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Sr. Security Specialist (SSO)

Nuclear Regulatory Commission
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, Division of Security Operations, Information Security Branch.

The supervisor is Mark MacDonald.

This position is subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements.

This position is subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
09/11/2025 to 09/25/2025
Salary
$142,488 to - $185,234 per year
Pay scale & grade
GG 14
Location
Rockville, MD
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—May be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - Infrequent U.S. and international travel, the IAEA, and foreign facilities similar U.S. nuclear facilities.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Travel expenses associated with interview and/or relocation expenses associated with job offer may be paid to the extent allowed by Federal Travel Regulations.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
14
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Q Access Authorization
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
NSIR/DSO-2025-0002
Control number
845634700

Duties

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The successful candidate will perform the full range of Sr. Security Specialist, Special Security Officer (SSO) duties.

Such duties include but are not limited to:

  • Managing Agency SCI programs and ensures compliance with Intelligence Community (IC) directives. Provides analysis of internal and external security policy programs regarding SCI, ensuring deconfliction and compliance.
  • Reviewing and processing requests for clearance upgrades and access to special access programs. Validates personnel clearance information in external agency databases, and requests modification as necessary.
  • Reviewing and managing SCIF compliance reviews.
  • Providing detailed research and analysis on physical, computer, and personnel security.
  • Recommending changes to policies and procedures for accomplishment of SCI protection and security. Develops goals and objectives that integrate agency missions and security requirements.
  • Representing the agency in a variety of functional areas, including national-level organizations. Interfaces directly with the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, National Nuclear Security Agency, and other national-level agencies to evaluate, guide, and adjust agency programs to meet changing security needs and requirements as personally assessed or as directed.
  • Administering the SCI security clearance program for all assigned personnel, ensuring all required clearances are up-to-date and completed. Tracks and administers SCI clearances for all in-processing personnel to ensure mission readiness. Terminates or transfers SCI clearances for out-processing personnel.
  • Receiving and processing all incoming and outgoing visit requests for SCI cleared individuals, ensuring timely processing in accordance with established procedures.

       

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • This is a Drug Testing position.
  • Background investigation leading to a clearance is required for new hires
  • Q with current access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)

You must meet the qualifications for this position by no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.

Selectees may be required to serve a trial period to assess their overall fitness and qualifications for continued employment. The trial period for new employees is two years. New employees who are preference eligible veterans serve a one-year trial period.

All information in your resume must be true and accurate.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GG-13) in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

1. Demonstrated knowledge in the application of intelligence support services to the agency, including all aspects of handling of intelligence information and special access materials, and the construction, accreditation, and certification of sensitive compartmented information facilities at the headquarters and regional facilities.

2. Demonstrated knowledge in the application of the preparation and maintenance of rosters of NRC and NRC contractor personnel authorized access to sensitive compartmented information, special projects, and special access information.

3. Demonstrated knowledge in the application of the maintenance and control of access or oversees maintenance and control to all agency sensitive facilities.   

4. Demonstrated Knowledge in the application of classified records management.   

5. Demonstrated knowledge in the application of Commission level closed meetings recognizing all protocols and policies of the Commission.  

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as:  Experience having performed security work that is directed toward protecting highly defined information, materials, equipment, or processes by applying specifically tailored security criteria. Knowledge, skills, and abilities derived from the four basic functional areas of security in combination with supplemental training and experience needed for specialized program requirements. These include protection programs for nuclear materials, data processing facilities, communications centers, cryptographic materials, intelligence operations and information, military operations, and others where the loss of the information or materials could pose a direct threat to national security or to public health and safety.

Education

There are no Individual Occupational Requirements for this series.

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0000/security-administration-series-0080/

Additional information

The duty location of this position is Rockville, Maryland (HQ's).  This position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy.

Geographic mobility/flexibility is a condition of employment for selection under this announcement.

Based on the staffing needs of the agency/area of consideration, additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement.

Individuals who are eligible for non-competitive appointment under an OPM special appointing authority may apply for consideration under a comparable NRC non-competitive appointing authority. Veterans, please visit: FedsHireVets

The NRC provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the coordinator at (301) 287-0745 or TDD 240-482-3217. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Selectee's will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. False statements or responses on your resume or questionnaire can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.

The NRC is a zero-tolerance agency with respect to illegal drug use. Individuals selected for these positions will be subject to pre-appointment drug testing.

A transferable security clearance from another agency or a background investigation leading to a clearance is required for all new hires. To begin work at the NRC without a security clearance, you must be granted a temporary waiver of the required clearance, referred to as a 145(b) waiver. To be eligible for a 145(b) waiver you will need a favorable education verification, reference, credit, and criminal history checks. If a wavier is granted, the successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication is required for continued employment.

If you have resided outside the U.S. for an extended period of time, the agency may not be able to (1) grant the 145(b) waiver where the required investigation cannot be completed in a timely manner, or (2) achieve timely completion of the background investigation required for a security clearance.

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.

When the application process is complete, your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the job requirements. You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume and responses to any vacancy questions to determine your level of knowledge, skill and ability related to the job requirements. If you are among the top candidates for this position, your application will be referred to the hiring manager.

Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you tosubmit a resume that directly relates to this position.


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