Personnel Security Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), Office of Security, Personnel Security Division. The incumbent serves as a Personnel Security Specialist to process and adjudicate suitability of candidates for public trust and national security positions; handles cases involving questions of utmost sensitivity and complexity. The position requires a Top Secret - Sensitive Compartmented Information (TSSCI) clearance to attend meetings requiring that level of clearance.

Duties

• Duties include, but are not limited to: Performs personnel security, vetting determinations for public trust and national security related positions. Adjudicates the most complex personnel security issues covering significant derogatory information that require extensive experience and personal judgment to resolve. Incumbent is responsible for the personnel security vetting determinations of individuals for entry and retention in non-sensitive, noncritical sensitive, critical sensitive, and special sensitive positions. Analyzes and resolves personnel security problems for situations involving conflicting or insufficient data, evidence, or testimony. As a technical authority for personnel security vetting, develops standard operating procedures and internal policies that support federal personnel security guidelines and authorities. Processes personnel security inquiries (i.e. letters of inquiries) and reviews the information to determine if cases should be forwarded to the proper investigative authority. Creates Position Designation Record that assesses the duties and responsibilities of a position to determine the degree of potential damage to the efficiency or integrity of the service from misconduct of an incumbent of a position as outlined in Parts 1400 and 731 of Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations. Serves as a Proposing Official and drafts personnel security vetting administrative and adverse actions in accordance with the appropriate federal regulations relating to suitability/fitness and national security eligibility determinations. Drafts decision letters for the Deciding Official and a wide variety of other correspondence to agency management officials and applicant/employee attorneys and other representatives. Reviews personnel security, vetting investigations for accuracy and ensures interviews capture relevant information. Proposes the re-opening of investigations that lack the required information needed to make a personnel security vetting determination. Orders investigative actions as needed to ensure personnel remain eligible to maintain their suitability/fitness and/or national security eligibility. Maintains associated personnel security records and prepares reports. Assures all personnel have all required personnel security vetting.

Qualifications

For the GS-13: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. Examples of qualifying specialized experience at the next lower level for this position includes: Expert knowledge of the theories and practical applications of personnel security to analyze and resolve the most difficult and most complex security problems, involving conflicting testimony or sources and degrees of significant information in clearance adjudication cases; Adjudicating complex personnel suitability and security clearances and to developing guidelines for applying general criteria covering derogatory information that requires extensive experience and personal judgment to resolve; and Expert knowledge of practices and procedures for reviewing suitability for employment of non-U.S. citizens and other individuals with special language skills and foreign backgrounds.

Education

Education is not required for this grade level. It cannot be used for qualification purposes.

How to apply

You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. If you cannot complete the Application Package online, please contact the Human Resource Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement. To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents and any appropriate Accepted Documents. To begin, click Apply in the announcement; then, choose to create a new USAJOBS account or Sign-in into your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before submitting it. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. Click the following link to pre-view and print the occupational questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13055513. After completing the questionnaire and uploading appropriate documents, click the Submit Application to submit your application package. It is applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered in the profile is accurate and all required documents are uploaded and submitted before 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/29/2026 of the announcement to receive consideration. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. If a document is not in legible format, applicant will not be able to view it in Application Manager which means applicant must again upload the documentation to the system by the closing date of this announcement. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account. The page will display the positions for which you've applied as well as the status of each application. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click on the plus sign (+) next to the job title to expand information about the job. Next click on Update Application to complete the application process. Note: Submission of a resume alone IS NOT a complete application. This position requires the completion of additional forms and/or supplemental materials as described previously. Please carefully review the complete job announcement, including the Required Documents, Other Information, and How to Apply sections of the announcement. Application packages will NOT be accepted via mail or e-mail. All resumes/applications received at the addresses listed in the Contact Information or Agency Information will be destroyed and will not be considered for this vacancy announcement. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact [email protected] or 202-920-2400 to request this.