Security Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the El Paso Intelligence Division, El Paso, Texas. This to provide intelligence and support to all Federal, State, Local, and tribal law enforcement through the EPIC Watch, the National License Plate Reader Program, the National Seizure System, and Operation Fountainhead. In addition, EPIC provides intelligence support to DEA's North Central America Division in support of the Administrator's priorities.

Duties

As a Security Specialist your typical work assignments may include: Serves as Liaison Officer for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) issues, directs the operation of the Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), and administers the SCI program. Coordinates the release of classified material to indoctrinated individuals on a need to know basis, with the concurrence of the originating agency, for review in accordance with applicable procedures. Resolves security clearance problems for visiting personnel requesting access into the SCIF and is responsible for implementation of national security directives pertaining to SCI within EPIC and attempts to resolve any operational conflicts pertaining to SCI access. Performs the in-processing and out-processing of all employees. Responsible for overseeing and developing physical security systems to include access control, alarm monitoring stations and providing programming and hardware support for these systems. Monitors access control and physical security issues (e.g., Access Control, Badging System, Vetting) to ensure operability and connectivity of information technology systems. Ensures that the EPIC facility and personnel are protected through a variety of state-of-the-art security equipment and devices such as variety of alarm and detection devices; closed circuit television systems; locking devices for doors, windows, vaults, and gates, communications, and other security related systems. Qualifications

For more information on eligibility requirements see: DEA Employment Eligibility Applicants must meet the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of the announcement. If you are qualifying based on education or if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcripts with your application. Applicants applying for the GS-11 must meet one of the following requirements: A. Have at least one full year of specialized experience that is at least equivalent to work performed at the GS-09 grade level. Specialized 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). 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. B. Qualifying experience must demonstrate the following: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 Federal grade performing duties requiring knowledge of computer systems, Microsoft office applications, communications and cryptology equipment, and military operational acronyms; preparing written correspondence, reports, and briefings while communicating information clearly; and applying a broad knowledge of security concepts, to include intelligence related information systems, principles, rules, and regulations, practices and procedures. OR EDUCATION: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related. OR C. COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION Applicants applying for the GS-12 must meet the following requirements: A. Have at least one full year of specialized experience that is at least equivalent to work performed at the GS-11 grade level. Specialized 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). 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. B. Qualifying experience must demonstrate the following: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 Federal grade performing duties such as maintaining all applicable SCI directives, regulations and manuals, making recommendations for changes in basic policy issuance and implementing instructions, coordinating and communicating with the DEA Office of National Security Intelligence (ONSI), and performing the in-processing and out-processing of all employees. Additional information on the position qualification requirements are located in the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Qualifications Standards Handbook. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

See the qualification section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials, visit: www.naces.org/members.php. If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. 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 (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13064275 The assessment questionnaire includes four short, free-response essay questions which provides an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question in 200-words or less. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and have not used a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. Applicants will only be considered for the Eligibilities for which they claim in the job questionnaire AND must provide the supporting documentation. Applicants will not be considered for Eligibilities for which they did not claim, regardless of the documentation submitted with the application. All qualified Non-Competitive applicants and the best qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Agency and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP and ICTAP) candidates must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for selection priority. Candidates are considered well qualified if their knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) exceed the minimum qualifications described in the announcement. Other Information

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire CompetencyBased Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/28980686389652-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information) Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If an applicant is currently, or has been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, applicants must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office listed in this announcement. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to similar positions in any Division/Office listed in this announcement. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions. If eligible, telework and/or remote work agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. Please note that any approved remote work arrangement is subject to the locality pay area of the alternative telework worksite.