Summary Securing Travel, Protecting People - At the Transportation Security Administration, you will serve in a high-stakes environment to safeguard the American way of life. In cities across the country, you would secure airports, seaports, railroads, highways, and/or public transit systems, thus protecting America's transportation infrastructure and ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce. Responsibilities This Personnel Security Specialist position is located in Security and Administrative Services (SAS), Enterprise Support (ES), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Duties include but are not limited to: Reviewing security forms to identify the presence or absence of derogatory information, evaluates the impact of various kinds of derogatory information on the granting, denying, or revoking of security clearances and Federal employment eligibility, and makes EOD determinations for TSA applicants. Reviewing requests for personnel or facility security clearances to assure that all required information is provided, requesting missing information from the originators, and granting clearances when derogatory information is absent or mitigated. Adjudicating complex reports of background investigations while interpreting and applying suitability (fitness) factors and adjudicative guidelines and making recommendations affecting final suitability (fitness) and security clearance eligibility. Managing individual caseloads and ensuring metrics and timelines are satisfied. Communicating with field offices to provide case information or to resolve issues related to personnel security requirements or procedures. Preparing written correspondence to include but not limited to letters of interrogatories, case summaries, eligibility notifications, and notices of adverse actions. The major duties described above reflect the full performance level of this position. Typically, the lower pay band (F and G Band) performs the same duties but will receive more guidance and training; and/or projects/work assignments may be less complex. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National. You must have reached the minimum age (18) at the time of application. You must complete a favorable Background Investigation (BI). Selective Service registration is required. Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance. Must successfully pass both pre- and post-employment drug and alcohol testing. Conditions of Employment (If applicable): Must possess U.S Citizenship or be a U.S National. Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance. Subject to Pre-employment and subsequent random drug testing. If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for TSA to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions. Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change. Qualifications To qualify for the SV-F Pay Band (equivalent to GS-9), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-E Pay Band or GS-7/8 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as: Such specialized experience is defined as: Experience providing administrative support for personnel security related tasks such as reviewing, initiating or adjudicating requests for clearance/security access for a federal agency or organization. OR Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. To qualify for the SV-G Pay Band (equivalent to GS-11), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-F Pay Band or GS-9 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience providing guidance on personnel security policies including evaluating and adjudicating various levels of background investigations and rendering suitability/fitness and clearance eligibility decisions in accordance with federal policies; and Experience utilizing Office of Personnel Management (OPM) systems (i.e., electronic questionnaire for investigative processing (eQIP), the OPM secure web portal and the OPM Personnel Investigations Processing System (PIPS). OR Achievement of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a field of study which is in or directly related to this position. OR Three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. OR LL.M., if related. To qualify for the SV-H Pay Band (equivalent to GS-12), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-G Pay Band or GS-11 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as: Such specialized experience is defined as: Experience providing guidance on personnel security policies including evaluating and adjudicating various levels; of background investigations and rendering suitability/fitness and clearance eligibility decisions in accordance with federal policies; and Experience utilizing Office of Personnel Management (OPM) systems (i.e., electronic questionnaire for investigative processing (eQIP), the OPM secure web portal and the OPM Personnel Investigations Processing System (PIPS). Providing technical guidance on all personnel security issues to include request to grant, deny, revoke, suspend, or restrict security eligibility; Performing a wide variety of security administration functions (i.e. managing security database; preparing and maintaining security and incident reports; updating and maintaining security-related process guides and training materials). Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Resumes must include the following: Narrative description of duties with start and end dates (including the month and year) for work experience. State the number of hours worked in a position (i.e. full-time or part-time). If part-time, state the total number of hours worked per week. Performance level (i.e. band or grade) Utilizing the USAJOBS Resume Builder and completing all available fields is strongly encouraged. You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement. Education For positions requiring positive education requirements, or if you are using education to meet all or part of the qualification requirements, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or an itemized list of college courses from an accredited college or university, which includes equivalent information from the transcript (course title, semester/quarter hours, and grade/degree earned) in your resume. The information must be provided with the application by the closing date of the announcement. If selected, the applicant must supply a transcript or certification of degree. Additional Information Eligibility to apply for other Federal positions: TSA is an Excepted Service agency exempt from most of Title 5 United States Code, including regulations which apply to displaced Federal employees (CTAP/ICTAP) of other agencies, and employment with TSA does not confer "Competitive Status" that generally results from selection and service in Competitive Service agencies. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has established an Interchange Agreement, which allows most permanent TSA employees to apply and be considered for vacancies in Competitive Service agencies. Information from OPM on this or other Interchange Agreements is available at: www.opm.gov/ To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation as a condition of placement into this position. DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities. If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment. TSA employees who are absent for the purpose of performing military duty may apply for any vacancies announced in their absence. More than one position may be filled from this announcement. If you are entering TSA employment on an appointment without time limitations, you must serve a basic trial period unless you have already met the requirement. DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more. Employees who transfer to TSA from an agency that allows employees to maintain an annual leave balance higher than the maximum accumulation for the appointed position will have their leave ceiling set to the maximum accumulation for the appointed position (e.g., United States duty location - 240 hours, foreign duty location - 360 hours, or TSES position - 720 hours). TSA will not make a monetary payment for any leave forfeited under these circumstances.