Personnel Security Specialist

Summary

These positions are located at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Administrative & Financial Management's Human Resources Division (HRD), Office of the Deputy Director for Human Resources Operations, Personnel Security and Suitability Branch (PSSB).

In these positions, you will provide technical support on programmatic & operational issues related to personnel suitability & security.

USDA Employees: Please refer to the Next Steps section.

Duties

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• Receives and processes background investigation forms and ensures the form is complete.
• Performs adjudications/determinations for the suitability, fitness, and/or credentialing of employees, contractors and/or applicants for initial and continuous vetting; interprets and applies suitability factors.
• Accesses the National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) or Defense Information System for Security (DISS) secure portal or its successor and initiates the background investigation via electronic application (eApp).
• Captures and transmits fingerprints for applicants, employees, and contractors, or when the FBI returns fingerprints unclassifiable for various reasons, as needed.
• Determines the eligibility of individuals for entry and retention in federal and contractor positions, in accordance with regulations, as to whether they meet the suitability or fitness requirements for employment.
• Accesses the automated systems for security/suitability investigations to determine if there is an existing adjudication or investigation that meets the current need.
• Ensures all investigative files are available prior to reviewing and rendering a suitability adjudicative/determination in accordance with suitability guidance and guidelines.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• The U.S. Government utilizes Trusted Workforce 2.0 to implement Continuous Vetting (CV) as a-whole-of government approach to personnel security. If selected for this position, you will be subject to continuous automated record checks of criminal, financial, and public record databases throughout your period of eligibility or employment, replacing traditional periodic reinvestigations.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period depending on your appointment type, unless previous federal service is creditable. During this time your employment will be evaluated, and 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 or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, 11/12/2026, including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

Time in Grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

GS-09

Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience receiving and processing background investigation forms; determining which applicants and incumbents meet suitability requirements; and updating personnel vetting information in automated systems.

OR

Education: Successful completion of a master's degree 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. Related degrees may include Security Management, Criminal Justice, Law, or Homeland Security.

OR

A combination of graduate level education and experience as described above.

GS-11

Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-11 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-09 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience managing and maintaining suitability and personnel security activities; providing guidance on suitability and security matters; and preparing summaries and responses to investigative security inquiries.

OR

Education: Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.M., if related. Related degrees may include Security Management, Criminal Justice, Law, or Homeland Security.

OR

A combination of Ph.D. level education and experience as described above.

GS-12

Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-12 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-11 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience ensuring appropriate security paperwork is accurately completed and appropriately maintained; performing adjudications/determinations for the suitability, fitness, or credentialing of employees; and developing policies and procedures for a security program.

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

Additional information

• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
• Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).
• Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period.
• For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the Veteran's Recruitment Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website.
• Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Refer to PUBLIC LAW 114-47-AUG. 7, 2015 for more information.
• This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
• If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed
• This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.
• Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.
• Salary ranges for each location:
  
  • Albany, California: $77,161 - $145,468
  • Fort Collins, Colorado: $68,819 - $129,742
  • Athens, Georgia: $65,271 - $123,052
  • Peoria, Illinois: $61,722 - $116,362
  • Indianapolis, Indiana: $62,297 - $117,446
  • Kansas City, Missouri: $62,729 - $118,261
  • St. Louis, Missouri: $63,288 - $119,315
  • Stoneville, Mississippi: $61,722 - $116,362
  • Raleigh, North Carolina: $64,453 - $121,511
  • Salt Lake City, Utah: $61,722 - $116,362

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.