Personnel Security Specialist

About the role

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.

What you will do

• 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 requiredpersonnel security vetting.

Education

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

How you will be evaluated

Once your resume or application is submitted, a review of your qualifications will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements and competencies required for this position. Competencies: Accountability Decision Making Problem Solving Security Written Communication Possession of competencies may be addressed in a cover letter and/or resume.

To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. The numeric rating you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire.

If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your qualifications. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Fair Chance Act: Under the Fair Chance Act, agencies are not allowed to request information about an applicant's criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been made, except as allowed for access to classified information; assignment to national security duties or positions; or recruitment of a Federal law enforcement officer.

An applicant may submit a complaint or any other information related to an organization's alleged noncompliance with the Fair Chance Act. The complaint must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged noncompliance.

To make a Fair Chance Act inquiry or complaint, send an email with the appropriate information to ***, subject line: Fair Chance Act.

Documents you must provide

• You are required to provide documentation that supports the eligibility and qualification claims made in your resume and assessment questionnaire.
• Failure to submit legible required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement may result in loss of consideration.
• Encrypted documents will not be accepted.
• Resume (2 pages only): Include contact information, education, and detailed work experience (including work schedules, employment dates, and position titles).
• SF-50's: Current and reinstatement eligible applicants must submit a Personnel Action (SF-50) indicating grade, competitive service, and career or career-conditional tenure.
• Merit promotion and VEOA applicants must meet time-in-grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, subpart F.
• Your latest SF-50 must be submitted for proof of time-in-grade.
• Performance Appraisal: Current status candidates are required to submit their latest performance appraisal.
• ICTAP: If you are an eligible Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicant, you may apply for selection priority.
• To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 80 or above on the rating criteria for this position.
• ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice; a "Notice of Personnel Action" (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C.
• Schedule A: Applicants applying under Schedule A Disability must submit an appropriate letter from a physician.
• Peace Corps/VISTA: Applicants applying under Peace Corps or VISTA eligibility must submit a letter supporting eligibility.
• Veteran Hiring Authorities: Applicants applying for veteran hiring authorities must submit a DD-214 stating character of service, such as member 4 or service 2 copy.
• If applying based on disability status, must also submit proof of disability percentage such as VA letter.
• If you are still on active duty, you may submit a statement of service from your Personnel Command which states the date you entered active duty, the date you are separating, and the campaign medals you have received.
• Interchange: Applicants applying for consideration under an Interchange Agreement with Other Merit Systems must submit a recent SF-50 or other personnel action (e.g., Post Office, Non-appropriated fund), reflecting status as a current employee under an approved system.
• Military Spouse: Applicants applying under the military spouse authority must submit proof of eligibility including a marriage certificate.
• This must also include permanent change of station orders, proof of veteran's 100% disability, DD-1300 Report of Casualty, and/or SF-15, as applicable.
• LMWFA: Applicants under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act must submit SF-50 forms to demonstrate service in eligible appointments for more than 24 months without a break.
• Proof of satisfactory performance (i.e. appraisals) during this period is also required.
• Special Authority: If you are applying under a special hiring authority not listed above, please refer to the requirements for that authority and submit the necessary supporting documentation, such as an SF-50 (or equivalent) or a certificate of eligibility.
• For more information, visit the USAJOBS Special Authorities page.

What to expect next

Once the online questionnaire and application package is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made, you will be notified of your status and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.

Additional information

Applicants who are interested in applying under Delegated Examining (DE) procedures must apply to vacancy announcement DE-13055513-26-AG. 1.

Candidates MUST meet all qualification requirements by closing date.

2. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency. For Military Selective Service Act requirement information, please visit ***

3. Your application to this vacancy announcement will only allow consideration for this announcement. We cannot electronically or manually move your application to corresponding announcements if applicable.

4. Additional vacancies not reflected in the announcement that occur after the opening date of the vacancy announcement for position(s) identical (same grade, series and title) to the original vacancy may be filled from the selection certificate during the validity of the certificate. 5.

Budgetary conditions may delay or otherwise affect filling this vacancy. However, all interested candidates should apply now.