Summary This position is with the Personnel Security Adjudication Center (PSAC) which is under the Office of Identity, Credential, and Access Management (OICAM) of the Office of Operations, Security, and Preparedness (OSP) located on the campus of the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System in North Little Rock, AR. The position is supervised by and is assigned work, has priorities set, actions monitored, by a first line Supervisory Personnel Security Specialist. Responsibilities This is a non bargaining unit position. Work Schedule: Mon- Fri 7:30am - 4:00pm Compressed/Flexible Schedule: May be available with supervisor approval Telework: May be available with supervisor approval Duty Location Status: Will work from a VA owned or leased space Position Description Title/PD#: Security Assistant/ PD 5984500A/59804499A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Physical Demands: The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee sits or stands comfortably to do the work at a computer work station. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as papers, books, small parts; or driving an automobile, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-07. At the GS-06 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-07. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. Promotion is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied. Major Duties: Provides support during security and suitability program transactions by reviewing all initial background investigation processing forms for accuracy and completeness. Performs checks of Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) and VA databases for security and suitability background investigations, clearances, adverse suitability assessments, and other security information. Enters and tracks information in an automated data system. Maintains a comprehensive suspense file system on security and suitability actions in accordance with regulatory requirements. Initiates request for additional information from employees and contractors to complete investigative requests. Reviews request forms of background investigations to detect obvious errors or omissions in the information. Utilizes computer network systems in developing, preparing, tracking information, reports, and other data. Establishes protocols for incoming data, organizes computerized data sets and retrieves computerized data. Provides support and assists in the planning, review, and reporting of data/statistical results of program or project studies. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/01/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. Provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" to indicate your current federal status. You must also submit additional SF-50(s) to clearly demonstrate one year time-in-grade as required in the announcement. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate that you possess one year time-in-grade. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade. Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. AND You may qualify based on your experience as described below. Specialized Experience GS-06: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as is defined as under direct supervision of a team lead, experience in answering inquiries and providing program information and assistance, entering and tracking information in an automated data system, ability to compile, analyze, and summarize information with accuracy and completeness, utilizing computer network systems in developing, preparing, tracking information, reports, and other data. Specialized Experience GS-07: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience in answering inquiries and providing program information and assistance, entering and tracking information in an automated data system, ability to compile, analyze, and summarize information with accuracy and completeness, utilizing computer network systems in developing, preparing, tracking information, reports, and other data. Per Office of Personnel Management General Schedule Qualification Policies, federal employees are assumed to have gained experience by performing duties and responsibilities appropriate for their official series and grade level as described in their position description. Experience that would not normally be part of the employee's position is creditable when documented by satisfactory evidence (e.g., a memorandum from the manager, human resources director, or official documentation such as SF-52, SF-50 documenting an official detail/assignments, or other comparable documentation). The documentation must indicate whether the employee performed the duties full time or, if part-time, the percentage of times the employee performed the additional duties. To receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your position, you must provide official documentation of such experience as indicated above. 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit OPM's web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/alph-ndx.asp. Education There is no education substitute or requirement for the GS-06/07 level. Additional Information The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.