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Security Specialist

Department of State
Department of State - Agency Wide

Summary

This position is in the Excepted Service under U.S.C. 50 § 3024(v) and appointments are made without regard to the requirements of the Competitive Service by laws, Executive order, or OPM regulations.

This position is located in the Front Office of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR/FO) & is responsible for assisting the Senior Security Advisor, as the Assistant Secretary's designated Determination Authority, in adjudicating Sensitive Compartmented Information access determinations.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply in 3 days
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 17, 2026
Location
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—As per agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$121,785 - $158,322 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Promotion potential
13
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
S/INR-EXC-2026-0025
Control number
876037800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

U.S. Department of State career or career conditional status employees in the competitive service and excepted service; employees who are on temporary or other non-status appointments who have reinstatement or non-competitive eligibility for a competitive service appointment (e.g., tenured Foreign Service employees, employees on an excepted service appointment at the USUN who have previous career status, etc.)

Duties

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  • Responsible for coordinating all Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access requests between the Head of the Intelligence Element (HOICE) within INR and the Diplomatic Security Office of Personnel Security and Suitability.
  • Recommend SCI access approvals, suspensions, or terminations to the Determination Authority.
  • Establish and maintain a secure document control system to ensure the accountability and control of designated SCI materials.
  • Advise agency senior leadership on highly sensitive security, operational, and personnel matters.
  • Participate in analyzing Intelligence Community (IC) directives governing the protection of intelligence information, SCI, and intelligence sources and methods.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
  • Obtain/maintain eligibility to access Sensitive Compartmented Information

Qualifications

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

  • Experience implementing Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security programs, adjudicating access determinations, and making approval and disapproval recommendations.
  • Experience ensuring the proper handling and protection of highly classified materials in accordance with applicable agency and Diplomatic Security policies and procedures. 
  • Experience providing guidance to agency personnel, senior leadership, and interagency partners on Sensitive Compartmented Information.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

Additional information

  • For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at OAA@state.gov. 
  • If eligible, situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. 
  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days.
  • Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.

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.

For this announcement, all applicants will be assessed to determine if they meet the qualifications for this position, specifically the education, specialized experience, and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) necessary to perform the work of the position. All applications that meet the required qualifications and determined to be best-qualified will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview.

Your resume limited to two pages serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following KSAs and other characteristics that are relevant to the duties of this position and must be fully supported by information in your resume:

  • Knowledge of secure document control systems.
  • Skill in coordinating SCI access requests between stakeholders and interagency partners.
  • Ability to analyze emerging threats and develop security programs.
  • Knowledge of Intelligence Community Directives.
  • Skill in developing SCI security education and programs.
  • Ability to represent the organization before senior leadership and defend security policies.

Veterans:  Although consideration of Veterans’ Preference is not required under 50 U.S.C. § 30240(v) to the extent it would be under the competitive service; the Department of State considers veterans' preference as a positive factor in the hiring process.


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Department of State - Agency Wide

The U.S. Department of State, our country’s lead foreign policy agency, provides employees with a dynamic international career whether at home or abroad and unique professional development opportunities.  Each day, our employees make a difference as they advance the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity, through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance.  We embrace our talented workforce which reflects the personal, professional, and educational strengths of our country. 

Named one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes, we offer a workplace that values and rewards leadership, collaboration, innovation, and personal and professional development. Visit careers.state.gov to learn more about what it's like to work at the U.S. Department of State, what the agency does, the wide range of careers this agency offers, and the benefits available to employees.

Agency contact information

Imani A. Taylor
Phone
000-000-0000
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
Tayloria@state.gov
Address
U.S. Department of State
Not accepting applications by Mail
Charleston, South Carolina 29405
United States

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