Security Specialist

About the role

The Security Specialist helps protect Peace Corps personnel and assets by supporting physical security programs and emergency preparedness activities. The role focuses on safeguarding sensitive information and facilities, and on planning and executing continuity of operations and occupant emergency functions.

The position supports senior leaders during emergency response and requires on-call availability, with mobile tools provided to ensure communication capability.

What you will do

• Physical Security Interpret internal and external security policies to determine their application to agency facilities and operations.
• Develop and implement security strategies, policies, and protective systems to prevent compromises of personnel, sensitive information, equipment, and materials.
• Implement an established identity management program.
• Manage an information technology system that supports physical security.
• Emergency Management Evaluate emergency management plans and procedures to ensure compliance with agency objectives and applicable federal directives.
• Develop and implement strategies to ensure a successful emergency management program where necessary.
• Coordinate and deliver preparedness and response training and exercises to strengthen readiness for natural and man-made disasters.
• Manage an information technology system that supports emergency notification.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years old.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service (see ***).
• Prior to employment, Peace Corps will review records for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and former employees, as required by statutes 5 USC 3322 and 22 USC 2507b.
• You must submit a signed statement acknowledging adherence to the Peace Corps Conditions of Employment before your first day.
• You must obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance.
• This position is designated for drug testing under the Drug-Free Workplace Program.
• You must pass a pre-employment drug test.
• After hire, you will be subject to random drug testing.
• A one-year probationary period may be required.
• This requirement is not applicable to current agency US Direct Hire employees who have completed a probationary period or current Experts who have served for more that 12 months.
• May be required to work from an alternate operating facility, potentially for up to 30 days.
• The initial appointment to this position cannot exceed five years.

Education

If you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education a transcript must be submitted with your application. Transcripts can be official or unofficial. 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.

Education must be obtained from an institution accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order to be used toward qualification requirements. Applicants should report only attendance and/or degrees from accredited schools. To verify whether a school is accredited, visit the U.S. Department of Education's accreditation website.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must provide evidence that your credentials have been evaluated by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign education programs.

The evaluation must confirm that your education is equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. program, or that full credit has been granted by a U.S. accredited college or university. For more information, visit: U.S. Department of Education - Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials, your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully.

Errors or missing information may affect our ability to verify your eligibility or qualifications.

We use a multi-step application review process: USA Hire Assessment: If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application: The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies.

You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered.

You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Refer to the "How to Apply" section for more information on USA Hire Assessments. Eligibility: We review your resume and supporting documents to confirm you meet the eligibility requirements of the position, including Time-in-Grade requirements.

You will be rated ineligible if: You are outside of the area of consideration (i.e., who may apply). Refer to the "This job is open to" section for more information about the area of consideration. Refer to the "Required Documents" section for more information about the documentation required to verify your eligibility to apply.

You do not meet the Time-in-Grade requirement. Refer to the "Qualifications" section for more information about Time-in-Grade. Refer to the "Required Documents" section for more information about the documentation required to verify Time-in-Grade.

Minimum Qualifications, Rating and Ranking: After we determine you meet the eligibility requirements, we assess your experience by comparing your resume to the specialized experience required for the grade level(s) to which you applied. A "final score cut point" may be used when reviewing applications.

We also review other qualification factors, such as Selective Placement Factors and education requirements. You will be disqualified if: Your resume does not demonstrate that you possess the minimum qualifications. Refer to the "Specialized Experience" listed in the "Qualifications" section for more information about the minimum qualifications.

You do not meet the applicable education requirements or did not submit supporting documentation to verify that you meet the requirements. If specific education is required to qualify for this job announcement, more information about the education requirements can be found in the "Qualifications" and "Education" sections.

You inflate or falsify qualifications, education, or experience on your resume. You cheat on any assessments. Referral and Selection: Highly qualified applicants are referred to the selecting official.

The selecting official may: Conduct a structured interview. Check your references. Request a writing sample or conduct an additional job-related assessment.

You will be assessed on the following competencies: Accountability Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork You may preview the application questionnaire for this vacancy here: ***

Documents you must provide

• Your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which establish your eligibility to apply.
• If you fail to provide any of these items, your application will be marked as incomplete, and you will be disqualified from further consideration.
• All required documents listed below, as applicable to you, must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement, 09/17/2026.
• 1) Resume - All applicants must submit a detailed resume that includes all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid), job titles, and duties performed: You must limit your resume to no more than 2 pages.
• If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine eligibility and qualifications.
• The resume must be uploaded under the "Resume" document type in the application system.
• You may submit only one resume.
• If multiple resumes are submitted, only the latest submission in the "Resume" document type will be reviewed.
• The following information must be included for each position listed in your resume: Name of the employer Official position title Start and end dates of employment (including month, day, and year) If you are a current federal employee or former federal employee, you must include your pay plan, series, and grade level (e.g. GS-0201-09) A detailed list of duties and accomplishments Resumes that do not contain the required details may be considered incomplete and could result in disqualification from further consideration.
• TIP: To ensure your resume includes all required information, use the Resume Builder in USAJOBS.
• If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, you will be disqualified from further consideration.
• 2) Proof of Eligibility to Apply - Your application must include documentation that demonstrates you are eligible to apply for this vacancy.
• You must meet the requirements of at least one of the hiring authorities listed in the "Who May Apply" section of this announcement to receive further consideration.
• Proof of eligibility includes: SF-50(s) - If you are a current or former federal employee (including Peace Corps employees), you must submit a legible copy of a recent SF-50.
• Time-in-grade documentation - If you are applying for a higher grade level and your most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate that you meet the one-year Time-in-Grade requirement.
• You must provide an SF-50 that clearly shows you meet this requirement, such as a: Within-grade increase at the highest grade held Promotion with an effective date more than one year old SF-50(s) showing the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old Award SF-50s do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for verifying Time-in-Grade.
• More than one SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate that you meet the Time-in-Grade requirement.
• Individuals with Disabilities (IWD): If you claim IWD eligibility, you must provide a Proof of Disability Letter (commonly referred to as a "Schedule A Letter").
• This letter must: Be on official letterhead.
• State that you have a disability or targeted disability and are eligible for appointment under Schedule A (5 CFR 213.3102(u)).
• Be signed by one of the following: A licensed medical professional A licensed rehabilitation professional A federal, state, D.C., or U.S. territory agency that provides disability benefits Peace Corps Eligibility (PCE) documentation of qualifying volunteer service - Applicants claiming PCE must submit documentation verifying eligibility.
• In most cases, this will be your Description of Service (DOS).
• Please upload this under the "Proof of Volunteer with PC, VISTA, ACTION etc." document placeholder.
• The final paragraph of the signed DOS must include the following statement: "This is to certify in accordance with Section 6.0 of Peace Corps Manual Section 285 that (NAME) served satisfactorily as a Peace Corps (Response) volunteer for a full term of service under an appointment of (X) months." Peace Corps Response Volunteers should also include their Verification of Service letter, which is important for retirement and leave documentation.
• Transcript(s) - If you are using education to substitute for some or all of the Specialized Experience requirement, or if there is a basic education requirement for this position, you must submit an official or unofficial transcript with your application.
• Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for the initial application.
• Official transcripts may be requested if you are selected for the position.
• Please review the "Education" section of this announcement for additional details.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated once the announcement closes. You will receive another notification about the status of your application, after we have completed our review.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USAJOBS account and by going to the "My Account" tab and clicking on "Application Status". For a more detailed update of your application status, you may go to "more information" under the individual vacancy.

If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, you will be disqualified from further consideration. If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to the Selecting Official for further consideration. USAJOBS has added an alert setting to their system to provide status updates for applicants.

You can elect to activate the status updates from your USAJOBS profile at any point during the application process.

Additional information

Position Information: This is non-bargaining unit position. The minimum and maximum salaries listed on this announcement includes locality pay. Peace Corps Information: This is a federal civilian position in the Excepted Service, and the incumbent will serve as a member of the Foreign Service.

Peace Corps employees are paid under the Foreign Personnel (FP) pay system, which differs from the General Schedule (GS) pay system. In the FP pay system, lower grade level numbers indicate higher levels of responsibility and pay. The FP-09 is the lowest, entry-level, grade and the FP-01 is the highest, senior-level, grade.

If you are a current federal employee, your agency may grant you reemployment rights in accordance with Section 310 of the Foreign Service Act, 22 USC 3950.

You must request and be granted reemployment rights prior to separation from your current federal agency.

If this is your first federal appointment, you may request credit for prior applicable non-federal service toward your leave Service Computation Date. Approval of credit must be granted prior to your first federal appointment and is subject to agency review and documentation requirements. This position is eligible for situational telework only.

The Peace Corps uses E-Verify to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities. The Peace Corps is a drug-free workplace.

Additional hiring needs may be filled through this vacancy. Intelligence Background Information: Peace Corps Manual Section 611 is applicable to this position: This prohibits the employment of certain persons previously engaged in intelligence activities or connected with intelligence agencies within the past 10 years.

If you have ever worked for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), you are not eligible for employment at the Peace Corps in any capacity, and you should not apply for employment at the Peace Corps. Acceptance of employment with Peace Corps precludes employment by certain intelligence organizations for a specific period after Peace Corps employment ceases.

Applicants who indicate on the announcement questionnaire that they, or a family member, have an intelligence connection will be required to submit a completed Intelligence Background Questionnaire. The Peace Corps Office of Human Resources will provide instructions for submitting this form after the closing date of the announcement.

Failure to provide the completed questionnaire will result in disqualification from further consideration.

If you have any type of possible intelligence connection, your application will not be processed until this form is submitted.

Except when the CIA or the National Security Agency (NSA) is involved (see below), if your connection with an Intelligence Agency involves an immediate family member who is employed or has been employed in intelligence, the immediate family member should complete the form.

If you have an immediate family member who is employed or has been employed with the CIA, please contact your family member in person (not by phone, email, social networking, or any other means that is not in person) and ask him or her to contact the Office of General Counsel at the CIA.

If you or an immediate family member have been employed by or associated with the NSA, you or your family member must contact the NSA Prepublication Review Office at ***.