The Security Assistant performs security-related functions in support of a Network Personnel Suitability and Credentialing Program within a shared services unit. The Personnel Security Program assures that all appointees have the appropriate level of security/suitability clearance commensurate with their assignment. The incumbent serves as an Assistant to the Personnel Security Specialist. Also entails Personal Identity Verification Program (PIV) responsibility.

Duties

This position serves as a Personnel Security Assistant in the PSU, and the position is to perform security-related functions in support of a Network Personnel Suitability and Credentialing Program (hereinafter, "Personnel Security Program") within a shared services unit. The Personnel Security Program assures that all appointees have the appropriate level of security/suitability clearance commensurate with their assignment. The incumbent serves as an Assistant to the Personnel Security Specialist. Work assigned is of a very confidential and highly sensitive nature. This position also entails Personal Identity Verification Program (PIV) responsibility, which is a Government-wide identification standard for secure and reliable identity credentials issued by the Federal Government to its employees, contractors, affiliates, and volunteers. The PIV Program is required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 12 and outlined in Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201-2. Performs work related to the collection, organization and/or tracking of information in support of the Personnel Security Program. Processing of initiating, reviewing, and approving background cases for release to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in compliance with policies relating to completion of suitability investigations for Federal employees and others requiring background investigations for non-sensitive and public trust positions. Assists the Personnel Security Specialist in collecting appropriate background information, tracking and reviewing data, completion of reports, maintaining databases and processing follow-up actions on various security related matters and assisting with suitability adjudications. The work of the Personnel Security Assistant has a direct impact on the accomplishment of national and local performance measures with regard to timeliness of actions. Review position risk sensitivity levels as full assistant to the Personnel Security Specialist. For pre-employment processes, serves as the initial point of contact for new appointees. Initiates, reviews and releases appointees background investigations in the Office of Personnel Managements Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIP) system or in conjunction with the VA- Adjudication Center (VA-AC).Monitors the status of specific pending items, compiles data to produce reports, follows up to determine status and records results. Performs administrative tasks associated with the authorization and issuance of the PIV card, a standardized identification badge. Accomplishes special projects in relation to the PIV Program. Performs other related duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm; Will be discussed during the interview process. Telework: Not Suitable Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Personnel Security Assistant/PD99952S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/24/2023. 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-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-04. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. 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. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-5 GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Must meet one of the following: Experience: Must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-4) that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes: Knowledge of the regulations, policies, procedures, principles and concepts that govern the Personal Identity Verification Program. Skilled especially in oral communication in order to provide technical advice and guidance to customers. Ability to enter, extract, and evaluate employee information via access to various computer databases. Skilled in dealing with highly charged emotional situation and have the ability to work calmly and effectively in sensitive, stress- producing situations. Knowledge of the organizational structure, mission, goals and needs; initiating, reviewing, and approving background cases for release to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in compliance with policies. Assemble position descriptions and functional statements while tracking electronically the level assigned and appropriate background investigation needed. Enters appropriate data in required databases related to an appointee's suitability from a wide variety of sources. OR, Education: Must have 4 years above high school (transcripts required) OR, Combination: Must have a combination of experience and education as described above. GS-6 GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5) that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes: Knowledge of the regulations, policies, procedures, principles and concepts that govern the Personal Identity Verification Program. Skilled especially in oral communication in order to provide technical advice and guidance to customers. Ability to enter, extract, and evaluate employee information via access to various computer databases. Skilled in dealing with highly charged emotional situation and have the ability to work calmly and effectively in sensitive, stress- producing situations. Knowledge of the organizational structure, mission, goals and needs, initiating, reviewing, and approving background cases for release to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in compliance with policies. Assemble position descriptions and functional statements while tracking electronically the level assigned and appropriate background investigation needed. Enters appropriate data in required databases related to an appointee's suitability from a wide variety of sources. GS-7 GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6) that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes: Knowledge of the regulations, policies, procedures, principles and concepts that govern the Personal Identity Verification Program. Skilled especially in oral communication in order to provide technical advice and guidance to customers. Ability to enter, extract, and evaluate employee information via access to various computer databases. Skilled in dealing with highly charged emotional situation and have the ability to work calmly and effectively in sensitive, stress- producing situations. Knowledge of the organizational structure, mission, goals and needs initiating, reviewing, and approving background cases for release to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in compliance with policies. Assemble position descriptions and functional statements while tracking electronically the level assigned and appropriate background investigation needed. Enters appropriate data in required databases related to an appointee's suitability from a wide variety of sources. RESUME REMINDER - Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:* Job Title and a summary of duties. (be as detailed as possible)* Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)* Full-time or part-time status (MUST include hours worked per week if part-time).*Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail.*Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to DetailCustomer ServicePersonnel and Human ResourcesPersonnel Security and Safety 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. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as papers, small boxes, or books. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

As a general rule, education is not creditable above the GS-05 level for most positions covered by this standard; however, graduate education may be credited in those few instances where the graduate education is directly related to the work of the position. If you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education, you must submit a copy of your transcript.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VHA VISN 12 Human Resources FOUR WESTBROOK CORPORATE TOWER 11301 W. CERMAK ROAD, SUITE 810 WESTCHESTER, IL 60154-5768 US
• Name: Stacy Cooper
• Phone: 708-492-3989
• Email: [email protected]