Summary

This position is located in the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), Office of Security, Personnel Security Division. The incumbent serves as a Personnel Security Specialist to process and adjudicate suitability of candidates for public trust and national security positions; handles cases involving questions of utmost sensitivity and complexity. The position requires a Top Secret - Sensitive Compartmented Information (TSSCI) clearance to attend meetings requiring that level of clearance.

Duties

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Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Performs personnel security, vetting determinations for public trust and national security related positions. Adjudicates the most complex personnel security issues covering significant derogatory information that require extensive experience and personal judgment to resolve. Incumbent is responsible for the personnel security vetting determinations of individuals for entry and retention in non-sensitive, noncritical sensitive, critical sensitive, and special sensitive positions.
• Analyzes and resolves personnel security problems for situations involving conflicting or insufficient data, evidence, or testimony. As a technical authority for personnel security vetting, develops standard operating procedures and internal policies that support federal personnel security guidelines and authorities.
• Processes personnel security inquiries (i.e. letters of inquiries) and reviews the information to determine if cases should be forwarded to the proper investigative authority. Creates Position Designation Record that assesses the duties and responsibilities of a position to determine the degree of potential damage to the efficiency or integrity of the service from misconduct of an incumbent of a position as outlined in Parts 1400 and 731 of Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations.
• Serves as a Proposing Official and drafts personnel security vetting administrative and adverse actions in accordance with the appropriate federal regulations relating to suitability/fitness and national security eligibility determinations. Drafts decision letters for the Deciding Official and a wide variety of other correspondence to agency management officials and applicant/employee attorneys and other representatives.
• Reviews personnel security, vetting investigations for accuracy and ensures interviews capture relevant information. Proposes the re-opening of investigations that lack the required information needed to make a personnel security vetting determination.
• Orders investigative actions as needed to ensure personnel remain eligible to maintain their suitability/fitness and/or national security eligibility. Maintains associated personnel security records and prepares reports. Assures all personnel have all requiredpersonnel security vetting.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S Citizen or U.S. National.
• This is a national security position. If selected, this position requires the completion of the 86.
• Suitability Determination: If selected, you will be subject to a background investigation to establish your suitability for federal employment. The background investigation may include, among other aspects, a review of your credit and legal history.
• This position is not covered by a Union Agreement.
• This position may require serving a one-year probationary period.
• The full performance grade level for this position is 13.
• Top Secret - Sensitive Compartmented Information (TSSCI) clearance.
• If you are a male applicant who is born after 12/31/59, you are required to be registered for the Selective Service.

Qualifications

For the GS-13: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. Examples of qualifying specialized experience at the next lower level for this position includes:

• Expert knowledge of the theories and practical applications of personnel security to analyze and resolve the most difficult and most complex security problems, involving conflicting testimony or sources and degrees of significant information in clearance adjudication cases;
• Adjudicating complex personnel suitability and security clearances and to developing guidelines for applying general criteria covering derogatory information that requires extensive experience and personal judgment to resolve; and
• Expert knowledge of practices and procedures for reviewing suitability for employment of non-U.S. citizens and other individuals with special language skills and foreign backgrounds.

Education

Education is not required for this grade level. It cannot be used for qualification purposes.

Additional information

Applicants who are interested in applying under Delegated Examining (DE) procedures must apply to vacancy announcement .

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by closing date of the announcement to be considered.

1. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency. For Military Selective Service Act requirement information, please visit Selective Service

2. Your application to this vacancy announcement will only allow consideration for this announcement. We cannot electronically or manually move your application to corresponding announcements, if applicable.

3. Additional vacancies not reflected in the announcement that occur after the opening date of the vacancy announcement for position(s) identical (same grade, series and title) to the original vacancy may be filled from the selection certificate during the validity of the certificate.

4. Budgetary conditions may delay or otherwise affect filling this vacancy. However, all interested candidates should apply now.

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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.

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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.