What are the responsibilities and job description for the Personnel Security Specialist. position at Department of War Education Activity (DOWEA)?
Duties
Conditions of employment
Who May Apply: U.S. Citizens
In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application.
Specialized Experience GS-11: One year of specialized experience which includes demonstrating end-to-end ownership of case management, adjudication, and foundational industrial security support. This experience should include: adjudicating Tier 1 investigations with extra child care coverage while applying stringent suitability and fitness criteria for roles involving contact with children; processing Tier 2 (Moderate Risk Public Trust) and Tier 3 (Confidential) investigations for both government and contractor personnel, evaluating records against federal suitability, fitness, and basic industrial security standards; applying risk-management principles, such as Line of Sight Supervision (LOSS) protocols, by skillfully isolating derogatory information requiring escalation or further investigation across all case types; and assisting in the review of contractual security requirements and DD Form 254s (Contract Security Classification Specification) to ensure contractor personnel meet required vetting and access standards. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09).
OR
Education GS-11: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience for GS-11: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.
Specialized Experience GS-12: One year of specialized experience which includes focusing on the case management, initial adjudication of background investigations, and industrial security oversight for personnel in childcare, public trust, and national security positions. This experience should include managing the intake, initial review, and final adjudication of a diverse caseload including Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 investigations for federal and contractor personnel, culminating in the independent resolution of complex cases with significant derogatory and mitigating information. This experience should also include analyzing adverse information to make risk-based decisions on interim eligibility and Line of Sight Supervision (LOSS); serving as an authoritative resource for complex questions on national security, public trust suitability, and the stringent standards governing childcare background investigations; and applying industrial security policies by analyzing complex contractual security language, advising on or reviewing DD Form 254s, and ensuring contractor compliance with Continuous Vetting and SEAD 3 reporting requirements. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).
Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.
Education
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit:
Additional information
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.
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.
- Responsible for assessing, evaluating, and reviewing background investigation documentation and information for contract workforce to determine reciprocity, interim eligibility, acceptable risk, and Line of Sight Supervision (LOSS).
- Maintain and update all Personnel Security systems.
- Apply Federal Law, Department of Defense (DoD) and agency regulations to determine the type of investigations; along with the impact of breaks in service for eligibility determinations.
- Evaluate the authenticity, veracity, and pertinence of the data to the case at hand and requests additional investigations, requests interrogatories, or develops other information if needed.
- Conducts day-to-day liaison with investigative and counterintelligence agencies of the DoD and other government agencies in performance of official duties.
Conditions of employment
- Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Requirement.
- Proof of U.S. Citizenship required.
- Direct deposit of pay is required.
- One year trial or probationary period may be required.
- Appointment subject to a suitability/fitness determination, as determined by a background investigation.
- This position is designated Critical Sensitive (Top Secret) and requires a Tier 5 investigation favorably adjudicated.
- This position is a Testing Designated position subject to applicant testing and random drug testing. You will be required to sign a DA Form 5019 requiring participation in random drug urinalysis testing.
- May be required to submit to screening for illegal drug use prior to appointment and are subject to random testing thereafter. Appointment to this position may be contingent upon a negative drug test result
Who May Apply: U.S. Citizens
In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application.
Specialized Experience GS-11: One year of specialized experience which includes demonstrating end-to-end ownership of case management, adjudication, and foundational industrial security support. This experience should include: adjudicating Tier 1 investigations with extra child care coverage while applying stringent suitability and fitness criteria for roles involving contact with children; processing Tier 2 (Moderate Risk Public Trust) and Tier 3 (Confidential) investigations for both government and contractor personnel, evaluating records against federal suitability, fitness, and basic industrial security standards; applying risk-management principles, such as Line of Sight Supervision (LOSS) protocols, by skillfully isolating derogatory information requiring escalation or further investigation across all case types; and assisting in the review of contractual security requirements and DD Form 254s (Contract Security Classification Specification) to ensure contractor personnel meet required vetting and access standards. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09).
OR
Education GS-11: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience for GS-11: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.
Specialized Experience GS-12: One year of specialized experience which includes focusing on the case management, initial adjudication of background investigations, and industrial security oversight for personnel in childcare, public trust, and national security positions. This experience should include managing the intake, initial review, and final adjudication of a diverse caseload including Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 investigations for federal and contractor personnel, culminating in the independent resolution of complex cases with significant derogatory and mitigating information. This experience should also include analyzing adverse information to make risk-based decisions on interim eligibility and Line of Sight Supervision (LOSS); serving as an authoritative resource for complex questions on national security, public trust suitability, and the stringent standards governing childcare background investigations; and applying industrial security policies by analyzing complex contractual security language, advising on or reviewing DD Form 254s, and ensuring contractor compliance with Continuous Vetting and SEAD 3 reporting requirements. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).
Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.
Education
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit:
Additional information
- Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of War referral system for displaced employees.
- Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
- Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
- Management may select at any of the grade levels announced. This recruitment provides promotion opportunity to the target grade of the position without further competition when selectee is eligible and recommended by management. Duties described reflect the full performance GS-12 level. If not selected at the full performance level, duties will be performed in a developmental capacity under close supervision.
- This position is not covered by a bargaining unit.
- If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the
- You may claim Military Spouse preference.
- This position is a TERM not to exceed three years, with provisions to extend up to eight years with provisions to be made permanent without further competition. To be eligible for conversion to a permanent career-conditional or career appointment, you must have:
- completed at least 2 years of current continuous service under a term appointment in the competitive service
- demonstrate successful job performance.
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.
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.