Summary The Personnel Security Specialist FV-0080-H/I position is located in the Security and Hazardous Materials Safety (ASH), Office of Personnel Security, AXP-001 organization. The mission of ASH is to ensure aviation safety, support national security, and promote an efficient airspace system through the development and administration of policies and programs. Responsibilities Duties and Responsibilities for the FV-H (FG/GS-12) level: The incumbent performs multiple and varying assignments under the limited direction of a manager or more experienced specialist. He/she applies experience and advanced knowledge applicable to the Personnel Security Program to plan and accomplish assignments. Established policies and procedures provide guidance for most assignments but allow for discretion to select the most appropriate approach or to recommend new approaches. Assignments typically require solutions that are derived by interpreting and extrapolating from situations that were faced in the past. Typical assignments include, but are not limited to, the following: Assists in establishing the position sensitivity/risk level designation and the investigative requirements for agency positions. Ensures the timely initiation of the appropriate investigations for all applicants, employees, and/or contractors to include the review of required documents and forms for accuracy. completeness, and clarity. Initiates and conducts additional inquiries/interviews of applicants, employees, and/or contractors as may be necessary to clarify or obtain more complete data prior to submission of forms to the Defense Counterintelligence Security Agency (DSDA) for investigation. Reviews and recommends adjudicative action for personnel security investigations. Prepares and screens cases for action by a senior specialist or the manager. Assists in establishing administrative procedures to monitor the investigative process. Maintains liaison with DCSA and with security offices of other government agencies and departments; Federal, State, and local law enforcement; and industrial security agencies to ensure expeditious accomplishment of investigations. Assists senior specialists and/or the manager in the formulation of policies, standards, procedures, and methods and their application for preparing, distributing, and interpreting security educational material. Upon receipt from DCSA reviews and analyzes investigations to determine whether the report contains derogatory or unfavorable information that must be resolved and/or whether there is sufficient information to make a determination as to the individual's suitability for employment and/or for issuance of a security clearance. Evaluates the significance of any derogatory information and conducts any needed investigations, including interview of the applicant, employee, or contractor, to obtain a denial or information to clarify or mitigate the unfavorable information. Enters and updates investigation and security clearance information for agency personnel in the Investigations Tracking System (ITS). Performs a variety of administrative and technical functions such as preparing reports relating to the program's status, exercising custodial responsibility for personnel security case files, and conducting security briefings, debriefings, and required indoctrination for individuals to whom security clearances are to be issued. Assists in administering the requirements and guidance of Executive Orders and departmental and agency directives as they pertain to the FAA's Personnel Security Program. Responds to inquiries from supervisory personnel and employees concerning interpretation and application of security requirements. Duties and Responsibilities for H/I continued under the Minimum Qualifications section. Requirements Conditions of Employment We are not accepting applications from noncitizens. Qualifications Duties and Responsibilities continued: The incumbent demonstrates considerable independence in prioritizing time and helping a manager, project/program manger, and/or team leader to plan and use assigned resources to accomplish projects/programs/activities. Established policies/procedures provide guidance for most assignments but allow considerable discretion for employee to select the most appropriate approach or recommend new approaches. Assignments often require reviews of policies and precedents under the limited guidance of a manager or other employees. Resolves most problems and work issues without the assistance of a manager or senior specialist. Refers problems to managers and professionals who are more experienced that require their attention. Work is reviewed periodically, typically at major milestones, and at completion for policy compliance and alignment with the requirements of projects and/or other work activities. Performs other duties as assigned. Duties and Responsibilities for the FV-I (FG/GS-13): The incumbent performs multiple, varying, and complex assignments under the minimal direction of a manager or more experienced specialist. He/she establishes, in consultation with the concerned managers and senior personnel security specialists, the position sensitivity/risk level designation and the investigative requirements for FAA positions. Ensures timely initiation of the appropriate investigation for all applicants/employees, to include the review of required documents and forms for accuracy, completeness, and clarity. Initiates and conducts additional inquiries/interviews of applicants/employees as may be necessary to clarify or to obtain more complete data prior to submission of forms to the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) for investigation. Applies experience and comprehensive knowledge applicable to the Personnel Security Program to plan and conduct functional activities. Provides guidance on background investigations, suitability, and security clearance matters and adjudicates cases. Establishes administrative procedures to monitor the investigative process and maintains liaison with DCSA and with security offices of other government agencies and departments; Federal, state, and local law enforcement; and industrial security agencies to ensure expeditious accomplishment of investigations. Assists the manager in the formulation of policies, standards, procedures, and methods and their application for preparing, distributing, and interpreting security educational material. Upon receipt from DCSA, reviews and analyzes investigations to determine whether the report contains derogatory or unfavorable information that must be resolved and/or whether there is sufficient information to make a determination as to the individual's suitability for employment and/or for issuance of a security clearance. Evaluates the significance of any derogatory information and conducts any needed investigations, including interview of the employee/applicant, to obtain a denial or information to clarify or mitigate the unfavorable information. Ensures the entry into the Investigations Tracking System (ITS) of required data relative to the investigation and security clearance of all personnel. Performs a variety of administrative and technical functions such as preparing reports relating to the program's status, exercising custodial responsibility for personnel security case files, and conducting security briefings, debriefings, and required indoctrination for individuals to whom security clearances are to be issued. Administers the requirements and guidance of Executive Orders and departmental and agency directives as they pertain to the FAA's Personnel Security Program. Responds to inquiries from supervisory personnel and employees concerning interpretation and application of security requirements. Resolves most problems and work issues without the assistance of a manager or more experienced professional. Develops and recommends approaches to address current and anticipated problems and issues. Work is reviewed rarely, typically through status reports and at project completion to ensure policy compliance and alignment with the program requirements. The work supports the ability of ASH to accomplish critical mission responsibilities and supports agency key goals and objectives by determining the suitability of security eligibility of individuals for entry and retention in sensitive and non-sensitive positions. Performs other duties as assigned. Reference OPM Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions. To qualify for this position at the FV-H (FG/GS-12) level you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-G (FG/GS-10/11) in the federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized Experience: Experience implementing the processes and procedures of a personnel security program; reviewing and adjudicating security investigations; entering and maintaining information in a personnel security database; and providing technical guidance and advice on matters pertaining to personnel security. To qualify for this position at the FV-I (FG/GS-13) level you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-H (FG/GS-12) in the federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized Experience: Experience providing guidance on background investigations, security clearances; implementing the processes and procedures of a personnel security program; reviewing and adjudicating security investigations; experience establishing administrative procedures to monitor the investigative process; experience providing technical guidance and advice on matters pertaining to personnel security. Applicants should include examples of specialized experience in their work history. Qualifications must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA. KSA Information: As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA. In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA); Leadership and Management Dimensions; and Other Factors in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate. Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) or other factors listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or priority grouping and referred to the selecting official for consideration. Education Additional Information We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions. Position may be subject to a background investigation. A one-year probationary period may be required. The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements The U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that equity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation. As such, DOT values a highly diverse workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome. If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family. This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing. Note: Organization Code will be designated upon selection. Selectee may be placed in the following Org Codes within the Office of Security and Hazardous Materials Safety (ASH): AXP-330 AXP-340 AXP-500 AXP-510 AXP-520 Interviews: Some, all or none of the applicants may be interviewed. Security Requirements: This Level 3 (Critical-Sensitive) position requires favorable adjudication of a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained. Core Comp Position: This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about core compensation is available on the following website: http://jobs.faa.gov/FAACoreCompensation.htm INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS: Applicants must ensure they answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may impact rating or may result in not being considered for the job. This is not a bargaining unit position. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay , COLA