Personnel Security Specialist (Recent Grads)

The incumbent serves as a Personnel Security Specialist tasked with identifying and protecting information, personnel, property, facilities,
operations, and materials from unauthorized disclosure, misuse, theft, assault, vandalism, espionage, sabotage, and loss.


The Major Duties for this position are listed below but not limited to:

• Assisting higher-graded Personnel Security Specialists by performing initial and basic reviews, along with evaluating and adjudicating submitted investigation packages to ensure compliance and adequacy of the personnel security investigation package.
• Performing routine, pre-defined personnel security and other database checks, strictly following established procedures and escalating any anomalies to their Supervisor. The incumbent assists in the preparation of investigation requests to other Federal entities by gathering readily available information and populating standard forms while following detailed instructions.
• Accessing complex information technology systems such as the Integrated Security Management System (ISMS), Pre-Incident Planning System (PIPS), and Electronic Questionnaire for Investigation Processing (e-QIP) strictly for data entry, retrieval, and basic query purposes under direct and ongoing guidance from higher-graded Specialists.
• Reviewing completed investigations for compliance and adequacy, requests investigations from other federal entities, and creating and/or documenting all actions within designated systems of records.

Qualifications

Experience GS-05: I have at least 3 years of progressively responsible experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least GS-4, that demonstrates the ability to:

• Analyzing problems to identify significant factors, gathering pertinent data and recognizing solutions.
• Planning and organizing work.
• Communicating effectively both orally and in writing.

Education Substitution GS-05:
Successful completion of a bachelor's degree or a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for the experience required at this level. One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester or 45 quarter hours.

Experience GS-07: You qualify for the GS-07 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Reviewing requests for personnel security clearances when derogatory information is absent.
• Assisting in scheduling security investigations.
• Reviewing reports of personnel background investigations to identify the presence or absence of derogatory information.

Education Substitution GS-07:
Graduate Education. Successful completion of one year of full-time graduate education from an accredited college or university may substitute for the experience required at this level. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise a year of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 18 semester or 27 quarter hours.

OR

A bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) may also substitute for the experience required. It is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average (i.e., GPA 3.0 or higher of a possible 4.0, excluding pass/fail credits. Pass/fail credits cannot be more than 10% of total credits), or (3) honor society membership. Review Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) to see if you qualify under this provision. Please see www.opm.gov for additional information.

Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 02/13/2026.