This position serves as a Security Assistant in the Personnel Security Unit, and is to perform security-related functions in support of the Network Personnel Suitability and Credentialing Program within the VISN 16 shared services unit. This position also entails Personal Identity Verification Program (PIV) responsibility, which is a Government-wide identification standard for identity credentials issued by the Federal Government to its employees, contractors, affiliates, and volunteers.

Duties

Major Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:- Performs work related to the collection, organization and/or tracking of information in support of the Personnel Security Program. The Personnel Security Program includes the processes 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. - Review position risk sensitivity levels as full assistant to the Personnel Security Specialist. Assemble position descriptions and functional statements for the Personnel Security Specialist for review. - For pre-employment processes, serves as the initial point of contact for new appointees including but not limited to paid or without compensation employees, volunteers, students, residents, and contractors. - Initiates, reviews and releases appointees background investigations in the Office of Personnel Managements Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (eQIP) system or in conjunction with the VA- Adjudication Center (VA-AC). - Regularly monitors the status of specific pending items, compiles data to produce reports, follows up to determine status and records results. - Maintains logs of current employees who are in public trust positions and ensures reinvestigations are initiated, reviewed and released using e-QIP within the required timeframe as per policy. Works closely with the VA-AC to monitor the progress of investigations when applicable. - As needed, works with applicants who may be experiencing difficulties with completion of electronic forms related to the background screening process. - Takes and transmits electronic fingerprints for appointees or when the FBI returns fingerprints unclassifiable for various reasons. Only in rare instances when there is machine malfunction, manually takes fingerprints for the purpose of background investigations from OPM. - Enters appropriate data in required databases related to an appointee's suitability from a wide variety of sources, i.e., fingerprint/badge log, notification(s) of investigation(s) scheduled by OPM, requests by OPM for additional information, receipt/disposition of results of both Special Agreement Checks (SAC's) and National Agency Check with Inquiry (T1's) or higher. - In conjunction with the Personnel Security Specialist and/or lead/supervisor, presents training/briefings for supervisors, managers, and employees related to various aspects of the Personnel Security Program. - Requests information from various law enforcement agencies and courts. Assures that the approving official is kept informed of these actions. - Reviews applicant's data ensuring that the submitted information matches the demographic data and that all required information has been provided. This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed above represent the full performance level of GS-7. At the GS-05 grade level, the incumbent will serve in a developmental assignment to provide the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the full range of duties as a Security Assistant, GS-0086-7. The incumbent will perform the duties outlined in the target grade position description but will operate under closer supervision and will not be expected to demonstrate the same level of subject matter mastery. All other factors remain the same. If selected at the GS-6 grade level, the incumbent will serve in a developmental assignment to provide the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the full range of duties as a Security Assistant, GS-0086-7. The incumbent will perform the duties outlined in the target grade position description but will operate under closer supervision and will not be expected to demonstrate the same level of subject matter mastery. All other factors remain the same. 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. 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Work schedules will be discussed during interview. However, subject to change based on needs of the service Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Personnel Security Assistant/PD99952S and PD99952S Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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, 03/04/2024. 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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. For a GS-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5 For a GS-5 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-05 Level Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: knowledge of security objectives and programs; carrying out support tasks related to security administration; maintaining reports and logs; and researching applicable regulations. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed four (4) years of education above the high school level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial or technical school. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year) and experience to meet total qualification requirements at the GS-05 level. This education must have been obtained at an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. GS-06 Level Specialized Experience: 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. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: utilization of security objectives and programs; following established procedures or instructions for carrying out support tasks related to security administration; maintaining reports and logs on the status of security and/or background related information; handling access request for access cards (i.e. PIV) and researching applicable regulations. GS-07 Level Specialized Experience: 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. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: use of automated integrated systems for the issuance of access cards (i.e. PIV); properly obtaining and entering required background information into automated systems, utilizing proper regulations for the adjudication process; working with individuals to obtain required information for the same, performing audits of security programs; and providing consultative services to managers regarding security programs and regulations. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: CommunicationInformation ManagementPersonnel Security and SafetyTechnical Competence 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, and carrying of light items such as papers and books. No special physical demands are required to perform the work 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

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address VHA VISN 16 Human Resources 715 S. PEAR ORCHARD ROAD PLAZA 1 RIDGELAND, MS 39157-4807 US
• Name: Douglas Bush
• Phone: (304) 266-8950
• Email: [email protected]