess risk, applying mitigating factors, and making or supporting determinations affecting national security eligibility or federal employment suitability.
3.  Experience preparing concise, well supported written analyses and official correspondence related to personnel security actions, including case summaries, letters of interrogatory, eligibility notifications, adverse action notices, and responses to inquiries or appeals, in coordination with supervisory or senior-level review. 

Specialized Experience for the GS-11
One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-07 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:
1.  Experience analyzing personnel security and suitability cases involving multiple issues, i.e., unfavorable determination, investigations, or providing a written recommendation.
2.  Experience preparing written correspondence of investigations identifying the reason(s) of unfavorable personnel security or suitability, in accordance with applicable Executive Orders, the Privacy Act, and other guidance and legislation concerning national security information.
3.  Experience applying analytical techniques in order to apply the technical requirements of the security programs to a variety of security related problems and issues.

OR

EDUCATION (see EDUCATION SECTION of the vacancy announcement)

OR

A combination of both education and experience in which the total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level.

How you will be evaluated

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

We use a multi-step process to review and evaluate applicants:

1. Eligibility and Minimum Qualifications

Once the vacancy announcement closes, we will review your submitted resume and documents to determine if you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, including any required education, experience, and/or selective placement factors. You will be rated as ineligible if you are outside of the area of consideration (i.e., who may apply) or your application is missing any required documents. You will be rated as not qualified if you do not possess the minimum qualification requirements.

2. Rating and Ranking

If you are found to meet both the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, we will assess the quality of your experience and the extent to which you possess the required KSAs by comparing your submitted resume and documents against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. Your application may be referred to a subject matter expert or panel of subject matter experts for further evaluation. Based on the outcome of this evaluation, you will be placed into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. If your responses to the occupational questionnaire are not substantiated by your submitted resume, you may be eliminated from receiving further consideration. Veterans’ Preference: Qualified veterans’ preference eligibles will be ranked ahead of qualified non-preference eligibles within each category for which they are qualified. Qualified veterans’ preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more (CPS and CP) will be placed at the top of the Best Qualified category, except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 grade level or higher.

Based on the outcome of this evaluation candidates will be assigned a numerical score out of a possible 100 and be placed into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified.  The three categories are defined below:

Best-Qualified Category – Applicants who have a score between 95 and 100.  Demonstrates better overall or key knowledge, skills, or abilities for a specific position.

Well-Qualified Category – Applicants who have a score between 85 and 94.99.  Possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities which clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position but does not necessarily meet the definition of best qualified.

Qualified Category – Applicants who have a score between 70 and 84.99. Meets the minimum qualification standards for a specific position.

3. Referral and Selection

If you are found to be amongst the most highly qualified applicants, you will be referred to the selecting official. As part of the assessment and selection process, the selecting official may invite you to participate in a structured interview, check your references, and/or request that you submit a writing sample or complete a written assessment or exercise to further evaluate your qualifications for this position. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the interview process or written assessment or exercise, please inform the selecting official at the time of scheduling.