Federal

Personnel Security Specialist (Hiring Event)

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency ยท Department of Defense
๐Ÿ“ Springfield, Virginia IA-03 $85,447 - $158,322/yr
Posted: Feb 12, 2026 Deadline: Feb 18, 2026 (Closes in 3 days days left)

About This Position

Personnel Security Specialists review, analyze, and adjudicate personnel security information and conduct interviews to make security clearance determinations and to resolve questions concerning derogatory information. They advise organization officials on personnel security-related policies, procedures, programs, and investigative requirements. They also work with internal and external staff and

Qualifications

MANDATORY QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: For this particular job, applicants must meet all competencies reflected under the Mandatory Qualification Criteria to include education (if required). Online resumes must demonstrate qualification by providing specific examples and associated results, in response to the announcement's mandatory criteria specified in this vacancy announcement: 1. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in personnel security. 2. Demonstrated knowledge of DOD/DNI Security directives, regulations, policies, and Security Executive Agent Directives (SEADs), that govern personnel security. 3. Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and succinctly with all levels of personnel (peers, managers, customers, Internal directorates, IC/DOD partners). EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A. Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. -OR- B. Combination of Education and Experience: A minimum of 24 semester (36 quarter) hours of coursework in any area listed in option A, plus experience in advising on personnel security policies, security investigative requirements, and procedures for adverse security determinations, analyzing personnel security information, or experience in a related area that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties associated with this work. As a rule, every 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of coursework is equivalent to one year of experience. Candidates should show that their combination of education and experience totals 4 years. -OR- C. Experience: A minimum of 4 years of experience in advising on personnel security policies, security investigative requirements, and procedures for adverse security determinations, analyzing personnel security information, or experience in a related area that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties associated with this work. -AND- LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS: Must obtain DoD Security Fundamentals Professional Certification (SFPC) within 24 months. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: In addition to the mandatory qualifications, experience in the following is desired: 1. Demonstrated experience conducting interviews related to personnel security. 2. Demonstrated knowledge of federal clearance investigations and adjudicative process within DOD and the IC. 3. Demonstrated knowledge of security databases, Federal Investigation Standards (FIS), SEAD 4 and SEAD 7.

Major Duties

This Job Announcement will be used to build a pool of qualified applicants for a hiring event taking place on 28 February 2026 thru 1 March 2026. The Personnel Security Specialist - Investigations should be a dynamic, highly-interpersonal, self-motivated, independent, and team-oriented individual. This individual works with internal and external stakeholders to ensure a trusted workforce in support of national security equities. The incumbent is responsible for the successful delivery of personnel security processing to obtain and retain a workforce consistent with National Security guidelines. The incumbent individually manages a caseload in support of Personnel Security case management functions. Additionally, the incumbent will support team projects and initiatives and answer questions and concerns to support the operations of the work group or team. The incumbent is responsible for end-to-end case management, to ensure timely movement through the security clearance process in support to federally-mandated metrics and initiatives (e.g., 180-Day Initiative, Trusted Workforce 2.0, RAPBack, etc.). The incumbent is expected to pro-actively engage with customers in support of their duties. The incumbent should possess knowledge of the background investigations, personnel security case management, DNI metrics and initiative guidelines/policies and procedures. The incumbent should possess experience in the background investigation process and is responsible for meeting NGA timelines set by supervision. The incumbent should also be well versed in personnel security policy and associated regulations. This position requires an understanding of Federal and DoD/DNI security regulations, including policies, procedures, and methods pertaining to personnel security eligibility and access requirements; FOIA; Privacy Act; NGA security policy and procedures; investigative criteria contained in the Federal Investigative Standards (FIS) and reciprocity guidance as defined in the Security Executive Agent Directives (SEADs), and experience with federal personnel security data repositories (i.e. Scattered Castles, DISS, DCII, eQIP, etc.). This position also requires experience analyzing and interpreting security or investigative policies, procedures, and regulations to determine impact of new or changing policy, and experience implementing process improvements and servicing customers/partners in a fast-paced environment.

Conditions of Employment

SPECIAL INFO: As a condition of employment at NGA, persons being considered for employment must meet NGA fitness for employment standards. - U.S. Citizenship - Security Clearance - Top Secret /Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) - Polygraph & Drug Test - Direct Deposit - Trial Period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. We may consider: performance conduct; needs and interests of the agency; and whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government and the efficiency of the Federal service SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: You must be able to obtain and retain a Top Secret security clearance with access to SCI. In addition, you are subject to a Counterintelligence Polygraph examination in order to maintain access to Top Secret information. All employees are subject to a periodic examination on a random basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Refusal to take the examination may result in denial of access to Top Secret information, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs. Employees with SCI access and who are under NGA cognizance are required to submit a Security Financial Disclosure Report, SF-714, on an annual basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Failure to comply may negatively impact continued access to Top Secret information, Information Systems, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs. NGA utilizes all processes and procedures of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). Non-executive NGA employees are assigned to five distinct pay bands based on the type and scope of work performed. The employee's base salary is established within their assigned pay band based on their unique qualifications. A performance pay process is conducted each year to determine a potential base pay salary increase and/or bonus. An employee's annual performance evaluation is a key factor in the performance pay process. This position is a DCIPS position in the Excepted Service under 10 U.S.C. 1601. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are an external applicant claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must self-identify your eligibility.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Applicants are not required to submit a cover letter for employment consideration with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. However, a cover letter is recommended. Applicants will have the option to attach a cover letter in the Qualifications - Attachments step of the online application. APPLICANT EVALUATION PROCESS: Applicants will be evaluated for this job opportunity in three stages: 1) All applicants will be evaluated using the Mandatory Qualification Criteria, 2) Qualified applicants will then be evaluated by an expert or panel of experts using a combination of qualification criteria to determine the best-qualified candidates, 3) Best-qualified applicants may then be further evaluated through an interview process. Military retiree applicants, if selected, may be impacted by the 180-day appointment restrictions of DODI 1402.01. HD personnel will provide additional information if applicable. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the Assignment Description, Additional Information Provided By the Selecting Official, and the Qualification Requirements; and then construct their resumes to highlight their most relevant and significant experience and education for this job opportunity. This description should include examples that detail the level and complexity of the performed work. Applicants are encouraged to provide any education or degree information referenced in the announcement that is relevant. If education is listed as a mandatory requirement, only degrees obtained from an institution accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Secretary, US Department of Education will be accepted. In accordance with section 9902(h) of title 5, United States Code, annuitants reemployed in the Department of Defense shall receive full annuity and salary upon appointment. They shall not be eligible for retirement contributions, participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, or a supplemental or re-determined annuity for the reemployment period. Discontinued service retirement annuitants (i.e., retired under section 8336(d)(1) or 8414(b)(1)(A) of title 5, United States Code) appointed to the Department of Defense may elect to be subject to retirement provisions of the new appointment as appropriate. (See DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300). Reemployed annuitants must meet additional selection criteria as outlined in the DODI 1400.25, v300. All candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation. NGA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applications will only be accepted online. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us at [email protected]. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.

How to Apply

Application submission involves applying using NGA's online application process at NGA Careers Portal. Additional information concerning NGA's hiring process can be found by visiting NGA Hiring Process. All announcements close at 11:59PM EDT on the closing date listed. Be sure to complete and submit your application by that time in order to be considered. ONLY ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Both applicants for employment and current employees of NGA are entitled to request religious accommodations from generally applicable employment-related rules and requirements, so long as the accommodation requested would not result in an undue hardship to the conduct of NGA's business. You can apply for the job opening at https://careers.nga.mil/psp/CAREERS/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=20260054&PostingSeq=2

Required Documents

None

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Personnel Security Specialist (Hiring Event) position at National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency?
The salary range for this position is $85,447 - $158,322/yr. This is a IA-03 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Personnel Security Specialist (Hiring Event) job located?
This position is located in Springfield, Virginia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
MANDATORY QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: For this particular job, applicants must meet all competencies reflected under the Mandatory Qualification Criteria to include education (if required). Online resumes must demonstrate qualification by providing specific examples and associated results, in response to the announcement's mandatory criteria specifi...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Feb 18, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance is required.
What does IA-03 mean?
IA-03 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.