This position is located at Bureau of Engraving and Printing, within the PERSONNEL SECURITY DIVISION. As a Personnel Security Specialist, you will serve as part of a team of Personnel Security Specialists conducting background investigations for federal public trust and national security positions on federal applicants and federal contractors who perform work on behalf of the federal government.

Duties

The following are the duties of this position at the GS-12. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties and will receive training to help you grow in this position. As a Personnel Security Specialist, you will: Conduct complex and sensitive public trust and national security background investigations; employee and contractor misconduct investigations; worker's compensation fraud investigations; TOIG referral investigations; and other special administrative investigations or investigative inquiries that may lead to criminal investigations requiring referral to the TOIG. The investigations require a high degree of analytical skill in evaluating facts obtained, and assignments require ingenuity and seasoned judgment in identifying and securing relevant information. Information obtained can be conflicting and the documentation can be outdated or difficult to identify and secure. Locate and interview witnesses, including those who evade or refuse to cooperate, collect and examine pertinent records from a wide variety of standard and unusual sources, and conduct further data collection when inconsistencies in statements or documentation are identified. Conduct extensive research and analysis of applicable laws and regulations as well as other materials such as operating manuals, union contracts, etc. Make decisions and recommendations in situations complicated by uncertainty in approach, methodology, and/or interpretation due to extreme sensitivity; the existence of few or no precedents to follow; and significant unresolved legal or regulatory issues. Prepare factual and analytical reports that include exhibits, tables, charts, graphs, etc. and identifies, addresses, and evaluate issues relevant to the investigation. Initiate and develop additional investigations arising from the original assignment. Take photographs to support investigative findings. Provide a final written report of investigations.

Requirements

Qualifications

You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For the GS-11, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes: applying personnel security rules, regulations, policies, and practices in order to gather facts, draw conclusions or recommend solutions to problems. AND establishing and maintaining effective partnerships and communication regarding personnel security investigations. AND review reports and investigations for indications of improper activities and identifying potential problems. OR You may qualify with a Ph. D. or equivalent doctoral degree. OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. OR LL.M., if related. OR You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 36 semester hours (54 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education. For the GS-09, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes: applying personnel security rules, regulations, policies, and practices in order to gather facts, draw conclusions or recommend solutions to problems. AND establishing and maintaining effective partnerships and communication regarding personnel security investigations. OR You may qualify with a Master's or equivalent graduate degree OR 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. OR LL.B. or J.D., if related. OR You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.

Education

Bureau of Engraving and Printing has a memorandum of understanding the U.S. Office of Personnel Management that requires each investigator to have the required education or experience as follows:

a. A college degree (bachelor's); OR
b. Four years of general experience;OR
c. Two years of specialized experience within the last 5 years; OR
d. One year of specialized Federal background investigation experience within last 5 years.

General experience is progressively responsible experience that demonstrates the ability to problem solve, analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data and recognize solutions, plan and organize work and communicate effectively orally and in writing on a professional level.
Specialized Experience is progressively responsible experience conducting general background investigations or as a local, state, military or Federal law enforcement officer.
Specialized Federal background investigation experience is experience conducting background investigations for a federal agency.

Education Requirements: The education generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.

Contacts

• Address PERSONNEL SECURITY DIVISION Administrative Resource Center Parkersburg, WV 26101 US
• Name: Applicant Call Center
• Phone: 304-480-7300
• Email: [email protected]