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SECURITY SPECIALIST (RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM PROTECTION)

Department of Defense
Defense Threat Reduction Agency

Summary

This position is part of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. The incumbent will serves as a Security Specialist supporting Research and Technology Protection and other security programs. Interprets and implements security policy and strategies to support agency operations and develops security programs as assigned.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/18/2026 to 03/04/2026
Salary
$102,415 to - $133,142 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Fort Belvoir, VA
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - This position is an in-person position at facilities located at Fort Belvoir, VA. This position may be eligible for limited, situational telework subject to supervisory approval and not to exceed current Agency guidelines.  This position is not eligible for remote telework.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
DTRA-26-12889314-MP
Control number
857984200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current permanent competitive service Department of Defense (DoD) employees. Veterans eligibilities include Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA). Military Spouse Preference (MSP), Retained Grade Preference (RGP), and Military Reserve and National Guard Technician eligibles may also apply.

Duties

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As a SECURITY SPECIALIST (RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM PROTECTION) at the GS-0080-11/12 some of your typical work assignments may include:

  • Applies knowledge of security fundamentals to identify threats, risks, and vulnerabilities to DTRA's research and technology programs.
  • Conducts research and recommends appropriate risk mitigation measures to DTRA program managers, project officers, and leadership to protect DTRA research and technology programs, projects, and missions.
  • Maintains relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Routinely works with DTRA program managers and project officers to identify requirements and needed security support for research and technology programs, projects, and activities. Develops and sustains rapport with DTRA Research and Development leadership to remain aware of operations, activities, and investments that may require security support. Establishes and conducts regular liaison with members of the research and technology protection community, including security, intelligence, science, law enforcement, and counterintelligence experts to facilitate the sharing of information and to support the DTRA mission.
  • Orally delivers security-related and risk-based presentations and briefings to peers, leaders, senior leaders, higher-level managers, and customers. Routinely offers verbal recommendations and/or solutions related to research and technology protection during meetings, training sessions, and/or strategy sessions.
  • Authors, reviews, and submits risk-based assessments and reports in support of program protection efforts. Routinely prepares memorandums for record to document internal and external meetings related to research and technology protection. Responsible for sending written correspondence to internal and external peers, customers, and stakeholders.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. citizen.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply).
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
  • Work Schedule: Full Time.
  • Overtime: Occasionally.
  • Tour of Duty: Flexible.
  • Recruitment Incentives: May Be Authorized.
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Non-Exempt.
  • Financial Disclosure: Not Required.
  • Telework Eligibility: This position is an in-person position at facilities located at Fort Belvoir, VA. This position may be eligible for limited, situational telework subject to supervisory approval and not to exceed current Agency guidelines.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET/SCI security clearance.
  • Must consent to and pass pre-employment drug testing and be subject to periodic random drug testing thereafter.
  • May be subject to random DoD counterintelligence scope polygraph if assigned to programs or duty locations that have such a requirement.
  • Incumbent must obtain the SPeD Security Fundamentals Professional Certification (SFPC) within 24 months of hire and maintain annual certification thereafter.
  • Must be willing to work overtime during exercise play and real-world crisis.
  • Overtime/compensatory time may be required to accommodate operational needs of the organization.
  • Travel in the performance of temporary assignments, both CONUS and OCONUS, may be required up to 10% of duty time is required.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid passport.

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS-11, if you fulfill the following qualifications:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service:

  • Identifying threats, risks, and vulnerabilities to research and technology programs.
  • Recommending risk mitigation measures to protect research and technology programs.
  • Developing and delivering research and technology protection-related training and awareness presentations/briefings.
  • Establishing and maintaining relationships with security, intelligence, law enforcement, science, and counterintelligence experts to share information and enhance protection of research and technology programs.
  • Authoring, reviewing, and submitting risk-based assessments or reports in support of program protection efforts.; OR
B. A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related,; OR
C. You have some specialized experience as described in A, but less than one year; and you have more than one year but less than two years of education as described in B. You have computed the percentage of the requirements that you meet, and the total is at least 100%. (To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond the first year by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.)

You may qualify at the GS-12, if you fulfill the following qualifications:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service:
  • Assisting in the identification of threats, risks, and vulnerabilities to research and technology programs.
  • Researching risk mitigation measures for inclusion in recommended program protection efforts.
  • Developing and delivering security education, training, and awareness presentations/briefings.
  • Maintaining relationships with security, intelligence, law enforcement, science, and/or counterintelligence experts to share information and enhance protection of research and technology programs.
  • Authoring risk-based assessments or reports in support of program protection efforts for higher-level review.

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

For GS-12: Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

For GS-11: ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims.

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that 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 may be qualifying if a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign education programs has deemed the foreign education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program or a U.S. accredited college or university has given full credit for the foreign courses.

Unofficial transcripts from U.S. Department of Education accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions listing your name, the name of the school, the date and degree awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned are acceptable for the application process. If selected, official transcripts are required before a firm job offer is made. A photocopy of your degree/diploma is not acceptable.

When relying on foreign education, submit transcripts and a copy of the equivalency evaluation results letter with a course-by-course listing. Documents must be in English or include an English translation. The hiring employer for this position does not evaluate degrees from foreign colleges or universities. For further information, visit: Foreign Education

Additional information

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: 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; Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications. and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/register/)

The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews, and once the selection is made, you will receive a notification of the decision.
NOTE: Declining to be interviewed or failure to report for a scheduled interview will be considered as a declination for further consideration for employment against this vacancy.

Selective Service Requirement: Please visit http://www.sss.gov for more information.

For more information, please visit

https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo%2012-1-2020.pdf?ver=ECNbdsHtGilTd3OENN4A0Q%3d%3d

Other Notes:

Incumbent must obtain the SPeD Security Fundamentals Professional Certification (SFPC) within 24 months of hire and maintain annual certification thereafter.
Re-employed Annuitant: This position Does Not meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at:
https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf

Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level).

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Occupational Questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

Competencies:

  • Customer Service
  • Oral Communication
  • Risk Management
  • Writing


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 AND 2) be rated well-qualified for the position AND 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. Well-qualified means you possess the type and quality of experience that exceeds the position's minimum qualifications.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) DoD Retained Grade Preference (RGP): To receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the (RGP) eligibility. If you are claiming RGP and are determined to be Well Qualified for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager as a priority applicant.

Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible (PPP DoD MRNG):In order to receive this preference, you must choose the (PPP DoD MRNG) eligibility, and fill out and submit the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist and copies of the appropriate documentation.

Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) (PPP MSP): In order to receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the(MSP) (PPP MSP) eligibility. If you are claiming MSP (PPP MSP) and are determined to be Well Qualified (score of 85 or above) for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager as a priority applicant.

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