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Adjudicator - Entry to Mid Level (Maryland)

Department of Defense
National Security Agency/Central Security Service

Summary

Adjudicators ensure a trusted workforce by providing timely and efficient decisions to determine an individual's eligibility for initial or continued access to NSA classified information. Decisions are based on information developed through Reports of Polygraph Examination, Reports of Investigation, continuous evaluation programs and various other investigative/analytical resources per the criteria established in Intelligence Community Directive 704 (ICD 704).

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/13/2026 to 04/14/2026
Salary
$57,736 - $133,142 per year
Pay scale & grade
GG 7 - 12
Location
many vacancies in the following location:
Fort Meade, MD
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
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
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
1256288
Control number
864887400

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Duties

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Security and Counterintelligence is responsible for the protection of NSA/CSS information, people and facilities worldwide. In support of this mission, Adjudicators are responsible for ensuring a trusted workforce by providing timely and efficient decisions to determine an individual's eligibility for initial or continued access to NSA classified information, to include evaluating candidates sponsored by the military or external agencies for access to NSA operational areas. Adjudicators work in a myriad of offices within Security and Counterintelligence and their responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

- Conducting security adjudicative administrative processes - Conducting the security adjudicative analytic and risk mitigation process
- Coordinating the security clearance process, including vetting, approval, denial, and access control
- Making security clearance determinations in accordance with DOD, IC, and NSA/CSS personnel security regulations, principles, and processes
- Evaluating reports of investigations, interpreting, and applying adjudicative guidelines to formulate a recommended course of action consistent with relevant Executive Orders, OPM, Department of Justice, and NSA related to security/suitability determinations
- Corroborating or mitigating serious derogatory information
- Reviewing case files of all relevant materials pertaining to a case including all paperwork, any other source materials, and the opinions of other relevant/investigative personnel
- Reviewing investigative documents to identify discrepancies, inconsistencies, and areas potentially requiring clarification or additional investigation
- Reviewing internal records to determine if there are any open internal cases which may be related to affiliate's background investigation
- Determining if additional inquiries are necessary to resolve discrepant, negative, or contradictory information
- Retrieving data from credit bureaus, requesting Local Agency checks, reviewing reports to determine criminal records or traffic violations
- Reviewing adjudicative determinations of other personnel security professionals (e.g., polygraphers, security information specialists, counterintelligence investigators)
- Reviewing and verifying information submitted on applications/Personnel Security Questionnaires

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required for all applicants. NSA is an equal opportunity employer and abides by applicable employment laws and regulations. All applicants and employees are subject to random drug testing in accordance with Executive Order 12564.

Qualifications

ENTRY/DEVELOPMENTAL
Entry is with a high school diploma or GED plus 4 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's degree plus 2 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree and no experience. FULL

PERFORMANCE
Entry is with a high school diploma or GED plus 7 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's degree plus 5 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree plus 3 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 1 year of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree and no experience.

Education

The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position.

Degree in any field is acceptable.

Relevant experience must be in one or more of the following: adjudication, personnel security, physical security, counterintelligence, anti-terrorism force protection, analysis, investigation, or auditing.

Additional information

Pay: Salary offers are based on candidates' education level and years of experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager/organization regarding the work level for the position.

Salary Range: $57,736 - $133,142 (Entry/Developmental, Full Performance)
Salary range varies by location, work level, and relevant experience to the position.

Training will be provided based on the selectee's needs and experience.
Benefits: NSA offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Work Schedule: This is a full-time position, Monday - Friday, with basic 8hr/day work requirement between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (flexible). Core hours are 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m..

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.

The ideal candidate has a desire for continual learning with excellent problem-solving, analytic, and interpersonal skills who is:
- A strong written and oral communicator
- Able to work as an individual and in team environment
- Capable of making independent decisions or recommendations
- Well-organized, able to handle multiple assignments and prioritize work
- Focused on customer needs
- Able to use basic office tools and functions, such as Microsoft Products (Word, Excel, Outlook)
- Able to lift 20lbs
- Preference is given to applicants with a DoD Adjudicator Professional Certification (APC)

National Security Agency/Central Security Service

Agency contact information

NSA POC

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at National Security Agency/Central Security Service, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.nsa.gov/careers/

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