
SECURITY SPECIALIST
Defense Information Systems Agency
Pentagon, Arlington, VAFull-time$122–158K/yrPosted today
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At a glance
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Requirements
Credentials this posting asks for.
Job overview
The Defense Information Systems Agency seeks a Security Specialist to protect sensitive and classified information and support national defense. The role manages security at classified facilities, provides guidance on compliance, delivers security awareness programs, and oversees contractor industrial security. The position is designated a Defense Security Position and requires obtaining and maintaining Tier 1 Security Fundamentals Professional Certification within the stated timeframe if not already certified.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Benefits
Full job description
Summary
If you want to do interesting and challenging work and to make a contribution to national defense, DISA is a great place for you.
Duties
- Develops and implement organizational security policies and procedures to safeguard sensitive and classified information, ensuring the physical safety of personnel and assets.
- Manages facility security for multiple classified facilities and SCIFs, including access control, accreditation maintenance, and compliance with security regulations.
- Provides security guidance and recommendations for projects, ensuring compliance with Federal, department, and agency security policies.
- Conducts security education and awareness programs for personnel, ensuring proper handling of classified information and adherence to security protocols.
- Provides industrial security oversight for contractors, incorporating security clauses and information handling caveats into contracts to protect sensitive information.
Qualifications
One year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of the next lower grade GS-12 within the federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, is required. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience formulating classified security policies; managing secured facility compliance and access control; leading security education, training, and awareness programs; OR conducting senior-level program risk assessments. In accordance with Department of Defense (DoD) Manual 3305.13-M, "DoD Security Accreditation and Certification," the position encumbered has been identified as a Defense Security Position (DSP). Individuals occupying positions designated as DSPs are required to meet certification requirements of the Security Professional Education Development (SPeD) program. The incumbent of this position is required to obtain and maintain Tier 1, Security Fundamentals Professional Certification (SFPC). Individuals who occupy a DSP and do not have the appropriate SPeD certification will have two years after the first duty day in occupying the DSP to obtain the required certification. Volunteer Experience: 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 to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education
Education is not substitutable for specialized experience for this grade level. How You Will Be Evaluated
IMPORTANT NOTE - YOU MUST FOLLOW ALL APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. ERRORS OR OMISSIONS MAY AFFECT YOUR RATING. 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. The Assessment Questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and collects information on your education, training and experience related to the following critical competencies. 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. Your application will be evaluated and rated under the Category Rating and Selection Procedures. We will review your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for this job. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Eligible candidates will then be placed for selection consideration into 3 categories as described below: Best Qualified Category - Exceeds the minimum qualification requirements and demonstrates a high level of proficiency in the job-related competencies based on the answers to the occupational questionnaire. Highly Qualified Category - Exceeds the minimum qualification requirements and demonstrates proficiency in some of the job-related competencies based on the answers to the occupational questionnaire. Qualified Category - Meets the minimum qualifications as described in the Qualifications section of this announcement. 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 Assessment Questionnaire here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13105033 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
Moving costs may be offered. Recruitment, relocation, or retention incentives MAY be authorized. Telework availability will be based upon the mission requirements and supervisory determination. Selections are subject to restrictions resulting from DoD Program for Stability of Civilian Employment. Accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. This position is not covered by a bargaining unit. This position is exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act. This is a Drug Testing position. 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 positions where relocation is paid (see Location block of vacancy announcement), you can learn more about relocation allowances and entitlements. We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of the closing date. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov). The Security Designation will vary and dependent upon position and may require a secret clearance or higher. Employment in this position requires a background investigation which may delay starting date. If you are selected and cannot obtain a favorable security determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed/undisclosed background issues, the employment offer may be withdrawn. Individuals selected are required to obtain/maintain a favorable security determination to occupy a sensitive position within the agency as a condition of employment. Failure to maintain eligibility to occupy a sensitive position may result in termination. For more information see the security section of Understanding Vacancy Announcements. Criminal History Inquiries- For some positions, criminal history inquiries may not take place before you receive a conditional job offer. Please see Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019 (dfas.mil) for more information on The Fair Chance to Compete Act, exceptions, and DFAS contact information. Retired Civil Service Employee: Employment of retired Federal employees receiving an annuity is subject to the requirements of the Department of Defense (DoD) policy guidance. (See DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300, at https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf.) Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Priority Consideration: If you are a displaced Federal Civil Service employee and attain a rating of at least 90, you may be entitled to receive special priority selection under the ICTAP. For more information on ICTAP, click here ICTAP Guidance. NOTE: If you have never worked for the Federal Government, you are NOT ICTAP eligible. Pay for first time hires to the Federal Government will typically be set at step 1 salary range for their respective grade level. All applicants are encouraged to apply electronically. If you are unable to apply online, you may contact 317-212-0454 for assistance.
How this job compares
Set against the 599 open Security Specialist jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 3, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$122–158K/yr
- Virginia median$99–125K/yr39 salary ranges
- US median$80–116K/yr335 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $140K, is 19% above the Virginia median midpoint ($117K) — in the top quarter of Security Specialist salary ranges in Virginia.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 68 open Security Specialist jobs in Virginia and 599 across the US. 2% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Virginia
- Serco18 open
- Amazon6 open
- NANA Regional Corporation4 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 1 year of experience; Security Specialist postings that state a minimum ask for 4 years at the median (396 postings).
- Education
- 104 of the 599 open Security Specialist jobs (17%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 3, 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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