Suitability Adjudicator
Summary
As a Personnel Security Specialist with OPM's Suitability Executive Agent Program, you will assist in reviewing investigations, identifying suitability issues, analyzing information, and preparing case summaries. You will make adjudicative decisions that uphold the integrity and efficiency of the workforce. As you progress through training, you will assume more sensitive adjudicative, analytical, and policy interpretation responsibilities as you gain experience and demonstrate proficiency.
Duties
- Assist in Reviewing Referrals and Investigations - Ensures suitability referrals are appropriate, complete, and within OPM jurisdiction; identifies routine issues and refers complex cases to senior specialists.
- Conduct Information Gathering - Makes calls or sends written inquiries to clarify or resolve suitability issues and gathers evidence necessary for case assessment.
- Support Case Review and Closure - Assists in reviewing completed cases to determine if suitability actions are warranted and closes routine cases under supervision.
- Prepare Draft Summaries and Correspondence - Drafts summaries of issues, evidence, and correspondence for review; communicates with agencies, personnel, applicants and appointees, sources of information, and OPM offices on basic suitability matters.
- Assist with Projects and New Initiatives - Supports higher-graded specialists in suitability-related projects, policy updates, and training initiatives undertaken by the Adjudications office.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
- Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
- Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
- May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
- Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin
- Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required
- This position is not eligible for inclusion in a bargaining unit
- To meet the Recent Graduate Program Eligibility requirements, you must have obtained a qualifying Associates, Bachelor's, Master's, Professional, Doctorate, Vocational or Technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution, within the previous 2 years.
Qualifications
For the GS-05 level- Applicants must have one of the following:
- Three years of general experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least the GS-04 level.
- A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree.
- An equivalent combination of education and specialized experience.
For the GS-07 level-Applicants must have one of the following:
- One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service performing all of the following: assisting with reviewing background investigations or personnel security cases; gathering and verifying information related to character, conduct, or employment suitability; preparing draft summaries or correspondence related to suitability findings; and applying established procedures or regulations in support of security or adjudicative determinations.
- One full academic year of graduate-level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as, Human Resources, Business, Public Administration, or another related field.
- A Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement
- An equivalent combination of education and specialized experience.
To meet the Recent Graduate Program Eligibility requirements, you must have obtained a qualifying Associates, Bachelor's, Master's, Professional, Doctorate, Vocational or Technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution, within the previous 2 years.
All Education must be accredited by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants may verify accreditation at the following website: Accreditation. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by OPM accordingly.
ATTENTION VETERANS: A veteran, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 2108, who due to military service obligation, was precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon his or her release or discharge from active duty. In no event, however, may the individual's eligibility period extend beyond 6 years from the date on which the individual completed the requirements of an academic course of study.
You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
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 has a basic education requirement listed under the Qualifications section of this announcement.
Additional information
Relocation expenses will not be paid.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across OPM.
If you are a veteran and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility.
If you are a veteran and you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference click here.
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.
Reasonable Accommodation 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 here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire
PROGRAM COMPLETION AND CONVERSION ELIGIBILITY:
Program participants may be converted, without a break in service, to a term, career or career conditional appointment upon completion of program requirements.
To be eligible for conversion, Recent Graduates must:
- Complete one continuous year of work experience acquired through a Recent Graduate Program
- Complete 40 hours of formal interactive training
- Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted
- Meet any agency-specific requirements specified in the Participant's Agreement
- Demonstrate successful job performance that results in a rating of record of at least Fully Successful and a recommendation for conversion by the first level supervisor.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, the duration of your appointment will be considered a trial 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 trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Expand additional information
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.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the application process is complete, your resume will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement.
Qualified applicants will be placed in one of four groupings:
- Preference eligible having a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more
- Other 10-point preference eligible
- 5-point preference eligible
- No preference eligible
Selection will be made from the highest available preference group, as long as at least three candidates remain in that group. When fewer than three candidates remain in the highest group, consideration may be expanded to include the next grouping.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
Accountability, Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reading Comprehension, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, and Teamwork
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your Resume showing the applicant's name, email address, work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed to include pay plan, series, and grade level for relevant federal experience. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications. Only the first 2 pages of the resume/application will be used to verify minimum qualifications. Please be sure to include specific dates of employment and work schedule(s).
- Do not include the following types of information in your resume:
- Classified or government sensitive information
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Photos of yourself
- Personal information, such as age, sex, religious affiliation, etc.
- Encrypted and digitally signed documents
2. Your final college transcripts showing that you are a Recent Graduate to meet eligibility for this position.
3. Other supporting documents:
- Cover Letter, optional
- Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.)
Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.