Federal

Supervisory Security Specialist

Department of State - Agency Wide Β· Department of State
πŸ“ Washington, District of Columbia GS-14 $143,913 - $187,093/yr
Posted: Feb 20, 2026 Deadline: Mar 2, 2026 (Closed days left)

About This Position

This position is located in Procedural Security & Accreditation Unit, Special Security Operations Division, Office of Information Security, Directorate of Security Infrastructure, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS/IS/SSO). The SSO Division is responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing plans, policies and procedures to ensure that intelligence information, including Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), is disseminated and used securely.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement.

NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement.

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience developing budgets for Government programs and managing resources. Experience implementing policies, plans, and procedures concerning the protection of intelligence information, including SCI.

Experience managing Sensitive Compartmented Facilities (SCIF) construction, expansion, or modification. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-14 position. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F.

In addition, applicant's experience must also demonstrate that the candidate possesses the following qualities: Ability to assign, review, and supervise the work of others; Objectivity and fairness in judging people on their ability, and situations on the facts and circumstances; Ability to adjust to change, work pressures, or difficult situations without undue stress; Willingness to consider new ideas or divergent points of view; and Capacity to "see the job through."

Major Duties

Maintains awareness of Intelligence Community (IC), Department and Diplomatic Security policies, plans, initiatives, and developments impacting information security programs.

Reviews and approves physical security pre-construction, construction, expansion or modification plans for Department worldwide Sensitive Compartmented Facilities (SCIFs).

Develops policies and procedures for implementing the SCI physical and procedural security programs for Department offices and personnel domestically and overseas.

Provides guidance, direction, and policy interpretation relating to the proper handling of intelligence and SCI.

Reviews and advises on National Intelligence policies and programmatic issues to ensure the protection of SCI and implement those policies within the Department.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

How You Will Be Evaluated

A review of your resume will be conducted and compared against your responses to the crediting plan questions to determine if you are qualified for this job. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements, as described in the β€œQualifications” section of this announcement, will be assigned a score between 70 and 100. The evaluation process consists of an online assessment and a subject matter expert resume review of applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates based on the crediting plan assessment.

Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further. Responses to questions that are not fully supported by the information in your resume may result in adjustments to your rating.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies: Ability to develop and produce architectural plans and specifications. Ability to manage a wide range of security programs. Knowledge of physical and technical security techniques employed to protect SCIFS Ability to manage resources efficiently.

Knowledge of the handling and storage of classified and sensitive information. Ability to liaise with internal and external partners. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We do not make assumptions regarding your experience.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials may result in your removal from consideration. Applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview. Qualified non-competitive candidates must be deemed best qualified based on the applicant assessment in order to be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview.

Resume review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience.

Your resume should demonstrate how you meet all aspects of the specialized experience statement. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., links embedded in your resume will not be opened.). If meeting basic qualifications through education only or a combination of education and experience, applicants will not be referred to the SME panel but will be reviewed by the HR Specialist for referral.

Agency Career and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP and ICTAP) candidates must be considered well-qualified for the position and submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement to receive consideration for selection priority. To be considered well-qualified,

in addition to earning a score of 85 or above and meeting minimum qualifications, candidates must demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all of the major aspects of the position.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Additional Information

For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at (202) 663-3474 or [email protected]. If eligible, situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.

How to Apply

Prepare your application in USAJOBS To start your application, click Apply and we'll walk you through the process to attach a resume and any required documents. During the application process you can review, edit, delete, and update your information. We'll automatically save your progress as you go, so you won't lose any changes.

You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement to complete the application process. STEP 1: Select the "Apply" button and follow the instructions to register or sign into USAJOBS.

STEP 2: Submit your resume. Please see the Required Documents section for specific information that should be outlined in your resume. STEP 3: Complete the online assessment questions. STEP 4: Submit all required documentation applicable to you, as listed in the Required Documents section.

To learn how to view the status of your submitted supporting documentation and application, visit the Application Instructions section of our agency's Civil Service selection process site. Technical assistance with your on-line application is available through the Help Desk at [email protected] or by calling (866) 656-6830 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET Alternate Application Procedures If applying online poses an extreme hardship, you may request alternate application procedures to submit your application package.

Contact the Human Resources office listed on the announcement between the business hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET at least 2 working days prior to the closing date of this announcement. The application package for alternate application procedures must be submitted and received in the Human Resources office no later than 11:59 p.m.

ET on the closing date of this announcement. Paper applications and information sent by mail will not be accepted.

Required Documents

All required documents listed below, that are applicable to you, must be submitted to our automated system by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement.

  1. Resume limited to 2 pages showing relevant work/volunteer experience, education and training. Include the start and end dates (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours per week worked/volunteered.

Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must support your answers to the completed online assessment questions. Resumes longer than 2 pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further.

  1. Other Qualification Documentation (e.g., transcripts, certificates, certifications, etc.), if applicable.
  2. Performance appraisal, if applicable. Most recent (i.e., usually within the last 18 months) final (not a mid-year review) official (i.e., signed by the rating official and in original format) annual performance appraisal must be submitted by reinstatement eligible applicants applying to a position with a higher grade or more promotion potential than previously held and current or former Land Management employees.

All other current and former Federal employees are strongly encouraged to submit their performance appraisal for the hiring manager's consideration. If not available, you may provide a statement from you and/or your supervisor with an explanation along with your servicing HR Office contact information.

You may be requested to provide an appraisal to the hiring official if one was not provided with your application. To receive a promotion, the current Federal employee's most recent performance rating must be β€œfully successful” or an equivalent level or higher. Employees who are tentatively selected to receive a promotion will be required to provide performance documentation within 2 business days of request. Servicing HR Offices may be contacted to verify performance ratings.

  1. Most recent SF-50s (Notification of Personnel Actions), if you are a current or former Federal employee (including those applying under a non-competitive, special hiring authority, or ICTAP/CTAP eligibles). The SF-50s must show: effective date, position title, series, grade, salary, tenure, position occupied, full promotion potential, and name of agency. Multiple SF-50s may be needed to show all required information (e.g., promotion, within-grade increase, and separation SF-50s). Award SF-50s often do not show the required information.
  2. Veteran Documentation, if applicable. Veterans who are preference eligible OR who have been separated from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions (honorable or general discharge) after 3 or more years of continuous active service may apply under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA).

You must submit a DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4 preferred) showing the dates you served as well as your type of discharge and qualifying service campaign medals OR if you are still on active duty, you MUST submit a certification on letterhead from your military branch which contains your military service dates, expected date of discharge or release, and the character of service to show that your military service was performed under honorable conditions. The expected date of discharge or release must be no later than 120 days after the certification is submitted for consideration for this job announcement. Current Federal employees applying under the VEOA must submit a qualifying SF-50 to show time-in-grade requirements.

If you are applying as a preference eligible with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more, you must submit the documentation required by the SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference) to support your claim (e.g., DD-214, official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs). For applicants claiming 10-point derived veterans' preference (i.e., spouses, widows/widowers or mothers of veterans), a completed SF-15 must be submitted with the application with all required supporting documents listed on the form. For more veterans' preference information, visit the USAJOBS Help Center.

  1. Non-competitive or special hiring authority eligibility documentation, if applicable. (e.g., Schedule A individuals with disabilities, RPCV or AmeriCorp VISTA volunteer, Fulbright/Gilman/CLS alumni, etc.) 7. ICTAP/CTAP documentation, if applicable (e.g., reduction-in-force (RIF) separation notice, RIF separation SF-50 personnel action (ICTAP only, if available), most recent SF-50 (CTAP/ICTAP), certification of expected separation, etc.) In addition, submit a copy of your current or last performance rating of record which must be at least fully successful or equivalent and submit all required documents listed above that apply to you.
  2. Current or Former Land Management Employee documentation, if applicable. Visit the Forest Service's site for required documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Supervisory Security Specialist position at Department of State - Agency Wide?
The salary range for this position is $143,913 - $187,093/yr. This is a GS-14 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Supervisory Security Specialist job located?
This position is located in Washington, District of Columbia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement. Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in t...
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 Mar 2, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Top Secret clearance is required.
What does GS-14 mean?
GS-14 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.