The Personnel Security Specialist will be assigned to one of the eight (8) VISN 22 PIV Offices within VISN 22 Desert Pacific Healthcare Network. The primary purpose of this position is to perform the security related functions in support of a Network Personnel Suitability and Credentialing Program.

Duties

The salary range listed on this announcement only reflects the General Schedule incorporating Rest of U.S. basic pay. Upon selection, the salary will be adjusted to include the locality adjustment for the specific location. This position serves as a Personnel Security Specialist and the work assigned is of a very confidential, complex and highly sensitive nature. The selectee will perform the full range of the following duties: Conducts personnel suitability adjudications related to background investigations. Reviews completed suitability investigations with the purpose of providing recommendations on pre-employment and continued employment considerations. Exercises personal judgment and discretion to evaluate the nature of information received and recommends or takes appropriate action. Testifies at formal hearings regarding the personnel security process and justification for any administrative suitability action that may have occurred during the pre-employment or post-employment process. Ensures the personnel security program and the PIV program are in compliance with regulations. Drafts and issues Proposed Action Letters to applicants and appointees whose investigative results contain actionable suitability information. Drafts and issues Final Action Letters outlining the reasons for final suitability determinations. Analyzes personnel security information and data. Audits Official Personnel Folders for compliance with personnel security regulations. 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 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Hours may be subject to change) Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is NOT a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Personnel Security Specialist/PD99950S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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, 05/24/2024. 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. 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. For a GS-07 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-09 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. For a GS-11 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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. In addition to meeting the Time-In-Grade Requirement, you may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-07 Personnel Security Specialist Specialized Experience: You must have one (1) 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: experience in requests for personnel or facility security clearances to assure that all required information is provided, requesting missing information from the originators, granting clearances when derogatory information is absent; reviewing reports of personnel investigations to identify derogatory information and reviewing the impact of various kinds of derogatory information on the granting, denying, or revoking of security clearances. OR; Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement or one full year of graduate level education in a field that provided the competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (Unofficial Transcripts Required) OR; Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond undergraduate school. GS-09 Personnel Security Specialist Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: experience in applying knowledge of standardized applications or established variations in security criteria involving considerations such as clearance level required, adjudication of security clearances when clear-cut derogatory information is present in the investigative information, nature of materials or information to the protected, cost-benefit relationships for security devices or equipment systems, and similar considerations. OR; Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related (Unofficial Transcripts Required) OR; Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond one year of graduate school. GS-11 Personnel Security Specialist Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: experience in applying knowledge of Federal law, regulations, agency policies, management practices, and information technology procedures sufficient to recognize areas of interaction and overlap between existing and proposed allocations. Interpreting policy originating from higher organizational levels for local adaptation. Resolving difficult and complex security problems; applying knowledge of safety and service level risk assessment procedures to handle these functions as a personnel Security Specialist and ensure compliance. OR; Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. (Unofficial Transcripts Required). OR; Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond two years of graduate school. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Database AdministrationPersonnel Security and SafetyTechnical CompetenceWritten Communication 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 primarily sedentary and is accomplished in an office environment. Some walking and standing may occur in the course of a normal workday. 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 22 Human Resources 300 OCEANGATE SUITE 700 LONG BEACH, CA 90802 US
• Name: Santo Miguel Valverde
• Phone: 480-392-7285
• Email: [email protected]