Duties

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The incumbent will be responsible for providing staff management, advice, direction, and guidance for all aspects of Classified Program Office and security management at the National level. Advises senior management on methods and remedies to reduce security risks and vulnerabilities. Advises on current and future security requirements and plans. Provides security management recommendations Department-wide.

Participates as a technical expert in the planning, direction, coordination, and administration of a comprehensive and fully developed security program which includes operational security, personnel security, sensitive compartmented information security, physical security, information security and industrial security.

In the absence of the Assistant Director and in conjunction with, represents the Department on security matters in dealings with the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Information Security Oversight Office, Department of War (DOW), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other departments and agencies of the U.S. Government.

Manages and provides program oversight, strategic planning, and financial functions, and represents the Assistant Director in High-level panels, meetings, and discussions. Coordinates and consults with individuals at all organizational levels.

Provides advice to the Assistant Director regarding internal staff coordination and recommends outside office coordination as required. Participates on teams that plan, direct, and coordinate the planning and budgeting process of the Classified Program Office. Provides responses to inquires relating to any area of the security program and other areas of discipline with OLES.

Provides advice to appropriate personnel and serves as principal spokesperson for OLES inworking groups, meetings, conferences, and emergency planning involving protection and recovery of classified and sensitive material.

Serves as an authority in the assigned areas and provides leadership in the implementation of initiatives, guidelines, surveys, audits, reviews, etc.

Responsible for the formulation of policies and procedures, education and awareness, training, and coordinates implementation of security protections to prevent and provide safeguards against espionage, sabotage, terrorist acts, vandalism, and theft.

Develops strategies, policies, and procedures commensurate with the needs of the Department regarding directives, orders, regulations, and statues governing security programs.

The incumbent manages the National Security Classified Services program that includes the following duties and responsibilities: Serves as a principal technical authority for OLES decision making regarding national security clearances, to include the issuance and management thereof (including processing SCI access requests).

Ensures the timely review and processing of requests for national security clearances in accordance with OPM and ODNI personnel security policies (following a favorable eligibility determination for the individual).

Counsels OLES management on policy changes, emerging national security clearance trends, and proposed improvements to the program that will impact the Department and its Bureaus.

Serves as a principal technical authority to provide advice to clearance holders, OLES management, Department leadership, and all others regarding DOI's national security program.

Develops and promulgates revised/updated national security clearance memorandums, forms, and other documentation to ensure current language comports with DOI, OPM, and ODNI policies.

Provides oversight and guidance to subordinate staff for processing requests for SCI access.

The incumbent is responsible for the productivity and quality of product produced by the Branch's staff and is responsible for providing metric and status reports, related to the program(s)under their supervision, to NSD and OLES management, and when instructed, report directly on program status to higher-level DOI leadership, OPM, and ODNI, and DCSA.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 09/09/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

To qualify for this position at the GS-14 grade level:

Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:

1. Manage SCIF operations, guaranteeing facility preparedness, upholding compliance with ICD 705, EO 12333, and EO 13526, and ensuring secure management, storage, and disposal of classified materials.

2. Manage all SCI indoctrination and debriefing processes, managing scheduling, eligibility checks, briefing delivery, and comprehensive documentation of SCI access activities in accordance with ICD policies and EO 13526.

3. Oversee eligibility and investigation reviews, performing Scattered Castles verifications, and compiling access packages in compliance with ICD 704 and EO 12968.

4. Directs, coordinates, evaluates, and monitors implementation and Department-wide compliance with classified national security information program policy and procedures.

5. Conducts Department-wide security oversight inspections, compliance reviews, surveys on the effectiveness of the Departments classified national security information program and procedures through on-site inspections to ensure compliance with Department and U.S. Government classified national security information policy.

You must include hours per week worked.

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 directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

Additional information

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive. A continued service agreement may be required if it is determined you are eligible for a permanent change in duty station (PCS), recruitment, or relocation incentive.

All DOI employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, DOI Ethics Prohibitions | U.S. Department of the Interior.

Physical Demands/Work Environment: Office occasionally requires long hours of deskwork and can be stressful in that the incumbent must routinely resolve conflicting viewpoints. Work is usually performed in an office environment but can occasionally involve field activities. Meetings in other government buildings are frequently necessary.

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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.