This position is located within the Human Resources Management (HRM) organization of the USDA Forest Service in Albuquerque, NM. This position serves as a personnel security specialist and point of contact for the personnel security program at the Albuquerque Service Center. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Charlotte Rowley at at [email protected].

Duties

Duties listed are at the full performance GS-09 grade level. Directs the preparation of Personnel Security Questionnaire, fingerprint cards, and other associated forms. Provides day-to-day guidance to administrators and managers regarding personnel security processes. Oversees the application, submission, and determination processes for security clearances and employee suitability. Ensures that applications for security clearances and background investigations are completed accurately and are appropriate for the level of sensitivity required for the position. Maintains personnel security databases. Performs preliminary background investigations as appropriate.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. 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. Note on Experience: Your resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the beginning day, month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade if applicable; and description of duties performed. This information must be provided for each permanent, temporary or seasonal appointment/work assignment or volunteer work and should be clearly documented as a separate block of time. Incomplete, inaccurate or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position. Specialized Experience Requirement: GS-07: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as two or more of the following: Assisting higher-graded specialists in projects of limited difficulty to become familiar with laws, policies, and regulations applicable to personnel security functions; and/or applying basic principles, policies, and methods of security administration in order to complete assignments; and/or preparing and updating reports and statistics for use within a personnel security program; and/or under close supervision, reviewing requests for personnel security guidance or assistance, identifying the nature of issues involved, and researching guidelines to identify the general policies and procedures that apply to their solutions. -OR- One (1) full year of graduate level education; -OR- Superior Academic Achievement (go to this site determine if you are eligible: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. -OR- An appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education described above. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. GS-09: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as three or more of the following: Applying knowledge of a personnel security program to resolve questions or problems, determine clearance level requirements, and assist in adjudicating background investigations; and/or assisting higher graded specialists in projects or segments of projects specific to a personnel security program; and/or analyzing and applying laws, regulations, policies, and/or directives that govern personnel security in order to complete assignments; and/or utilizing verbal and/or written communication to explain personnel security regulations, procedures, or results to managers and/or employees; and/or operating office automation equipment to access and maintain electronic security files and documents. -OR- A master's or equivalent graduate degree, or two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.B. or J.D., if related. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. -OR- An appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education described above. Only graduate education in excess of 18 semester / 27 quarter hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement. To receive consideration for this position, you must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

See Qualifications section above for education that may be qualifying for this position.

Contacts

• Address USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT. Albuquerque, NM 87109 US
• Name: HRM Contact Center
• Phone: 1-877-372-7248 X2
• Email: [email protected]