Personnel Security Specialist
: Job Details :

SummaryThis position is located at Bureau of Engraving and Printing, within the Background Investigations Branch. As a Personnel Security Specialist, you will help conduct background investigations for federal public trust and national security positions; conduct special investigations pertaining to employee and contractor misconduct; periodic reinvestigations and continuous vetting of federal employees and contractors.This job is open to

• The publicU.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agencyU.S. citizens or U.S. Nationals; no prior Federal experience is required.This job is also open in another announcement to:

• Federal employees - Competitive service
• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
• Veterans
• Individuals with disabilities
• Military spouses
• Special authorities
• Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista
• Family of overseas employees
• Land and base management

This job is also open in another announcement to:

• Federal employees - Competitive service
• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
• Veterans
• Individuals with disabilities
• Military spouses
• Special authorities
• Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista
• Family of overseas employees
• Land and base management

DutiesThe following are the duties of this position at the GS-12. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties, and will receive training to help you grow in this position.

• Conduct complex and sensitive public trust and national security background investigations.
• Locate and interview witnesses, including those who evade or refuse to cooperate, collect and examine pertinent records from a wide variety of standard and unusual sources, and conduct further data collection when inconsistencies in statements or documentation are identified.
• Conduct extensive research and analysis of applicable laws and regulations as well as other materials such as operating manuals, union contracts, etc.
• Make decisions and recommendations in situations complicated by uncertainty in approach, methodology, and or interpretation due to extreme sensitivity; the existence of few or no precedents to follow; and significant unresolved legal or regulatory issues.
• Ensure information maintained in the Personnel Security database and other information management systems are accurately entered and updated.

Requirements Conditions of Employment

• A one-year probationary period may be required.
• Must successfully complete a background investigation.
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
• Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
• Obtain and use a government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
• Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
• Weekend work and overtime, if applicable, will be scheduled when needed based on production requirements as determined by Management.

Key Requirements:

Click Print Preview to review the entire announcement before applying.

Must be U.S. Citizen or U.S. National

QualificationsThis opportunity is also open to Status Candidates under Announcement 25-BEp-12639144. Please refer to that announcement for details on open period, eligibility, and how to apply.You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.For the GS-11, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:

• applying personnel security rules, regulations, policies, and practices in order to gather facts, draw conclusions or recommend solutions to problems. AND
• establishing and maintaining effective partnerships and communication regarding personnel security investigations. AND
• review reports and investigations for indications of improper activities and identifying potential problems.

OR You may qualify with a Ph. D. or equivalent doctoral degreeOR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. OR LL.M., if related.OR You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 36 semester hours (54 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.For the GS-09, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:

• applying personnel security rules, regulations, policies, and practices in order to gather facts, draw conclusions or recommend solutions to problems. AND
• establishing and maintaining effective partnerships and communication regarding personnel security investigations.

OR You may qualify with a master's or equivalent graduate degreeOR 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. OR LL.B. or J.D., if related.OR You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.For the GS-07, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:

• Applying security, law enforcement or personnel security rules, regulations, policies, and standard procedures in order to gather facts, draw conclusions or recommend solutions to problems.

OR 1 full year of graduate level educationOR a Bachelor's degree with one of the following requirements for superior academic achievement: A GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses or those completed in the last 2 years of study, or a GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all courses in the major field of study or those courses in the major completed in the last 2 years of study, or rank in the upper one third of the class in the college, university or major subdivision, or membership in a national honor society recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.OR You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. To combine education and experience, your total qualifying experience is calculated as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level. Then, your education is calculated as a percentage of the education required for the grade level. The two percentages are added together. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level.EducationThe education generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.Additional information

• We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
• We offer opportunities for telework.
• We offer opportunities for flexible work schedules.
• The facility typically shuts down annually between Christmas and New Year's Day. As such, all BEP employees must take leave for workdays during the shutdown period.
• This position requires that the successful candidate undergo personnel vetting, which includes a background investigation and enrollment upon onboarding into Continuous Vetting. Enrollment in Continuous Vetting will result in automated record checks being conducted throughout one's employment with Treasury. The successful candidate will also be enrolled into FBI's Rap Back service, which will allow Treasury to receive notification from the FBI of criminal matters (e.g., arrests, charges, convictions) involving enrolled individuals in near real-time. For more information about individual rights, Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights - FBI, FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI, and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov).
• SUITABILITY, CLEARANCE & REQUIREMENTS: A background investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for disqualification in the hiring process. The background investigation process conducted by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is very thorough. Therefore, it is imperative that applicants exercise candor and honesty when answering background questionnaires, especially as it relates to arrest, employment, education, finances, illegal drug use, and/or other criminal history. Falsification discovered in security documents or during the background investigation process may result in an immediate negative suitability determination or immediate revocation of your interim clearance (if applicable).

• BenefitsA career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be EvaluatedYou will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.Your application includes your rsum, responses to the online questions, and required supporting documents. Please be sure that your rsum includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your rsum may result in a not qualified determination.Rating: Your application will be evaluated in the following areas: Attention to Detail, Technical, CommunicationCategory rating will be used to rank and select eligible candidates. If qualified, you will be assigned to one of three quality level categories; Gold (highest quality category), Silver (middle quality category), or Bronze (minimally qualified category), depending on your responses to the online questions, regarding your experience, education, and training related to this position.A subject matter expert may be used in the evaluation. Your rating may be lowered if your responses to the online questions are not supported by the education and/or experience described in your application.Veterans' preference is applied after applicants are assessed. Qualified preference-eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest category.Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. You may be required to participate in a selection interview. We will not reimburse costs related to the interview such as travel to and from the interview site.If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee (eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)) you must be assigned the middle category or better to be rated as well qualified to receive special selection priority.

• BenefitsA career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
• Required DocumentsAs a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.It is anticipated that there will be significant interest in the announcement. As a result, the announcement will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on the date of receipt of the 150th application or at 11:59 p.m. ET on DATE OF CLOSURE; whichever occurs first. Any required documents should be submitted at the time that you apply as documents will not be accepted after the vacancy closes.To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:All applicants must submit a rsum showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed. The experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. All applicants are required to submit arsum either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing. (Cover letters are optional.) We suggest that you preview the online questions, as you may need to customize your rsum to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions. Please view rsum tips.All applicants must submit vacancy assessment question responses: All applicants are required to complete vacancy question responses by clicking the apply online button of this vacancy announcement.VETERANS' PREFERENCE DOCUMENTATION: If you are claiming veteran's preference, please see applicant guide for required documentation. In order to be considered for veteran's preference, you must submit all required documentation as outlined in the applicant guide.CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (CTAP) OR INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP) DOCUMENTATION: If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee, click CTAP/ICTAP for eligibility and a detailed list of required documents you must submit in order to be eligible.EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION:For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of courses showing title, number of credits, grade, and date of completion.
• How to ApplyYou must complete this application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, please contact us by noon ET on the announcement's closing date.Are you unsure how to write your federal resume? We are here to help. The Treasury Recruitment Service regularly offers Writing Your Federal Resume training sessions, and other career-related information sessions, to assist you in your career search journey. To register for a session, click here to go to our Career Information Sessions webpage.The Bureau of Engraving and Printing provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process.
  • To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
  • Follow the prompts to select your rsum and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
  • You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
  If you wish to make changes/updates to your application and the vacancy is still open, you can click on the job announcement and Update Application to be taken back to your application.For additional information on how to apply, please visit the Partnership for Public Service's Go Government website.No updates can be made once the announcement has closed.For additional information on the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the ADA, please click on the links below:
  • The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (eeoc.gov)
  • ADA.gov homepage
  The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Treasury and its bureaus from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Treasury by email at, ...@treasury.gov.To learn more, please visit our page at: Treasury.gov/fairchanceact.To preview the assessment questionnaire: Agency contact informationApplicant Call CenterPhone304-###-####Email...@fiscal.treasury.govAddressPersonnel Security DivisionAdministrative Resource CenterParkersburg, WV 26101USNext stepsTo verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account at On the Home page, scroll down and locate your job application. Once the job has been located, click the Track this application link on the right under the application date. The page will refresh to display the Agency's Application Information page where you can scroll down and review any notifications the agency has sent you. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated.For information on what each Application Status means, visit: Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
• Fair and TransparentThe Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
  • Criminal history inquiries
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Financial suitability
  • New employee probationary period
  • Privacy Act
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Selective Service
  • Signature and false statements
  • Social security number request

Required DocumentsIt is anticipated that there will be significant interest in the announcement. As a result, the announcement will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on the date of receipt of the 150th application or at 11:59 p.m. ET on DATE OF CLOSURE; whichever occurs first. Any required documents should be submitted at the time that you apply as documents will not be accepted after the vacancy closes.To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:All applicants must submit a rsum showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed. The experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. All applicants are required to submit arsum either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing. (Cover letters are optional.) We suggest that you preview the online questions, as you may need to customize your rsum to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions. Please view rsum tips.All applicants must submit vacancy assessment question responses: All applicants are required to complete vacancy question responses by clicking the apply online button of this vacancy announcement.VETERANS' PREFERENCE DOCUMENTATION: If you are claiming veteran's preference, please see applicant guide for required documentation. In order to be considered for veteran's preference, you must submit all required documentation as outlined in the applicant guide.CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (CTAP) OR INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP) DOCUMENTATION: If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee, click CTAP/ICTAP for eligibility and a detailed list of required documents you must submit in order to be eligible.EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION:For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of courses showing title, number of credits, grade, and date of completion.How to ApplyYou must complete this application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, please contact us by noon ET on the announcement's closing date.Are you unsure how to write your federal resume? We are here to help. The Treasury Recruitment Service regularly offers Writing Your Federal Resume training sessions, and other career-related information sessions, to assist you in your career search journey. To register for a session, click here to go to our Career Information Sessions webpage.The Bureau of Engraving and Printing provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process.

• To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
• Follow the prompts to select your rsum and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
• After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
• You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.

If you wish to make changes/updates to your application and the vacancy is still open, you can click on the job announcement and Update Application to be taken back to your application.For additional information on how to apply, please visit the Partnership for Public Service's Go Government website.No updates can be made once the announcement has closed.For additional information on the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the ADA, please click on the links below:

• The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (eeoc.gov)
• ADA.gov homepage

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Treasury and its bureaus from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Treasury by email at, ...@treasury.gov.To learn more, please visit our page at: Treasury.gov/fairchanceact.To preview the assessment questionnaire: Agency contact informationApplicant Call CenterPhone304-###-####Email...@fiscal.treasury.govAddressPersonnel Security DivisionAdministrative Resource CenterParkersburg, WV 26101USNext stepsTo verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account at On the Home page, scroll down and locate your job application. Once the job has been located, click the Track this application link on the right under the application date. The page will refresh to display the Agency's Application Information page where you can scroll down and review any notifications the agency has sent you. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated.For information on what each Application Status means, visit: Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.Fair & TransparentThe Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request