
PERSONNEL SECURITY SPECIALIST
Defense Information Systems Agency
Fort Meade, MDFull-time$102–133K/yrPosted 1 day ago
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At a glance
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Job overview
The Defense Information Systems Agency is hiring a Personnel Security Specialist at Fort Meade, Maryland. The specialist initiates security clearance actions, determines applicant suitability, processes background investigations, and ensures completed investigations meet requests and applicable security regulations. The role also supports the Chief of the Security Operations Branch in identifying and forecasting financial needs and problems related to personnel security.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Benefits
Full job description
Summary
This position for The Defense Information Systems Agency is at Fort Meade, Maryland . **This Job Opportunity Announcement is using an additional online assessment tool to evaluate applicants. Please review the HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED, REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, HOW TO APPLY and NEXT STEPS sections below for instructions.
Duties
- Initiates security clearance actions for applicants for entry into employment and for employees for retention in employment with DISA.
- Determines the suitability of applicants and makes appropriate recommendations to Chief of Security.
- Processes initial and periodic updates for Background Investigations for civilians and military personnel being considered for employment with DISA.
- When investigations are completed, ensures that all relevant information has been developed in accordance with requests and security regulations controlling the particular type of investigations.
- Aids the Chief, Security Operations Branch, in identifying and forecasting financial needs and problems for personnel security
Qualifications
Specialized Experience at the GS-12 is defined as: at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable in difficulty and responsibility to GS-11 if outside the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Processing initial and periodic background investigations, OR evaluating security eligibility of individuals for entry and retention in sensitive positions, OR reviewing personnel security questionnaires for accuracy and completeness. Time-in-Grade: Current or former federal employees who have held a GS position in the preceding 52 weeks, must meet the time in grade requirement. Applicant must have served 52 weeks as a GS-11 or higher grade in Federal Service. You may qualify for consideration if meeting time-in grade, specialized experience, education requirement, 90 days after competitive appointment requirement, and all other qualification requirements within 30 calendar days after the closing date of the announcement, unless otherwise indicated on the announcement.
Education
There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level To be creditable, education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. You must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services at the time of application. National Association of Credential Evaluation Services . If you are using education to qualify for this position you will need to submit your unofficial/official transcripts with your application. Failure to provide transcripts, or a determination that you do not possess the education requirement, will result in objection to your qualifications, and removal from consideration in accordance with competitive examining procedures. 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): Accountability Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork 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. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. You can preview the Application Questionnaire here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13113994 Criminal History Inquiries- If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency @ [email protected] Other Information
A one year probationary or trial period may be required. Individuals tentatively selected for drug testing designated positions at the Defense Information Systems Agency will be required to submit to urinalysis for illegal drugs prior to appointment or placement. We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of the closing date. Moving costs MAY be paid. Recruitment, relocation, or retention incentives MAY be authorized. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 makes certain reimbursements/payments taxable. For information on these changes and the Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA), for which some appointees are eligible, click here. For more information on veterans' preference click here. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (to verify your registration status click here). The Department of Defense (DoD) policy on employment of annuitants issued March 18, 2004 will be used in determining eligibility of annuitants. For more information regarding qualifications requirements please click here. You may submit a cover letter which will be forwarded to the selecting official with your resume. Your cover letter will not be used to verify your qualifications or eligibility. 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 Competency Based 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 here: https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063145798547-USA-Hire-Assessments All applicants are encouraged to apply electronically. If you are unable to apply on-line, you may contact 317-212-0454 for assistance. Priority Placement Program (PPP) Military Spouse Preference (MSP) eligible candidates will receive priority consideration at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified up to and including the full performance level.
How this job compares
Set against the 601 open Security Specialist jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 12, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$102–133K/yr
- US median$87–128K/yr351 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $118K, is 12% above the US median midpoint ($105K) — in the middle half of Security Specialist salary ranges across the US.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 14 open Security Specialist jobs in Maryland and 601 across the US. 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 1 year of experience; Security Specialist postings that state a minimum ask for 3 years at the median (433 postings).
- Education
- 133 of the 601 open Security Specialist jobs (22%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 12, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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