Join our team as a Personnel Security Specialist. In this role you will verify the authenticity of personnel background information, support the full lifecycle of HSPD-12 credentials, analyzing information from multiple sources, applying adjudicative criteria to make informed recommendations on public trust certifications for employees, contractors, and applicants. If you're mission-focused, detail-oriented, and ready to make a meaningful impact, then this job is for you!
Summary
Join our team as a Personnel Security Specialist. In this role you will verify the authenticity of personnel background information, support the full lifecycle of HSPD-12 credentials, analyzing information from multiple sources, applying adjudicative criteria to make informed recommendations on public trust certifications for employees, contractors, and applicants. If you're mission-focused, detail-oriented, and ready to make a meaningful impact, then this job is for you!
Manage the HSPD-12 program for the Agency, ensuring that employee PIV cards are ordered, issued, and kept up-to-date. Schedule appointments with employees and applicants to complete initiation and activations processes and to update certificates.
Ensure that applicant and employee fingerprints are submitted through the required systems and review and submit results.
Perform work as assigned by Personnel Security Officer, entering information into automated systems to initiate investigations and ensuring proper documentation is submitted by applicants for public trust investigations.
Support the Personnel Security Officer in developing, evaluating, maintaining, and/or operating systems, policies, devices, procedures and methods used for the processing of public trust investigations.
Support Personnel Security Officer with executing security reports and other security requirements.
Explain personnel security policies and procedures to employees and managers. Train and update the OHCM employees as needed on personnel security processes.
Coordinate the issuance of Agency credentials, communicate and implement established procedures.
Identify the need for new or revised procedures. Recommend approaches and draft proposed new or revised procedures. Assure accuracy, adequacy and consistency with other agency-wide procedures through coordination with OHCM and other cognizant PSA staff.
Use a variety of automated systems to process actions, track and control information and produce reports. Define system problems or improvements and work with information technology staff to resolve problems, or upgrade or implement new systems.
Serve as back-up to the PSA Drug Free Workplace Coordinator. Schedule and coordinate drug testing dates, compose and send instructional guidance regarding testing to randomly selected employees and work in conjunction with CSOSA Drug Free Workplace Coordinator.
Bargaining Unit Status and Chapter: Not Covered, AFGE Local1456
This is not a law enforcement position.
A candidate appointed at a lower grade level may be promoted up to the full performance level without further competition.
This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
Conditions of Employment
1. Must be a U.S. Citizen
2. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
3. Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
4. May be required to successfully complete a probationary period, if not already completed
5. All applicants are subject to a comprehensive criminal background investigation, and required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment
6. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice
7. Status applicants for promotion must have 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade
8. Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the close of this announcement.
9. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, you must meet the specialized experience requirements below.
To qualify at the GS-11 level: you must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience related to the duties of the position comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as analyzing and evaluating the authenticity of personnel data, providing credentialing services that includes enrollment, certificate updates, maintaining and terminating HSPD-12 credentials in support of personnel administrative and security systems/services for badge issuance to various applicants, employee, contractor security processing
Substitution of Education for Experience for GS-11: Three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or LL.M., if related.
To qualify for the GS-12 grade level, you must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience related to the duties of the position that was comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as conducting personnel security/suitability adjudicative assessments by evaluating background information from a variety of sources and reports, analyzing background investigative information, and applying adjudicative criteria to make recommendations concerning the issuance of public trust certification.
NOTE: Your resume must clearly show the specialized experience related to this position. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the experience requirements will result in an "Ineligible" rating.
Education
There is an education substitution for specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level.
There is no education substitution for specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level.
Additional information
1. If you are an eligible Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicant or Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) applicant, you may apply for special selection over other applicants for this position. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible displaced Federal/PSA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified, you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. Click here for more information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility.
2. If you are a current career or career-conditional Federal employee or former Federal employee who has reinstatement eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" and/or a copy of the SF-50 that reflects career or career-conditional tenure, or you will not be considered under the merit promotion process. Also, you should submit your most recent performance appraisal.
3. Veterans' Employment Opportunities Act of 1998: Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after 3 years or more of continuous active duty service may apply. If you are applying under this provision, please submit a copy of your DD-214 (unedited long version).
4. You can apply for a non-competitive appointment if you meet the basic eligibility requirements and you are eligible for special appointment such as those authorized for the severely disabled; certain Vietnam era and disabled veterans; returned volunteers from the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps Vista , etc. Please indicate the type of special appointment you are seeking, if any, on your application and follow all other instructions for applying shown in this announcement.
5. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review in our office, in other Federal agency personnel offices, and on OPM's web site at OPM Qualification Standards.
6. In accordance with Executive Order 14170 and the Merit Hiring Plan guidance issued by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, applicants for this position are invited to respond to four essay questions. These questions are designed to provide you with an opportunity to share your commitment to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution, as well as your dedication to public service. While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. Click here to review the questionshttps://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13029529.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your rating will be based on your responses to the job specific information provided in your resume. Your resume must clearly show how you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities will result in a rating of "Qualified" by the rating panel.
1. Knowledge of the principles, concepts and techniques of security programs relating to personnel security administration in the Federal sector.
2. Ability to conduct investigations relating to personnel security and suitability programs, analyze facts, and prepare reports.
3.Skill in oral communications required to collect and provide information relating to background investigations, suitability and personnel security clearances and skill in written communications required to develop a variety of documents, reports, and operating procedures.
Once the application process is completed, your application will be reviewed to ensure you meet the job requirements. You will be evaluated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training, job- related awards and supervisory appraisal of performance. If you meet the basic qualification requirements, your resume will be forwarded to a panel for rating. Category Rating will be used to evaluate applicants using the following categories to further determine which applicants will be referred to the selecting official for final consideration.
Best Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a superior level on all evaluation criteria.
Well Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a satisfactory level on evaluation criteria.
Qualified: Applicants possessing the specialized experience described above.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your Resume listing hours worked per week, salary, dates of employment and duties performed. Only resumes up to a total of 2 pages will be accepted. Applicants with resumes exceeding 2 pages will be removed from consideration. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.
2. Other supporting documents:
College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education. Transcripts must include the school's name, student name, degree and date awarded, if applicable. (Note: If you are selected for the position, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day).
Most recent SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held (if applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service). (Award Notification of Personnel Actions are not acceptable)
DD-214 (member 4 copy) showing honorable discharge, SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities
Non-competitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable
Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent appointment
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation, must include the following:
SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action, position, grade level, and duty location; and
Most recent performance appraisal
Certification of Expected Separation or Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice or Notice of Proposed Removal may also be submitted
ICTAP Applicants: To be considered under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP), applicants must submit all required documentation at the time of application and must be determined to be well-qualified for the position. Required documentation includes:
Proof of ICTAP eligibility (displacement) which must include one of the following:
an SF-50 documenting a Reduction in Force (RIF) action, certification of expected separation, Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice, ora notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function outside the local commuting area; and
An SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) documenting your current or most recent position, grade level and duty location; and
Your most recent performance appraisal, reflecting a rating of at least Fully Successful (or equivalent).
Only applicants who meet both ICTAP eligibility requirements and the well-qualified standard will be considered for selection priority. Failure to submit all required documents may result in a determination that you are not eligible for ICTAP consideration.
Only send documentation as requested/required by this announcement and that directly supports your qualifications for this position.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date (08/21/2026) to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.
You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact the Shelly Monroe at 202-740-8543 or Shelly.Monroe@psa.gov to obtain instructions on how to submit an alternative application.
Only resumes up to a total of 2 pages will be accepted. Applicants with resumes exceeding 2 pages will be removed from consideration. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.
Office of Human Capital Management
633 Indiana Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004
US
Next steps
Once the on-line application and supporting documents are received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made, you will be notified of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required you will be contacted.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your Resume listing hours worked per week, salary, dates of employment and duties performed. Only resumes up to a total of 2 pages will be accepted. Applicants with resumes exceeding 2 pages will be removed from consideration. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.
2. Other supporting documents:
College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education. Transcripts must include the school's name, student name, degree and date awarded, if applicable. (Note: If you are selected for the position, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day).
Most recent SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held (if applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service). (Award Notification of Personnel Actions are not acceptable)
DD-214 (member 4 copy) showing honorable discharge, SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities
Non-competitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable
Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent appointment
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation, must include the following:
SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action, position, grade level, and duty location; and
Most recent performance appraisal
Certification of Expected Separation or Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice or Notice of Proposed Removal may also be submitted
ICTAP Applicants: To be considered under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP), applicants must submit all required documentation at the time of application and must be determined to be well-qualified for the position. Required documentation includes:
Proof of ICTAP eligibility (displacement) which must include one of the following:
an SF-50 documenting a Reduction in Force (RIF) action, certification of expected separation, Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice, ora notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function outside the local commuting area; and
An SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) documenting your current or most recent position, grade level and duty location; and
Your most recent performance appraisal, reflecting a rating of at least Fully Successful (or equivalent).
Only applicants who meet both ICTAP eligibility requirements and the well-qualified standard will be considered for selection priority. Failure to submit all required documents may result in a determination that you are not eligible for ICTAP consideration.
Only send documentation as requested/required by this announcement and that directly supports your qualifications for this position.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date (08/21/2026) to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.
You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact the Shelly Monroe at 202-740-8543 or Shelly.Monroe@psa.gov to obtain instructions on how to submit an alternative application.
Only resumes up to a total of 2 pages will be accepted. Applicants with resumes exceeding 2 pages will be removed from consideration. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.
Office of Human Capital Management
633 Indiana Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004
US
Next steps
Once the on-line application and supporting documents are received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made, you will be notified of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required you will be contacted.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
