Personnel Security Specialist

This position uses your knowledge and experience to determine the suitability and security eligibility of individuals entering or already working in sensitive and non-sensitive positions within the Agency making security clearance determinations for employees or other personnel for access to sensitive information resources material or work sites.

This position starts at a salary of $85447.00 (GS-11 Step 1) to $133142.00 (GS-12 Step 10) with promotion potential to $133142 (GS-12 Step 10).

GS Salary: Visit this link to view the locality pay tables by geographic area. If you do not see your geographic area listed select the Rest of United States pay table. Some positions fall under a special pay rate depending on the series grade level and location of the visit this link to view special pay rate charts.

The Major Duties for this position are listed below but not limited to:

• Conducting reviews of previously completed investigations and/or adjudications to ensure compliance with laws rules regulations and office procedures.
• Reviewing submitted documentation reports of investigation investigative materials and database checks.
• Reviewing and evaluating all information obtained and developed during the investigation process such as vetting results and can issue a variety of notices to subjects of investigation in order to resolve and clarify discrepancies and/or obtain additional information.
• May be required to represent the agency in various working groups provide detailed explanations of actions taken and interact with component offices in order to promote compliance with program requirements.
• Utilizing a variety of personnel security related information technology systems sufficient to query and research developed information.

CBP employees demonstrate the highest level of commitment to protect and serve the United States of America and to exemplify the CBP Core Values of Vigilance Service to Country and Integrity. Learn more about CBPs mission core values and careers at of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
• Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
• All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English
• You may be required to pass a background investigation
• CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
• As an employee of CBP you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees and to CBP employees specifically as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.
• DHS uses E-Verify an internet-based system to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.
• Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.
• Your resume: A resume describing your job-related qualifications is required and will be used for the purpose of reviewing your qualifications and determining what training if any would be required when placed. A resume in English is required. It must contain your full legal name phone number relevant work history including a detailed description of your duties the dates you performed those duties (MM/DD/YY) your hours worked per week job title as well as series grade and salary (if applicable). For additional required items see the link. It is recommended that you upload your resume as a PDF instead of a Word document to ensure document quality. Ensure that your uploaded resume is not a password protected document to include Office 365 passwords. Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.

Experience GS-11: You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level performing duties such as:

• Adjudicating requests for security clearances;
• Reviewing submitted background investigation packages and requesting additional information from subjects in order to resolve/clarify any discrepancies;
• Determining the type/level of background investigation required.

Experience GS-12: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level performing duties such as:

• Adjudicating suitability of personnel security investigations and reinvestigations.
• Interpreting and reviewing new laws directives or regulations pertaining to personnel security/suitability programs and establishing local policies and procedures.
• Reviewing reports of personnel security investigations and polygraphs to identify discrepancies or derogatory information.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the Required Documents section below for additional resume requirements.

Education Substitution:GS-11: A Ph.D. or an equivalent doctoral degree three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.M. degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for experience required at this level. (A course of study in business international business or a related field is qualifying.) Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise three years of graduate study. If that information is not available use 54 semester or 81 quarter hours.

There is no education substitution at the GS-12 grade level for this occupation.

Combining Education and Experience: To combine your education and experience you must convert each to a percentage and then add the percentages. The combined total of your percentage of education and experience must equal at least 100% in order to qualify. If your education is currently described in quarter hours convert the quarter hours into semester hours by multiplying the quarter hours by the fraction 2/3. To calculate your percentage of graduate education divide the number of graduate semester hours by 18. To determine your percentage of qualifying experience you must divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by the required number of months of experience. Add your percentages of education and experience. The two percentages must total at least 100%.

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 all qualification requirements including education if applicable to this position subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 09/09/2026.

In order to be considered for this position you must complete all required steps in the addition to the application and application questionnaire this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years a political Schedule A Schedule C Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agencys core values of vigilance service to country and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges the use of illegal drugs (e.g. marijuana cocaine heroin LSD methamphetamines ecstasy) and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation possession sale receipt manufacture cultivation production transfer shipping trafficking or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process review the following link: Applicant Resources CBP Careers

Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

• Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
• A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
• Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
• Working as a contractor intern consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibilityon OPMs Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under CTAP/ICTAP you must be placed in the Well-Qualified category for this position as described within this addition you must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this job announcement.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.