Security Specialist

Washington Headquarters Services

$80K — $95K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in security operations or a relevant field
  • Proven ability to conduct risk assessments and manage security protocols
  • Experience creating and enforcing security policies and SOPs
  • Familiarity with handling sensitive classified information
  • Strong communication skills, including drafting briefings and proposals

Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement security policies to mitigate risks
  • Analyze and resolve complex security issues effectively
  • Provide guidance and training on security matters
  • Manage security programs related to personnel and information protection
  • Coordinate and assist with classified material documentation

Benefits

  • Access to a comprehensive federal employee benefits package
  • Potential for career advancement within the government
  • Job stability and security as a federal employee
  • Opportunities for training and professional development
  • Participation in a retirement plan
Full Job Description
Summary

Located in WHS, SESD, Integrated Security Operations Division (ISOD), this position serves as a Security Specialist providing comprehensive security support. The SESD supports senior leaders across the Office of the Secretary of Defense, WHS, and DA&M, as well as DoD, Congressional, and Presidential-established boards, commissions, and task forces.

Duties

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Serves as a security specialist responsible for a wide range of duties focused on protecting sensitive information, facilities, and personnel from security threats.

  • Responsibilities include developing and implementing security policies, analyzing and resolving complex security problems, providing expert advice on security matters, and managing security programs related to personnel security, information security, and physical security. Plans, designs, carries out, and monitors a wide variety of security projects. Performs a broad range of security work that includes personnel, information, physical, industrial, and communications security support.
  • Provides guidance and training to supported personnel, including DA&M, WHS, and Board and Commissions employees. Develops,
    recommends, and implements innovative methods to ensure optimal administration and management of various security programs.
    Provides authoritative advice to appropriate personnel and serves as spokesperson for WHS on security related issues.
  • Serves as a point of contact for incoming and outgoing classified and protected material. Interprets
    guidelines and develops standard operating procedures (SOP) for various security functions. Ensures all supported personnel who
    carry protected and or classified material have proper courier documentation on their person. Ensures that all employees, contractors
    and all others handling protected and or classified material in their office spaces maintain proper control of protected and classified
    materials.
  • Prepares and reviews point papers, talking papers, and briefings to inform senior leaders on vulnerabilities to critical assets potentially causing failure of operations. Reviews and provides Action Officer-level coordination on draft DoD issuances, strategic plans, and other documents related to security.


Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
  • Must be determined suitable for federal employment
  • Required to participate in the direct deposit program
  • This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing
  • Selections from this notice are subject to provisions of the DOD Priority Placement Program for displaced employees.
  • The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance with SCI and SAP components. A Special Background Investigation (SBI) is required with favorable adjudication by a determining authority.
  • The incumbent may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or overtime.
  • This position may require up to 20% occasional travel away from your normal duty station for official business on military or commercial aircraft.


Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements described below.

You may qualify at the GS-12 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your experience (1) Conducting risk assessments, annual security inspections, and vulnerability analyses to ensure the proper safeguarding, transmission, and destruction of classified and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI); (2) Managing industrial security requirements, including conducting periodic reviews of statements of work for classified contracts; (3) Conducting sensitive security and insider threat inquiries, assessing suitability/security concerns, and evaluating personnel access controls; AND (4) Advising senior leadership by drafting point papers, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and briefings to mitigate operational security risks.

All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.

Your resume may not exceed two (2) pages
. For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.

Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible". Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave.

DOD PPP candidates using Application-Based Procedures:

Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: Military Spouse Preference applicants, must be selected and placed at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-4) dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference.

Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-3) to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician preference.

Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians Receiving Disability Retirement PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians receiving disability retirement PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-2) to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability preference.

Retained Grade PPP Eligible: Retained Grade PPP applicants, must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-1) to verify your eligibility for Retained Grade preference.

All qualifications requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience.

Additional information

Probationary Periods: As a condition of employment for 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. 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.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility.

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.

Reemployed Annuitants: Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. /www.esd.whs.mil/DD/DoD-Issuances/140025/

Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative.

Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.

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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.

Review our 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.

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