Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens - Current Career United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Service and United States Postal Inspection Service, and Postal Regulatory Commission Employees will not be considered or selected from this vacancy announcement.

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The successful candidate will be able to be engaged in the formulation and application of personnel security policies, procedures, and systems involving the loyalty and reliability of people, or processes against criminal, terrorist, or hostile intelligence activities. The successful candidate will be responsible for running National Criminal Investigation Checks (NCIC)
for new hires and work with Human Resources to ensure all security paperwork is completed prior to in-processing personnel. Works closely with Postal Inspection Service Background Investigation Team to ensure clearance information forms are submitted correctly and in a timely
manner.

Candidates will be evaluated on the skills that they possess that are directly related to the duties of the position and the experience, education and training that indicate the applicant's ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position. Only those candidates who meet all qualification and eligibility requirements and who submit the required information by 11:59 PM EST on 10/10/2025 will be considered.

The USPS OIG uses a Pay Banding system, which is equivalent to the Federal GS scale. Grade and salary determinations will be made based upon a candidate's education and professional experience.

This position is being advertised at the Journey Band level, equivalent to a GS-13. The salary range for this position is $120,579.00 - $156,755.00. The salary figures include locality pay. Promotion potential to a GS-13 is at management's discretion.

Please note that the duties and responsibilities associated with this position may vary based upon the agency's needs at the time of hire. The following description of major duties and responsibilities is only intended to give applicants a general overview of the expectations.

• Provides advice and guidance and makes recommendations and decisions are characterized by importance.
• Assists with developing and implementing policies and procedures for personnel security programs within the Office of Inspector General.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of personnel security practices and recommends appropriate action to correct deficiencies.
• Administers personnel security new orientation briefs upon request.
• Responsible for running National Criminal Investigation Checks (NCIC) for new hires and works with Human Resources to ensure all security paperwork is completed prior to in-processing personnel. Works closely with Postal Inspection Service Background Investigation Team to ensure clearance information forms are submitted correctly and in a timely manner.
• Reviews self-report information provided by clearance holders as required by Continuous Vetting. Assesses risk and applies adjudicative guidelines in review of self-report information and during the review of security alert flags.
• Tracks new background investigations and periodic review investigations through adjudication.
• Coordinates, carries out and monitors the effectiveness of the personnel security program.
• Makes technical decisions concerning the interpretation and implementation of existing policy relative to personnel security.
• Exercises authority for making analytical and technical personnel security policy decisions.
• Reviews, evaluates, and adjudicates reports of investigations, personnel files, and other records to determine whether to grant, deny, revoke, suspend, or restrict security clearances consistent with national security and the Postal Inspection Service Background Investigation Team.
• Interviews applicants to resolve questions concerning derogatory information developed during a background investigation.
• Provides information and assistance to agency officials by advising on personnel security policies; formulating and recommending personnel security investigative requirements; and advising on procedures for adverse security determinations and employee rights.
• Represents the agency in personnel security matters, develop guidelines, procedures and other materials for use by operating officials; administering programs for continuous security evaluation of personnel; assisting in arranging and conducting hearings or appeals; and administering security awareness programs.
• Serves as the technical expert in personnel security matters on interdepartmental and department-wide task forces developing personnel security policies, procedures, and enhancements.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must be able to pass a drug screening
• Must be able to pass a background investigation
• Must be able to obtain and maintain Top-Secret security clearance
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a government-issued credit card
• May be required to successfully complete a 12-month probationary period

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

You must meet ALL of the minimum qualifications listed below.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university AND must have a minimum of 5 years' experience conducting security and suitability adjudications related to background investigations, reviewing completed suitability investigations, and determining the impact of potential adverse or derogatory information. Experience must include expert knowledge of personnel security concepts, including Continuous Evaluation principles and policies, principles, and practices.

OR

• Must have a minimum of 7 years' experience conducting security and suitability adjudications related to background investigations, reviewing completed suitability investigations, and determining the impact of potential adverse or derogatory information. Experience must include expert knowledge of personnel security concepts, including Continuous Evaluation principles and policies, principles, and practices.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Intellectual curiosity, attention to detail, and ability to meet tight deadlines.

EVALUATION FACTORS
You must have the experience, knowledge and skills as listed in EACH of the evaluation factors. Failure to demonstrate that you meet all of the evaluation factor requirements as listed below will result in a score of zero (0); an ineligible status, and you will not be referred for further consideration. Include your major accomplishments relevant to the position requirements in your resume.

• Experience conducting security and suitability adjudications related to background investigations, reviewing completed suitability investigations and determining the impact of potential adverse or derogatory information.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve difficult and complex security problems such as overlapping and conflicting requirements within the Personnel Security Program.
• Mastery of personnel security concepts, principles, and practices, sufficient to lead programs and provide advisory services to function as a technical authority in assignments requiring the application of new theories and developments to security methods, technology, or procedures.
• Expert knowledge of personnel security laws, regulations, and precedent decisions, including Continuous Evaluation, sufficient to recommend substantive program changes or alternative courses of managerial action requiring modification of existing security management techniques critical to the resolution of problems.
• Skill in advising agency management on personnel security requirements, development, technology advances, forecasts and methods to streamline processes and increase efficiency.
• Ability to perform key decision-making and policy-developing responsibilities in very difficult assignments such as planning for significantly new or far-reaching security program requirements, primarily in the personnel security arena.

You will no longer be considered for this position if you receive a zero (0) rating on any evaluation factor.

Failure to demonstrate that you meet all evaluation factor requirements will result in a score of zero (0). Upon receipt of a zero score, you will be deemed "not minimally qualified," and you will not be referred for further consideration.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

The Human Resources Office will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications required for this position.

You will no longer be considered for this position if you:

• Receive a zero (0) rating on any evaluation factor
• Fail to attach all required documentation
• Submit a resume that exceeds the two-page limit
• If your application materials indicate that you are not minimally-qualified for this position
• If you fail to qualify on the interview

Only the top-rated candidates will be referred to a review official or the selecting official for further consideration. Top-rated applicants may be required to participate in an interview. Your rating may be further adjusted or rated as ineligible by the review official or the selecting official based on your interview performance. Once all applicant scores are finalized, the selecting official will make a final decision. NOTE: If you receive a zero (0) rating on any evaluation factor or on the interview, you will be considered NOT MINIMALLY QUALIFIED for the position and rated ineligible.

Applicants for this position may be interviewed one or more times as part of the hiring process. During interviews, applicants may not use any AI tool or virtual assistant (such as ChatGPT) to help them answer questions, except for accessibility tools used as part of a reasonable accommodation. Applicants who fail to follow these rules will be disqualified from the hiring process.