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INDUSTRIAL SECURITY SPECIALIST

Department of Defense
Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
DCSA

Summary

DCSA's Industrial Security Office is looking for recent college graduates, industry and government employees, transitioning military personnel and military spouses to fill an Industrial Security Specialist position at the entry-level. This job requires individuals with the ability to use basic-level analysis methods and critical thinking to identify, document, compose reports and communicate security program vulnerabilities under direct supervision.

Overview

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Accepting applications
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Location
few vacancies in the following locations:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$50,460 - $83,568 per year

Minimum and Maximum salary encompasses all grade levels and locations advertised. Salary will varydepending on the position locality pay.

Pay scale & grade
GG 7 - 9
Promotion potential
13
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
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
DCSA-27-13079137-P
Control number
887697200

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Duties

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As an INDUSTRIAL SECURITY SPECIALIST you will be responsible for the following duties:

- Utilizes critical thinking to identify, document, compose reports and communicate security program vulnerabilities and associated mitigation actions to internal/external stakeholders up to the senior executive level.
- Demonstrates competency of analysis methods and professional writing skills to complete comprehensive reports, and oral presentations with the ability to succinctly express ideas and concepts to internal/external stakeholders.
- Employs interpersonal skills and uses a situationally adaptive approach with internal/external stakeholders to gain cooperation and commitment to resolve security issues.
- Under close supervision conducts recurring Security Reviews (SRs) of contractor facilities.
- Under close supervision, conducts, records and oversees security violation investigations and/or associated activity occurring at contractor facilities to include the loss, compromise, or suspected compromise of classified information/material.
- Under close supervision, conducts on-site FCL eligibility surveys based on new requests to evaluate operational and/or physical vulnerabilities associated with threat to U.S. or foreign classified information as part of the DCSA FCL risk analysis process.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a US citizen
  • Selective Service Requirement: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. For more information http://www.sss.gov
  • Resume and supporting documents received by 11:59PM EST will be considered
  • This is a Drug Testing designated position
  • Position is a (DCIPS) position in the Excepted Service under U.S.C. 1601
  • Work Schedule: Full Time
  • Overtime: Occasionally
  • Tour of Duty: Flexible
  • PCS (Permanent Change of Station): Not Authorized
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Non-Exempt
  • Financial Disclosure: Not Required
  • Telework Eligibility: Supervisors may approve situational telework on a case-by-case, temporary basis for limited situations.
  • If selected, the incumbent must obtain and maintain appropriate security clearance as indicated in job announcement.
  • The incumbent is required to attain the Security Fundamentals Professional Certification (SFPC) within 24 months of entry on duty and maintain certification within program rules.
  • Incumbent may be required to operate automotive, passenger vehicles in connection with the performance of duties. A valid driver’s license is required.
  • Incumbent may be subject to a Counterintelligence-Scope Polygraph examination upon request by competent authority.

Qualifications

The experience described in your resume will be evaluated and screened from the Office of Personnel Management's (OPMs) basic qualifications requirements. See: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0000/security-administration-series-0080/ for OPM qualification standards, competencies and specialized experience needed to perform the duties of the position as described in the MAJOR DUTIES and QUALIFICATIONS sections of this announcement by 10/19/2026

Applicant must have directly applicable experience that demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies necessary for immediate success in the position. Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position.

For the GG-7:
You must have specialized experience sufficient to demonstrate that you have acquired all the competencies necessary to perform at a level equivalent in difficulty, responsibility, and complexity to the next lower grade (GG-05) in the Federal service and are prepared to take on greater responsibility.
Generally, this would include one year or more of such specialized experience.

Specialized experience for this position includes:

  • Assist higher level personnel in managing, directing, and coordinating day-to-day operations. Prepares detailed reports, conveying results to internal/external stakeholders. Managing projects and serving as part of team projects. Delivery of oral presentations.

For the GG-9:
You must have specialized experience sufficient to demonstrate that you have acquired all the competencies necessary to perform at a level equivalent in difficulty, responsibility, and complexity to the next lower grade (GG-07) in the Federal service and are prepared to take on greater responsibility.
Generally, this would include one year or more of such specialized experience.

Specialized experience for this position includes:
  • Monitors programs to determine compliance. Develops and/or delivers content for conferences, seminars, and meetings encouraging information sharing across the security community. Reviews security processes and performs other security oversight activities.

Specifically you will be evaluated on the following competencies:

1. Accountability
2. Communications
3. Problem Solving
4. Teamwork
5. Reading Comprehension
6. Decision Making
7. Attention to Detail
8. Customer Service
9. Flexibility
10. Integrity/Honesty
11. Interpersonal Skills
12. Learning
13. Self-Management
14. Stress Tolerance
15. Teamwork
16. Reasoning

Education

If substituting or combining education for experience, transcripts MUST be provided. Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

If substituting education for experience, at the GG-07 level, you must possess a bachelor's or equivalent degree. For the GG-09 level, a Master's or equivalent degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such as degree or LL.B. or J.D.

Superior Academic Achievement does not apply to DCIPS positions.

Foreign Education: For further information, click on the following link:
https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/

Additional information

VETERANS PREFERENCE/CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL
In accordance with DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, veterans preference is not required to be applied when considering candidates with prior Federal competitive or excepted service who have completed a probationary or trial period and have not been separated for cause. Therefore, veterans preference will not be applied to applicants with current federal service, or former federal civilian service meeting the above criteria.

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

Applicants selected from this announcement may be required to serve a two-year trial period.

If selected, Federal employees currently serving in the competitive service must acknowledge that they will voluntarily leave the competitive service by accepting an offer of employment for a DCIPS excepted service positions.

If selected, non-DCIPS candidates must acknowledge in writing that the position they have been selected for is in the excepted service and covered by DCIPS.

All Defense Intelligence positions under the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) are in the excepted service by specific statue, 10 U.S.C. 1601. This position is in the excepted service and does not confer competitive status.

For more information on the DCIPS occupational structure click here.

For more information about career advancement in DCIPS click here.


This position is subject to an initial drug screening, and random testing thereafter. A negative drug test result must be received by HR within 30 calendar days after the EOD (i.e., start date). The selectee's inability successfully pass; or refusal to conduct the test may result in: 1) the tentative or FJO being withdrawn during the recruitment process; or 2) subsequently being removed from Federal service for failure to meet a condition of employment.
You may be required to sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding" if you are selected for this position.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and the responses you provide on the application questionnaire.

USA HIRE ASSESSMENT: Your complete application package (resume/supporting documentation, online questionnaire, and USA Hire Competency Based Assessment) will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the online questionnaire. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

This additional online assessment is required and must be completed within 48 hours of submitting your application (which may be prior to the closing date of this announcement), unless you have requested Reasonable Accommodation for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments.

The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score. USA Hire cut scores are based on the minimum level of proficiency required to perform the job for a specific series and grade. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. The cut score is set at a government-wide level and not at the agency or individual vacancy level for USA Hire standard assessments. In accordance with 5 CFR 300.201(a), the U.S. Office of Personnel Management does not release testing and examination materials, scoring criteria including the specific cut score requirements, or other information used solely to determine individual qualifications, so as not to compromise the objectivity of the testing process.

To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

Top ranked candidates will be referred to the selecting official for further review and consideration.

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified'.

Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

All eligibility and qualifications requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency

Our Mission
Through vetting, industry engagement, education, and counterintelligence and insider threat support, secure the trustworthiness of the United States Government's workforce, the integrity of its cleared contractor support, and the uncompromised nature of its technologies, services, and supply chains.

Our Vision
DCSA's elite security experts illuminate national security risks to empower faster, smarter decision-making that protects American innovation and resilience to enable mission success.

DCSA Strategic Execution Plan
The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency stands at the intersection of government-wide trusted workforce, national security, and industrial base protection. Guided by the Secretary of War's National Defense Strategy, Deputy Secretary's Warfighting Acquisition Transformation efforts, and Trusted Workforce 2.0, our mission is to deliver data-driven, threat-informed, and customer-trusted security services at scale.

The FY2026 - 2028 DCSA Strategic Execution Plan defines six strategic priorities for the agency:
  1. Deliver NBIS
  2. Deploy NI2 to Modernize Industrial Security
  3. Modernize and Sustain Trusted Workforce Determinations
  4. Rebuild the Workforce Compact
  5. Operate as a Customer-Centric Business
  6. Drive Audit-Ready Integration and Agency Efficiency with AI

Agency contact information

DCSA Servicing Team
Phone
614-693-4444
Email
DHRS-DDCSA@dla.mil
Address
Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
27130 Telegraph Road
Quantico, VA 22134
US

Visit our careers page

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

http://www.dcsa.mil

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