What are the responsibilities and job description for the Security Specialist position at Executive Director for Security and Law Enforcement?
Summary
Open to current permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Office of Operations, Security, & Preparedness, Personnel Security Adjudication Center (PSAC).
Learn more about this agency
Duties
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Responsible for the Department's nationwide adjudication of the minor and no-issue background investigation cases and fingerprint results involving VA employee Security Clearances, VA employee Public Trust positions and for all suitability investigations for VA Contractors. Within delegated authority, adjudicates security clearances and forwards recommendations for security clearance denials.
Maintains associated personnel suitability records.
Contacts subject(s) of investigation regarding inconclusive or derogatory information developed to resolve disputed information.
Incumbent must have the judgement and ability to recognize sensitive, personal issues and to avoid unwarranted concern or emotional responses in eliciting required additional information.
To accomplish the mitigation, incumbent must have the judgement and ability to recognize sensitive, personal issues and to avoid unwarranted concern or emotional responses in eliciting required additional information.
Document findings, make security and suitability determinations, and formulate case disposition recommendations or varies actions, including approval of employment, denial of employment, or retention in sensitive public trust positions.
Ensures that adjudicative reviews and determinations are accomplished in an accurate, thorough, appropriate, and efficient manner pursuant to the most statutes and regulations governing personnel security clearances and personnel suitability.
Recommends or takes action on cases where the facts are not completely ascertained or where there is contradictory evidence that is incomplete or inconclusive.
Maintains associated personnel suitability records for VA employees in Public Trust positions and all contractor personnel.
Performs work concerned with physical protection of documents, automation equipment and facility to protect them against espionage, sabotage, damage and theft.
Analyzes needs for security controls, recommends systems, method, and procedures to increase physical security of personal information.
Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.
Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 7:30am to4:00pm
Compressed/Flexible: This position may be available for compressed/flexible schedule.
Telework: This position may be authorized for telework.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: PD20832A and PD20832
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a one year probationary period or two year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
Upon completion of your probationary period one year probationary period or two year trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/15/2026.
Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. For a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to some former Federal employees applying for reinstatement, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. See the Required Document section below for more information regarding the SF-50s needed to verify time-in-grade.
In order to qualify for the GS-7, you must meet the following: You must demonstrate in your resume at least one year (52 weeks) of qualifying specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in the Federal government, obtained in either the private or public sector, to include:
In order to qualify for the GS-9, you must meet the following: You must demonstrate in your resume at least one year (52 weeks) of qualifying specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal government, obtained in either the private or public sector, to include:
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; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Note: Resume must include job title and employer name, number of hours worked per week, start and end dates (including month and year), list of duties and responsibilities for each position held. In addition, if the experience was a federal position, you must list series and grade for each position held. Failure to include this information may result in an ineligible rating. A full year of work is considered to be 40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary and is usually accomplished while the incumbent is comfortably seated at a desk or table. However, some walking and standing may occur during anormal workday in connection with travel to, and attendance at, meetings and conferences away from the primary work site. Incumbent may be required to bend, lift, carry personnel security equipment such as laptops, scanners, etc. long distances at affiliate organizations. Must be able to lift 20-30 lbs. No special physical effort other than lifting/carrying of equipment is required to perform the work.
Local Commuting Area: The local commuting area for this position is defined as a radius of 50 miles from North Little Rock, AR 72114. This includes all locations that fall within a 50-mile driving distance from 2200 Fort Roots Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72114.
Education
A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office.
Additional information
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration (HRA) at The Fair Chance Act.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our exist...
Open to current permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Office of Operations, Security, & Preparedness, Personnel Security Adjudication Center (PSAC).
Learn more about this agency
Duties
Help
Responsible for the Department's nationwide adjudication of the minor and no-issue background investigation cases and fingerprint results involving VA employee Security Clearances, VA employee Public Trust positions and for all suitability investigations for VA Contractors. Within delegated authority, adjudicates security clearances and forwards recommendations for security clearance denials.
Maintains associated personnel suitability records.
Contacts subject(s) of investigation regarding inconclusive or derogatory information developed to resolve disputed information.
Incumbent must have the judgement and ability to recognize sensitive, personal issues and to avoid unwarranted concern or emotional responses in eliciting required additional information.
To accomplish the mitigation, incumbent must have the judgement and ability to recognize sensitive, personal issues and to avoid unwarranted concern or emotional responses in eliciting required additional information.
Document findings, make security and suitability determinations, and formulate case disposition recommendations or varies actions, including approval of employment, denial of employment, or retention in sensitive public trust positions.
Ensures that adjudicative reviews and determinations are accomplished in an accurate, thorough, appropriate, and efficient manner pursuant to the most statutes and regulations governing personnel security clearances and personnel suitability.
Recommends or takes action on cases where the facts are not completely ascertained or where there is contradictory evidence that is incomplete or inconclusive.
Maintains associated personnel suitability records for VA employees in Public Trust positions and all contractor personnel.
Performs work concerned with physical protection of documents, automation equipment and facility to protect them against espionage, sabotage, damage and theft.
Analyzes needs for security controls, recommends systems, method, and procedures to increase physical security of personal information.
Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.
Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 7:30am to4:00pm
Compressed/Flexible: This position may be available for compressed/flexible schedule.
Telework: This position may be authorized for telework.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: PD20832A and PD20832
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Requirements
Help
Conditions of employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
- To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
- You may be required to serve a probationary period
- Subject to background/security investigation
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
- Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
- Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a one year probationary period or two year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period one year probationary period or two year trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/15/2026.
Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. For a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to some former Federal employees applying for reinstatement, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. See the Required Document section below for more information regarding the SF-50s needed to verify time-in-grade.
In order to qualify for the GS-7, you must meet the following: You must demonstrate in your resume at least one year (52 weeks) of qualifying specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in the Federal government, obtained in either the private or public sector, to include:
- Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-05) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Applying policy direction to specific operating requirements and developing guidance for applying personnel security and suitability policy, procedures, techniques, and methods; Interpreting policy and providing authoritative interpretations and guidance to management officials and other personnel security officers at the same and lower levels. OR,
- Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR a LL.B. or J.D., if related. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Note: TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION PACKAGE. OR,
- Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education as shown above. Applicants with Superior Academic Achievement on their Bachelor's Degree may use all graduate level education when combining education and experience to qualify for this position. NOTE: Both the Bachelor's and Graduate Degree Transcripts must be submitted with the application package. Otherwise, ONLY Graduate education in excess of the first full year may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9.
In order to qualify for the GS-9, you must meet the following: You must demonstrate in your resume at least one year (52 weeks) of qualifying specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal government, obtained in either the private or public sector, to include:
- Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-07) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Performing High Risk, moderate and low risk adjudications; Applying policy direction to specific operating requirements and developing guidance for applying personnel security and suitability policy, procedures, techniques, and methods; Interpreting policy and providing authoritative interpretations and guidance to management officials and other personnel security officers at the same and lower levels. OR,
- Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR a LL.B. or J.D., if related. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Note: TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION PACKAGE. OR,
- Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education as shown above. Applicants with Superior Academic Achievement on their Bachelor's Degree may use all graduate level education when combining education and experience to qualify for this position. NOTE: Both the Bachelor's and Graduate Degree Transcripts must be submitted with the application package. Otherwise, ONLY Graduate education in excess of the first full year may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9.
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; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Note: Resume must include job title and employer name, number of hours worked per week, start and end dates (including month and year), list of duties and responsibilities for each position held. In addition, if the experience was a federal position, you must list series and grade for each position held. Failure to include this information may result in an ineligible rating. A full year of work is considered to be 40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary and is usually accomplished while the incumbent is comfortably seated at a desk or table. However, some walking and standing may occur during anormal workday in connection with travel to, and attendance at, meetings and conferences away from the primary work site. Incumbent may be required to bend, lift, carry personnel security equipment such as laptops, scanners, etc. long distances at affiliate organizations. Must be able to lift 20-30 lbs. No special physical effort other than lifting/carrying of equipment is required to perform the work.
Local Commuting Area: The local commuting area for this position is defined as a radius of 50 miles from North Little Rock, AR 72114. This includes all locations that fall within a 50-mile driving distance from 2200 Fort Roots Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72114.
Education
A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office.
Additional information
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration (HRA) at The Fair Chance Act.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our exist...
Salary : $50,460 - $80,243