Personnel Security Specialist

Summary This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, OJS, Internal Affairs Division in Location Negotiable After Selection, United States. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Maybe Authorized? Responsibilities As Personnel Security Specialist, GS-0080, your typical work assignments may include, but not limited to: Determine the suitability and security eligibility for entry and retention in sensitive, critical sensitive and public trust positions. Interview subjects of investigations, employees, and other individuals to reach final adjudication determinations. Uniformly and fairly apply Federal policies and standards for personnel suitability, personnel security, information and document security. Provide guidance and technical assistance to Bureau customer's, tribal organizations, and Federal agencies on matters pertaining to personnel security. Represent, as assigned, the Personnel Security program at inter-agency and intra-agency conferences, meetings and hearings. Assist the Background Investigative Unit supervisor with the training and development of lower-level staff within the program. Serve as the point of contact for assigned areas and liaison with Personnel Security representatives, other investigative agencies, other special offices, and law enforcement personnel. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards for Administrative and Management Positions, GS-0080). SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-09: 1 year of full-time specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to at least the GS-07 in the Federal Service (obtained in either the public or private sector). This experience must include the following: initiate background investigations for potential candidates; answer and troubleshoot issues regarding the submission of requested background investigation documents; monitor a personnel security inbox for forms and information from candidates and DSCA; and process individual's enrollments and capturing fingerprints at shared enrollment centers. OR EDUCATION: A master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (Note: Applicants who select this response must provide transcripts as verification of their education). SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-11: 1 year of specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to at least the GS-9 in the Federal Service (obtained in either the public or private sector). This experience must include the following: review background investigation forms to detect obvious errors or omissions; contact applicants for any missing or incomplete items; receive and process all incoming documents received from other investigative agencies associated with the background investigation; and enter pertinent information into a personnel security system. OR EDUCATION: A 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. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (Note: Applicants who select this response must provide transcripts as verification of their education). SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-12: 1 year of specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to at least the GS-11 in the Federal Service (obtained in either the public or private sector). This experience must include the following: review background investigation forms to detect obvious errors or omissions; contact applicants for any missing or incomplete items; receive and process all incoming documents received from other investigative agencies associated with the background investigation; enter pertinent information into a personnel security system; communicate findings and decisions of adverse actions to appropriate personnel; and provide customer service, advice and expertise related to personnel security. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Merit Promotion candidates must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the announcement closing date. Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur in the same location within 90 days from the closing date. Education If you are qualifying based on your education, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education which shows the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: FOREIGN EDUCATION Additional Information All new hires earn the beginning salary of their pay grade (Step 1). See 2026 Salary Tables and select the pay chart for Location Negotiable After Selection, United States. If no specific chart is listed for this geographic location, see the "rest of U.S." chart. The full performance level of this position is GS-12. Promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. A career ladder promotion is at the discretion of management, and in no way guaranteed. The probationary or trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will 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. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your [probationary period -OR- trial period] your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)