PERSONNEL SECURITY SPECIALIST
About This Position
DCSA's Personnel Vetting is looking for a dynamic Personnel Security Specialist to lead special projects and initiatives, performs special assignments, and develop work plans with milestones and goals. This role requires a change agent with the ability to conduct research, develop and recommend operational guidance solutions and maintain effective working relationships with multiple stakeholders. Consider DCSA, and be a part of America's Gatekeeper Team!
Qualifications
The experience described in your resume will be evaluated and screened from the Office of Personnel Management's (OPMs) basic qualifications requirements. See: Security Administration Series 0080 (opm.gov) for OPM qualification standards, competencies and specialized experience needed to perform the duties of the position as described in the MAJOR DUTIES and QUALIFICATIONS sections of this announcement by 03/13/2026 Applicant must have directly applicable experience that demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies necessary for immediate success in the position. Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position.
You must have specialized experience sufficient to demonstrate that you have acquired all the competencies necessary to perform at a level equivalent in difficulty, responsibility, and complexity to the next lower grade GG/GS 12 in the Federal service and are prepared to take on greater responsibility. Generally, this would include one year or more of such specialized experience. Specialized experience for the GG-13 position includes: Providing advice, guidance, and direction on a wide range of security, counter-intelligence, adjudications, and administrative issues; Providing a review on cases with significant derogatory information, preparing Letters of Intent to Deny/Letters of Intent to Revoke security clearances and/or assignment to sensitive and non-sensitive duties; Analyzing responses to Letters of Intent to Deny or Revoke Security Clearance and render adjudicative determination if the response mitigates the security concern or if the response does not mitigate the security concern; Preparing Letters of Denial or Letters of Revocation of Security Clearance; Evaluating reports by analyzing facts and performing appropriate research and preparing detailed responses.
Specifically you will be evaluated on the following competencies: 1. Personnel Security: Apply personnel security principles and methods to process initial investigations, clearances, periodic re-investigations, and clearance upgrades/downgrades, suspension, revocations, terminations, reinstatements and to complete the adjudication, and appeals processes. Evaluate internal and external security clearance requests and ensures applicant's actions are consistent with regulatory requirements.
Analyze and report on clearance and appeals findings to senior security officials and makes appropriate notifications.
- Flexibility: Is open to change and new information; adapts behavior or work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles; effectively deals with ambiguity.
- Interpersonal Skills: Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations.
- Reasoning: Identifies rules, principles, or relationships that explain facts, data, or other information; analyzes information and makes correct inferences or draws accurate conclusions.
- Writing: Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material that is appropriate for the intended audience.
Major Duties
This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies and applicants may be selected to be placed into a pipeline for future vacancies. As a PERSONNEL SECURITY SPECIALIST you will be responsible for the following duties: Performing in-depth analysis and evaluation of Personnel Security Investigations, security files and other information. containing serious derogatory or extremely sensitive information impacting on initial or continuing clearance and access eligibility. Reviewing, approving and signing all divisional Statement of Reasons, intended to deny or revoke an individual's security clearance eligibility.
Reviewing responses to Statements of Reasons and rendering adjudicative determinations on an individual's security clearance eligibility. Approving requests for additional investigations and responds to unusual and/or complex issues raised by Commanding Officers, Special Security Officers, Security Managers and/or individuals affected by the agency actions. Reviewing complex adjudicative decisions made by a large number of certified developmental and senior specialists whose sole purpose is to make security clearance eligibility and Suitability and Fitness determinations.
Ensuring sound interpretation and application of Personnel Security Program policy and procedures. Responsible for favorable determinations of non-sensitive adjudications by established policy and law.
Education
Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.
How You Will Be Evaluated
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) and the responses you provide on the application questionnaire. EXCEPTED SERVICE PILOT REVIEW: Once the application process is complete, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. All applicants who meet the basic qualification requirements will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration.
You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation. Top ranked candidates will be referred to the selecting official for further review and consideration.
A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified'. Please follow all instructions carefully.
Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. All eligibility and qualifications requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Additional Information
VETERANS PREFERENCE/CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL In accordance with DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, veterans preference is not required to be applied when considering candidates with prior Federal competitive or excepted service who have completed a probationary or trial period and have not been separated for cause. Therefore, veterans preference will not be applied to applicants with current federal service, or former federal civilian service meeting the above criteria. Re-employed Annuitant: This position does not meet criteria for re-employed annuitant.
The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf Applicants selected from this announcement may be required to serve a two-year trial period. If selected, Federal employees currently serving in the competitive service must acknowledge that they will voluntarily leave the competitive service by accepting an offer of employment for a DCIPS excepted service positions. If selected, non-DCIPS candidates must acknowledge in writing that the position they have been selected for is in the excepted service and covered by DCIPS.
All Defense Intelligence positions under the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) are in the excepted service by specific statue, 10 U.S.C. 1601.
This position is in the excepted service and does not confer competitive status. For more information on the DCIPS occupational structure click here. For more information about career advancement in DCIPS click here.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package as described in REQUIRED DOCUMENTS.
Click 'Apply Online' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
1.
Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents.
- Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application.
- Applications must be received by the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire, please go tohttps://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12893015. To review the status of an application through USAJOBS: 1. Log into your USAJOBS account
2.
Click Application Status within your profile to expand your application
- Locate the job announcement and click the more information link under the Status column for this position.
You will be routed to Application Manager. The Details tab displays by default. The Details tab displays comprehensive information about the selected Application Package including: assessment(s) and the status, supporting documents and their status, correspondence sent to you by the hiring agency, and your application processing status.
Required Documents
Your complete application includes your COMPLETE resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further. The following documents are REQUIRED: 1.
Your resume: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages showing all relevant experience.
Your resume must address your qualifications for the position, and it may not exceed two (2) pages.
Your 2-page (or less) resume must be in PDF format, with no smaller than a 0.5" margin and no smaller than a 10-point font. If you submit a resume that exceeds the two-page limit and/or does not meet the margin or font limitations stated herein, you will immediately be deemed ineligible for this position and will receive no further consideration. If you submit more than one copy of your resume, only the most recent version will be reviewed.
The latest timestamp will be used to determine which version of your resume is "most recent." If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you will not be considered for this vacancy. Narrative responses in the assessment questionnaire do not replace content in your resume or vise a versa. Experience must be described in both places for qualification determinations.
Resumes should NOT include: Classified information/SSN/Photo of yourself/personal information (gender, religion, affiliation etc., Encrypted digitally signed docs). Resumes with this prohibited information will be automatically ineligible for consideration. For qualifications determinations your resume must contain the dates of employment (i.e., Month/Year to present. Hours per Week). If your resume does not clearly outline details for each position as noted, you may be deemed "not referred" for this position. For additional information see: What to include in your resume.
- Veteran's Documents If applying for Veteran's preference, please provide a copy of your DD214 showing character of service, SF-15 Form and VA letter showing final percentage, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty.
NOTE: Active duty military members are not eligible for appointment unless currently on terminal leave.
- SF-50: All current and former Federal employees must submit a copy of your latest SF50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your tenure, grade and step, and type of position occupied (i.e., Excepted or Competitive); or similar Notification of Personnel Action documentation, i.e., Transcript of Service, Form 1150, etc. Failure to provide latest SF50 may result in you being rated ineligible for this position.
The documents you are required to submit vary based on the authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying as a veteran, applying as a current permanent Federal employee, applying as a reinstatement, etc.). Please review the General Application Information and Definitions at: https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo%2012-1-2020.pdf?ver=ECNbdsHtGilTd3OENN4A0Q%3d%3d PLEASE REVIEW THE BELOW LINK FOR OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS needed for proof of eligibility: https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DODCustomersRequiredSupportingDocumentation.pdf