Security Specialist (Direct Hire)

Summary

Serves as Senior Security Specialist and principal advisor to the Center Chief of Protective Services (CCPS) at Headquarters, exercising delegated authority to plan, direct, and evaluate multidisciplinary security programs; resolve complex issues; interpret policy; and advise senior leadership on risks, threats, and mitigation impacting mission assurance and workforce security. Conducts surveillance of security contractors and serves as the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) or alternate.

Duties

• Duties described below are at the highest grade advertised. Duties assigned at lower grade levels will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee.
• Responsible for the planning, integration, and oversight of a comprehensive Center-level security program supporting critical spaceflight, research, and engineering missions at Headquarters.
• Leads integrated security strategies across personnel, physical, information, industrial, and insider threat programs, aligned with NASA mission requirements and protecting sensitive technologies, export-controlled data, and classified information.
• Directs physical security and access control for HQ and NASA critical infrastructure, ensuring space accreditation, protective measures, and coordination with law enforcement and emergency management to safeguard personnel and assets.
• Administers information security and classification management programs, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, policies, and procedures for the protection, handling, and dissemination of classified and Controlled Unclassified Information.
• Provides contractor technical oversight, performance monitoring, invoice validation, regulatory compliance with federal acquisition to ensure security requirements are met.
• Advises leadership on security incidents, violations, and emerging threats; supports threat assessment and intervention strategies; directs incident response, damage assessments, and corrective actions to mitigate risk.
• Assists with establishing organizational priorities, managing resources, and ensuring workforce readiness. Promotes a culture of security awareness through training, outreach, and integration with mission directorates and program offices.
• Represents HQ in agency and interagency security forums, working groups, and audits. Develops briefings, reports, and strategic recommendations for senior leadership regarding the facility’s security posture, compliance status, and risk environment.

Qualifications

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level: Planning, coordinating, and executing multi-disciplinary security programs (physical, personnel, investigations, and operations) across geographically separated facilities; identifying threats and vulnerabilities; implementing established risk-based mitigation strategies; or ensuring compliance with federal and agency security policies while supporting mission-critical operations. Supporting leadership by providing analysis and guidance on security posture, emerging threats, or incident response activities; Evaluating complex security issues, assisting in the interpretation and application of policy, or developing recommendations that inform program activities and contribute to resource or organizational risk management considerations under the direction of senior security officials; and Supporting security operations or incident response activities; assisting with coordination involving law enforcement or interagency partners; helping conduct investigations or inquiries; contributing to damage assessments; or assisting in the implementation of corrective actions to protect personnel, facilities, and sensitive assets. To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level: Planning, coordinating, and executing multi-disciplinary security programs (physical, personnel, investigations, and operations) across geographically separated facilities; assessing threats and vulnerabilities; implementing risk-based mitigation strategies; and ensuring compliance with Federal and agency security policies while supporting mission-critical operations; Serving as a senior advisor to leadership on security posture, emerging threats, or incident response; analyzing complex security issues; interpreting and adapting policy; or developing recommendations that influence program direction, resource allocation, or organizational risk management decisions. Directing or overseeing security operations and incident response activities; coordinating with law enforcement and interagency partners; leading investigations or inquiries; conducting damage assessments; and implementing corrective actions to protect personnel, facilities, and sensitive assets. Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of artificial intelligent (AI) or AI-assisted tools during the application process.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Direct Hire Authority: These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Category rating and veterans' preference will not be considered in evaluating applicants. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see: OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet. Veterans: Under the provisions of Direct Hire Authority, veterans' preference does not apply. However, applicants who are eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (i.e. DD-214, or other substantiating documents). For more information please see: Veterans' Preference information on the FedsHireVets website. You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the qualifications and eligibility requirements listed in this vacancy announcement. To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the assessment questionnaire. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or assessment questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. You will be assessed on the following competencies: Customer Service Public Safety and Security Security Physical Security To preview the application questionnaire, click on the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13049754 NASA considers 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. NASA will not ask you to disclose criminal history record information during the application process or before we make a conditional/tentative offer of employment. If you apply for this position and are selected, NASA will conduct a suitability/security background investigation after you accept a tentative job offer. If you feel you are asked to disclose your criminal history before you accept a tentative offer and wish to file a complaint within 30 days, please contact: [email protected]. Other Information

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement. If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must: - Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility. - Meet the minimum qualifications requirements for the position - Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in 'Required Documents' For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/#ictap. Any applicant that received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) from the federal government within the last five years based of the closing date of this announcement, if selected, may be required to repay the full amount prior to establishing a start date. For additional information on the VSIP repayment requirement, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/voluntary-separation-incentive-payments/. Per Executive Order 14343, this position is not part of a bargaining unit. Probationary Period You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.