The incumbent serves as a Lead Personnel Security Specialist, at Aurora, Colorado, the work assigned is confidential, complex, and highly sensitive nature. This position performs the security-related functions in support of a Network Personnel Suitability and Credentialing Program within a Shared Services Unit, assuring all appointees have the appropriate level of security/suitability clearance commensurate with their assignment.

Duties

The Lead Personnel Security Specialist is responsible for the day to day operations of the Personnel Security Program. Duties include but are not limited to: Conduct security and suitability adjudications related to background investigations. Notify employees in a timely manner of requirements for initiation of periodic reinvestigations. Refer local and government-wide debarment recommendations to the supervisor for review. Review results and make decisions concerning the adjudication of all Special Agreement Checks (SACs) and Tiered investigations received from OPM. Draft and issue Proposed Action Letters (PALs) to applicants and appointees whose investigative results contain actionable suitability information. Testify at formal hearings regarding the personnel security process and justification for any administrative suitability action. Follow up on personnel security cases with issues. Provide technical guidance and advice on matters pertaining to personnel security. Process and oversee the submission of higher-level investigations to the VA-Personnel Security Adjudication Center (PSAC). Monitor the oversight of the Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIP) system. Perform audits and spot check the Employee's Official Personnel Folders (e-OPF's) to review for compliance with personnel security related documents. Work with the Consolidated Classification Unit (CCU) to ensure that all position descriptions have appropriate risk level as determined by Position Designation Tool (PDT). Work with Staffing and Processing and Records Section to ensure each position has the appropriate risk and sensitivity level designated in HR SMART. Lead the team in: identifying, distributing and balancing workload and tasks among employees in accordance with established work flow, skill level and/or occupational specialization. Train or arrange for the training of team members in methods and techniques of teambuilding and working in teams to accomplish tasks or projects. Monitor and report on the status and progress of work. Prepare reports and maintain records of work accomplishments and administrative information. Processes and oversees the submission of higher-level investigations to the VA-Adjudication Center (VA-AC), and acts as a liaison with other services on security issues. Routinely coordinates with the Information Security Officer (ISO), Medical Center Compliance Officer, and the Privacy Officer on various program audits that relate to the Personnel Security Program. Has delegated authority to determine suitability on both non-actionable and actionable closed investigation cases. Local and government-wide debarment recommendations are referred to the lead/supervisor for review. Implements the policies and procedures Maintains all appropriate VA Handbooks, Manuals, Directives, Circulars, and Bulletins regarding the security and suitability program. Assists with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) compliance. Ensures the personnel security program and the PIV program are in compliance with VA, VHA, and JCAHO regulations. Work Schedule: 8:00- 4:30pm, Monday - Friday Compressed/Flexible: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates Telework: Partial telework authorized. Incumbent will be expected to report to Station 495A% -Aurora VA facility at least 3 days per week. Additional telework days may be authorized. Position Description/PD#: Lead Personnel Security Specialist/PD99953S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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, 08/13/2024. 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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. Selective Placement Factor: To perform these duties effectively, the incumbent MUST have successfully completed OPM's "Fundamentals of Suitability for Suitability and Fitness Adjudicators" or equivalent OPM course. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Applicants must have at least one-year Specialized Experience at the GS-09, or equivalent to, the next lower grade level equipped with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of a Personnel Security Specialist: Conducting security and suitability adjudications related to background investigations. Reviewing completed suitability investigations with the purpose of providing recommendations on pre-employment and continued employment considerations; determine the impact of potential adverse or derogatory information. Exercise personal judgement and discretion to evaluate the nature of information received and recommend or take appropriate action. Ensure timely record checks are conducted. Ensure that all position descriptions have appropriate risk level as determined by Position Designation Tool (PDT). Knowledge of security administration programs. 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 equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. 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 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer ServiceLeadershipPersonnel 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 and is usually accomplished while the employee is comfortably seated at a desk or table. However, some walking and standing may occur in the course of a normal workday in connection with travel to, and attendance at, meetings and conferences away from the primary work site. 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 19 Human Resources 4100 E MISSISSIPPI AVENUE SUITE 1100 Denver, CO 80246-3056 US
• Name: Roxanne Stilwell
• Phone: 303-202-8360
• Email: [email protected]