Personal Security Specialist (Adjudicator) - Arlington, VA

Job Description

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Personnel Security Specialist (Adjudicator)

Series & Grade: GS 0080 11/12

Promotion Potential: GS 12

Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Organization: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Office: Office of the Chief Security Officer (OCSO), Personnel Security Division (PSD)

Duty Location(s): Arlington, VA

Work Schedule: Full time

Appointment Type: Permanent

Summary

This position is located in the Personnel Security Division (PSD) within the Office of the Chief Security Officer (OCSO), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). PSD is responsible for determining the suitability, fitness, and national security eligibility of applicants, employees, contractors, and other affiliates who require access to CISA facilities, information, and systems.

The Personnel Security Specialist (Adjudicator) reviews and adjudicates background investigations, applies personnel security and suitability standards, and supports the overall integrity of CISA’s personnel security and clearance program. Positions may be filled at the GS 11 or GS 12 grade level with promotion potential to GS 12.

Duties

As a Personnel Security Specialist (Adjudicator), you will:

• Review and evaluate background investigation files and other security relevant information for applicants, employees, contractors, and State, local, tribal, and private sector partners requiring access to classified or sensitive information.
• Assess the scope and sufficiency of investigations based on position risk and sensitivity levels; identify derogatory information and determine whether additional inquiries are needed.
• Apply Security Executive Agent Directives (SEADs), Federal Investigative Standards (FIS), and DHS/CISA personnel security policies to support determinations regarding:
• Suitability for Federal employment;
• Fitness to work for or on behalf of the Federal Government;
• Eligibility to occupy national security positions;
• Eligibility for access to classified National Security Information (NSI) and Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).
• Conduct or support pre employment checks and personnel security interviews to clarify issues, verify information, and resolve discrepancies.
• Prepare clear, well documented case summaries, letters of interrogatory, eligibility notifications, and notices of adverse action, ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, and procedural requirements.
• Coordinate with investigative and adjudicative components (e.g., OPM, DHS, FBI, CIA, NSA, and other agencies) to obtain information, resolve discrepancies, and stay current on investigative procedures and emerging threats.
• Support and, at the higher grade, lead elements of key personnel security programs, such as:
• Continuous evaluation and reinvestigations;
• Quality assurance reviews of cases;
• Industrial security and classified visit programs;
• Security awareness and training initiatives.
• Maintain liaison with program managers and other stakeholders, provide status updates on cases, explain determinations, and advise on personnel security policies and processes.
• Use judgment to interpret and apply guidelines and propose procedural improvements that enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of personnel security operations.
  

At The GS 12 Level, You Will Also

• Independently review complex and sensitive cases and make final adjudicative decisions on suitability, fitness, and NSI/SCI eligibility, including cases involving waivers, conflicting or insufficient data, and unique or precedent setting issues.
• Serve as a senior adjudicator and technical authority, reviewing work produced by lower graded specialists, providing feedback, and ensuring that determinations are consistent with established criteria.
• Help plan and prioritize workloads for the team; recommend adjustments to balance tasks and meet production goals and deadlines.
• Implement and help manage vital personnel security program elements (continuous evaluation, quality assurance, reinvestigations, industrial security, and security awareness).
• Represent PSD in meetings and at formal hearings, and, as needed, testify regarding clearance processes, adjudicative criteria, and the rationale for adverse decisions.
  
  

Auto req ID

476016BR

Minimum Education Required

Bachelors

Job_Category

Security

Additional Qualifications/Responsibilities

Requirements (Conditions of Employment):

• You must be a U.S. citizen.
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance.
• This position is designated as Special Sensitive/High Risk.
• You will be subject to pre employment drug testing and random drug testing thereafter.
• This position may be designated as essential personnel; you may be required to support continuity of operations regardless of office closure or liberal leave.
• You may be required to complete a one year probationary period, if not previously completed.
• You must file an OGE 450 Confidential Financial Disclosure Report upon entry and annually.
  
  

Qualifications:

• Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs and other organizations. Your resume must include month/year dates and hours worked per week for each position.
  
  

To Qualify At The GS 11 Level

You must have one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS 9 level (or equivalent) performing duties such as:

• Reviewing and evaluating background investigations or similar case files to identify derogatory or disqualifying information.
• Applying personnel security or suitability policies, standards, or guidelines (e.g., SEADs, FIS, agency PS policies) to support determinations on eligibility for employment or access to sensitive or classified information.
• Conducting or supporting pre employment or clearance related checks and resolving discrepancies through records review or follow up inquiries.
• Preparing written case summaries, correspondence, or recommendations for use in personnel security or suitability decisions.
• Assisting with or participating in personnel security program activities, such as continuous evaluation, reinvestigations, industrial security, or security awareness efforts.
  
  

Education may be substituted for specialized experience at the GS 11 level in accordance with OPM qualification standards if permitted by DHS policy; see the official announcement for details, if applicable.

To Qualify At The GS 12 Level

You must have one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS 11 level (or equivalent) performing duties such as:

• Independently reviewing complex background investigations and making final decisions or formal recommendations regarding suitability, fitness, national security eligibility, and NSI/SCI access.
• Interpreting and applying adjudicative guidelines and executive order based criteria to unique or complex cases, including cases involving conflicting or incomplete information and potential waivers.
• Identifying the need for additional investigative work, requesting supplemental information, and evaluating all available information to reach defensible determinations.
• Implementing and/or leading key elements of personnel security programs, such as continuous evaluation, quality assurance, security awareness, or reinvestigations, and proposing improvements to policies or procedures.
• Providing authoritative guidance on personnel security matters to program officials or lower graded specialists, and preparing or reviewing high impact correspondence (e.g., adverse action notices, eligibility determinations) and/or testifying or preparing for formal hearings on clearance decisions.
  
  

There is no substitution of education for the required specialized experience at the GS 12 level.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated based on:

• Your resume and supporting documentation; Your responses to an occupational questionnaire; and
• Any additional assessments required for this announcement.
• Your resume must support your answers to the questionnaire. If your resume does not clearly demonstrate the specialized experience described above, you may be found not qualified or your score may be adjusted.
  
  

Certificates/Security Clearances/Other

Requirements (Conditions of Employment):

• You must be a U.S. citizen.
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance.
  
  

City*

Arlington

State*

Virginia

Job Code

Security Staff

Affiliate Sponsor

CISA

Salary Range

Not Disclosed