Description:
The PSAC is the VA nationwide Security Clearances and Suitability determinations background adjudication center for VAcontractors, VA employees occupying a National Security position,, and the employees in a Public Trust position. The employee works under the supervision of the Team Lead, Supervisory Security Specialist and is responsible for the adjudication of major issue and complex background investigation case files conducted by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA).
Requirements:
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/06/2026.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-9. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. 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. 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-11 Qualifications:
- Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-9) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience include: knowledge of personnel security and suitability to ensure Position Risk/Sensitivities by analyzing duties and relating them to established position sensitivity criteria; determining the appropriate position risk/sensitivity level designed by OPM's Position Designation Tool (PDT) and investigation required for the position; serving as a PIV coordinator; initiating, addressing questions, and reviewing information submitted in e-QIP. 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 equivalent doctoral degree or three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or a LL.M, if related. Such education demonstrates the knowledges, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position. OR,
- Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond a masters or 2 full years of graduate level education. For example, an applicant has 9 months of specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 and 2 1/2 years of creditable graduate level education. The applicant meets 75 percent of the required experience and 50 percent of the required education, i.e., the applicant has 1/2 year of graduate study beyond that required for GS-9. Therefore, the applicant exceeds the total requirement and is qualified for the position. (The applicant's first 2 years of graduate study are not qualifying for GS-11.)
- Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-11) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience include: knowledge of personnel security and suitability to serve as an expert advisor in personnel and suitability issues; applying and interpreting personnel security and suitability policy; establishing personnel security and suitability policies and procedures; preparing removal cases and representing the agency before the Merit Systems Protections Board (MSPB) on pre and post-employment suitability issues.
Incumbent is required to be certified by the DCSA Center for Development of Security Excellence (CDSE) or the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to perform Security Adjudications and be certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to perform Suitability Adjudications.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
- Decision Making
- Interpersonal Skills
- Security
- Technical 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: Work is primarily sedentary and requires no special physical demands.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ .
The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be found well qualified, applicants must meet the following qualifications: commonly applied security principles, concepts, and methodologies to independently review, analyze, and resolve situations in which adjudication requires resolution of conflicting testimony and/or other issues arising from a background investigation. Information about CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ .