Personnel Security Specialist

**Duties**:

- Manages eQIP, the USDA web-based Security Entry Tracking System (web SETS) database, Service Now, SharePoint, USAccess, USA Staffing and other systems related to personnel security and Linc-Pass.
- Initiate and coordinate the background investigation and national security clearance process, based on data provided from employees and human resources staff in the electronic questionnaire system (eQIP).
- Analyzes and process adjudications for employees and contractors that require credentials under HSPD-12, making determinations on the suitability of employees and contractors for access to government systems and facilities.
- Initiate and coordinate the background investigation and national security clearance processes, i.e., preemployment security determination for federal and nonfederal applicants offered a FPAC position.
- Reviews and adjudicates adverse and highly sensitive personnel security background investigations.
- Serves as focal point-of-contact for issues regarding Personal Identity Verification (PIV) program activities. Performs duties as the HSPD-12 sponsor ensuring that USDA employees and contractors are in the USAccess System.

**Requirements**:
**Conditions of Employment**:

- You must be a US Citizen or US 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.
- Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
- Drug test will be required. See additional information.

**Qualifications**:

- Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements including specialized experience and/or education, as defined. Education cannot be substituted for experience at the GS-12 or 13 levels.
- **Specialized experience is defined as experience that include**:
**At the GS-11 grade level, one full-time year (12 months) of specialized work experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service or private sector which includes**:

- Initiate and review background investigations and reinvestigations conducted on applicants, employees, and/or contractors to determine suitability for employment and/or eligibility for clearance access; make recommendations and issue appropriate due-process correspondence; analyze/evaluate field reports produced by investigators; participate in coordination with Human Resources, Supervisors of the affected employee, and other applicable personnel when processing proposed security revocations and/or suitability denials.
- OR- Education: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as Homeland Security or National Security.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. **At the GS-12 grade level, one full-time year (12 months) of specialized work experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service or private sector which includes**:

- Review background investigations and reinvestigations conducted on applicants, employees, and/or contractors to determine suitability for employment and/or eligibility for clearance access; make adverse decisions and issue appropriate due-process correspondence; audit and evaluate field reports produced by investigators; participate in coordination with Human Resources, Supervisors of the affected employee, and other applicable personnel when processing proposed security clearance revocations and/or suitability denials.

**At the GS-13 grade level, one full-time year (12 months) of specialized work experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service or private sector which includes**:
**Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement and including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below**.
- 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