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Security Specialist (Protective Force)

Department of Energy
National Nuclear Security Administration
Livermore Field Office

Summary

This position is part of the NNSA - Livermore Field Office, Department of Energy. A successful candidate in this position will serve as Security Specialist (Protective Force), executing safeguard and security operations at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory performing as a member of a team, as well as independently.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/22/2026 to 05/01/2026
Salary
$77,161 - $145,468 per year
Pay scale & grade
NQ 2
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Livermore, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
3
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Q Access Authorization
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
26-NA-LL-XE-00460-DEU
Control number
866157400

Duties

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As a Security Specialist (Protective Force), you will:

  • Participate in inspections, surveillances, surveys, vulnerability assessments (VA) and development of site-specific safeguards and/or security plans (SSSP or SSP) for field offices, Research and Development laboratories and industrial security operations and activities where sensitive/restricted data and sensitive, compartment defense and national security information and/or special nuclear material is located.
  • Assist in evaluating the effectiveness of existing security practices; recommends the type of control requirements, procedures, facilities, and safeguards that are needed; assures that federal and contractor personnel are adhering to established policy and practices; and recommends appropriate action to correct deficiencies.
  • Perform a variety of security assignments in support of higher-level security specialists, applying a fundamental knowledge of physical, industrial, nuclear and/or information security, policies, guidelines, standards, and procedures including national defense and security regulations, DOE/NNSA orders and interagency National Industrial Security Program guidelines.
  • Assist in evaluating the effectiveness of existing security practices; recommends the type of control requirements, procedures, facilities, and safeguards that are needed; assures that federal and contractor personnel are adhering to established policy and practices; and recommends appropriate action to correct deficiencies.
  • Provide advisory assistance and technical guidance to site office staff and representatives of the Management and Operating (M&O) Contractors on the interpretation and application of security, policies, guidelines, standards and procedures.
  • Apply a variety of analytical methods and techniques such as selecting, organizing, and presenting factual information; analyzing the applicability of established or alternative approaches to problems of moderate difficulty or complexity.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a United States Citizen.
  • This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
  • Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
  • Compliance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12) governing personal identity which will require that you provide two forms of identification.
  • May be required to successfully complete a one (1) year probationary period. Employees serving on a probationary may be terminated at any time during the probationary for performance, conduct, or business-related reasons in the interest of Federal service
  • Subject to Random Drug Testing.
  • Must pass a pre-employment drug test.
  • Favorable suitability determination required.
  • Must be able to obtain/maintain a Q level Security Clearance.
  • Must be able to obtain certification in the DOE's Technical Qualification Program (TQP) within 18 months of start date. This position is covered by the Technical Qualification Program (TQP), which requires the incumbent to acquire and demonstrate competencies identified in the TQP Functional Area Qualification and Field Office specific standards and requires certification of the competencies by NNSA supervision and TQP qualifying officials. https://www.energy.gov/ehss/downloads/technical-qualification-program-accreditation-incentives-memorandum-nnsa
  • Please limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. If more than two pages are submitted, you will be disqualified.
Probationary periods are required for new employees appointed to competitive service positions for the first time; or reinstated employees who return to Federal service after a break in service of 30-days or more and who have not completed a probationary period will need to complete the requirement.

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA Demonstration Project pay band or GS grade level in the Federal service, i.e., NQ-01 or GS-07/08. Specialized experience for this position is defined as applying knowledge of security principles, concepts and methodologies to assigned areas of responsibility; organizing and presenting information on security operations related to improving security systems, procedures, or guidelines; and participating as a member of a security team conducting inspections and surveillance in areas containing sensitive/restricted data and/or property.

OR
Master's or equivalent graduate degree
OR
2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree
OR
A combination of education and experience

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section. If you are eligible for career transition assistance plans such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the definition of "well qualified" which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

EDUCATION: Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

**If you are selected, official transcripts will be required.

**FOREIGN EDUCATION: Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. A written evaluation of any foreign education must be provided with your application in response to this vacancy announcement or be received by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to provide this evaluation will result in you being found unqualified for the position. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education, see the Department of Education website, and for a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, visit The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. Please Note: If your foreign education has already been accepted by an accredited U.S. educational institution as part of a degree program with that institution, you do not need to provide an evaluation of foreign education but must submit a copy of the transcripts listing the degree from the U.S. accredited institution that accepted your foreign education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Additional information

  • Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website.
  • If you believe that you are eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), please visit the OPM ICTAP/CTAP website for more information. In order to be considered under the ICTAP program, your application must score within the pre-established "well qualified" category as stated in the Qualifications section.
  • More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.
  • All positions require successful completion of a background investigation.
  • All males born after December 31,1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.
  • A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified applicant in accordance with Agency policy and applicable regulations.
  • In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to the four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answers to these questions are not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration.
EEO Policy: Click HERE.
Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Click HERE.
Veterans Information: Click HERE.
Telework: Click HERE.
Selective Service Registration: Click HERE.

Information about the NNSA Demonstration project can be found by clicking HERE.

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 APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS WILL BE IN TWO STAGES:

Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Office will review the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications identified above.

Structured Interview: A structured interview is an assessment method designed to measure job-related competencies of candidates by systematically inquiring about their behavior in past experiences and/or their proposed behavior in hypothetical situations. Applicants who meet the qualification requirements will be invited to participate in a structured interview to be conducted by a Subject Matter Expert panel, who will assign a score for each of the required Competencies listed below, based on responses to the interview questions. Applicants will be placed in one of three categories. Those applicants scoring the highest will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.

The quality categories are usually defined as "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified" and "Qualified". Veterans Preference eligible candidates will be listed at the top of whichever category your score places you in. CP/CPS veterans are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except professional and scientific positions at GS-9 and higher.

Additional documentation (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) may not be considered.

Your application and resume shall demonstrate that you possess the following Competencies. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your application how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the Competencies identified below. Cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. DO NOT write "see resume" in your application.

  • Communication
  • Security
  • Technical Competence


If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified'.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the link below.
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12941482

National Nuclear Security Administration

This position is located at the Livermore Field Office (LFO). Livermore Field Office manages the contract for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), which conducts operations in support of national security including nuclear weapons stockpile management, ensuring the safety and reliability of the nuclear weapons stockpile and its maintenance, nuclear non-proliferation activities, energy research, and advances in science and technology.

Agency contact information

Crystal Wells
Email
crystal.wells@nnsa.doe.gov
Address
NNSA - Livermore Field Office
24600 20th St SE
Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5507
US

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