Personnel Security Specialist - SV-0080-G/H/I - Transportation Security Administration - Reston, Virginia - EXPIRED

These positions are located in the Adjudication Center (AC) of the Security Threat Assessment Operations (STAO), Law Enforcement Programs Branch, Field Operations Division, Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service (OLE/FAMS), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If selected, you will review and approve or recommend denial of transportation worker, hazardous material endorsement, airport secure area, and other regulated credentialed applications, meeting the AC\'s standards for accuracy (as specified in the AC SOPs) and productivity (as specified in the AC SOPs). Specific duties include but are not limited to:

• Conducting internet-based criminal and/or immigration research to obtain criminal court records or immigration/US Citizenship documentation in support of an adjudication decision based on case by case information needs and in accordance with CFR 49 and associated SOPs which includes submitting cases for correction or re-vetting as needed.
• Achieving positive identification of each applicant based on the information provided, primarily by using computer based adjudication systems and, if necessary, external vetting sources.
• Completing case management and case documentation requirements on an hourly/daily basis. Documenting adjudication actions and decisions in case comments.
• Following SOPs, regulations, policies, etc. to render adjudicative decisions and recommendations.
• Higher level Security Specialist conducts on the job training (OJT) of assigned Junior Security Specialist. Reviews assigned Junior Security Specialist denial recommendations for accuracy and provides corrective feedback as required. May also participate in Junior Security Specialist proficiency testing when requested by Team Lead. Reviews case management documentation for accuracy and completeness.
• Higher level Security Specialist will review case denial recommendations from originating Adjudicators and re-adjudicates each case, providing feedback to originating Adjudicator as appropriate. Creates and submits denial letters in accordance with AC SOPs and regulatory guidance with provided letter templates.
  
  The major duties described above reflect the full performance level of this position. Typically, the lower Pay Band (Pay Band G) performs the similar duties such as providing case work for review and direct supervisor approval.

To qualify for the SV-G Pay Band (equivalent to GS-11), you must meet one of the qualification requirements (A, B, OR C) outlined below.
A. Experience: If you are qualifying based on experience, your application must clearly outline one year of specialized experience at the SV-F Pay Band or GS-9 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience includes: applying knowledge of CFR 49, including adjudicative and investigative processes and procedures for Security Threat Assessments (STAs), immigration statuses and procedures, Adjudication Center (AC) Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) etc.; demonstrating comprehension, synthesis, and analytical skills to interpret and implement complex adjudication policies, procedures, and practices, especially Federal and multi-state statutes and Criminal History Record Information; utilizing sound adjudicative decision-making skills, meeting productivity and accuracy standards, as specified in AC SOPs and reviewing case logic and identify errors; and working with databases, spreadsheets, etc. required in recording, preparing, and submitting adjudication-related case management metrics on daily performance.

OR B. Education: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a related field; OR three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LL.M., if related.
OR C. Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed higher level graduate education (beyond second year) and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for this position, and may be computed by first determining your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the band level; then determining your education as a percentage of the education required for the band level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for the position.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: Education at the graduate level in an accredited college or university in the amounts indicated above meets the requirements for this position. Such education must demonstrate adjudicative knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. One (1) year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement.
TRANSCRIPTS: Applicants who meet the qualifications listed above based on education or a combination of education and experience must provide proof of education such as a list of completed college courses or the date and school of degree including the number of semester or quarter hours or a transcript from an accredited college or university. The information must be provided as an attachment to the application by the closing date of the announcement. If selected, you must supply a transcript or certification of degree.

To qualify for the SV-H Pay Band (equivalent to the GS-12), you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the SV-G or GS-11 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience includes: applying an advanced knowledge of CFR 49, including adjudicative and investigative processes and procedures for Security Threat Assessments (STAs), criminal justice processes and procedures, immigration statuses and procedures, Adjudication Center (AC) Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) etc.; demonstrating advanced comprehension, synthesis, and analytical skills to interpret and implement complex adjudication policies, procedures, and practices, especially Federal and multi-state statutes and Criminal History Record Information; utilizing sound adjudicative decision-making skills, meeting productivity and accuracy standards, as specified in AC SOPs and reviewing case logic and identify errors; and working with databases, spreadsheets, etc. required in recording, preparing, and submitting adjudication-related case management metrics on daily performance.

To qualify for the SV-I Pay Band (equivalent to the GS-13), you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the SV-H or GS-12 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience includes:utilizing comprehensive applying an advanced knowledge of CFR 49, including adjudicative and investigative processes and procedures for Security Threat Assessments (STAs), criminal justice processes and procedures, immigration statuses and procedures, Adjudication Center (AC) Standard Operating Procedures (SOP); demonstrating advanced comprehension, synthesis, and analytical skills to interpret and implement complex, Federal and multi-state statutes, adjudication policies, procedures, and practices, and Criminal History Record Information; and executing comprehensive knowledge of databases, spreadsheets, etc. required in recording, preparing, and submitting adjudication-related case management metrics on daily performance; coaching and mentoring less experienced staff to work through decision-making processes and resolve deficiencies?



National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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 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.

You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

You will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality and extent of the experience and/or related education as reflected in your resume and supporting documentation. You are encouraged to ensure work experiences clearly show possession of the competencies required for this position. We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire. If, after reviewing your resume and any supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your category placement may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.

When completing the assessment questionnaire for this position, you will be prompted to elect if you wish for your application to be considered as External (where Veterans\' Preference applies), as Status (current or former Federal Employees), and/or Internal to TSA as a current permanent or competitive temporary employee. At that time, please select the answer(s) that apply to you and your application to this position.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Grouping procedures. Under Category Grouping, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;

Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceed the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job; and

Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
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