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Personnel Security Specialist

Cybersecurity And Infrastructure Security Agency

Job Location:

Arlington, TX - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 70623 - 70623

Posted: 6 October 2026 (4 days ago)

Application Deadline: 3 January 2027

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Summary

Who May Be Considered:

Pathways Recent Graduate eligible

Duties

Typical work assignments at the GS-09 level include but are not limited to:

Interprets and applies suitability factors and security adjudicative guidelines to make adjudicative decisions for unique and varied situations.
Knowledge of personnel security techniques and procedures to advise agency officials and make recommendations to senior leadership regarding the planning organizing and directing of work or studies.
Ability to apply security principles concepts and methodologies in independently reviewing analyzing and resolving difficult and complex security problems.

Typical work assignments at the GS-11 level include but are not limited to:

Represents the organization in customer service and personnel security matters at security briefings conferences or other negotiations.
Formulates implements and enforces personnel security policies procedures and standards for evaluating the character background and history of employees candidates for employment and other persons proposed to be granted access to classified or other sensitive information materials or work sites.
Identifies when reciprocity applies or not due to complex and unique adjudicated background investigative histories. Provides a thorough analysis of the merits of each case and articulates the reasons for adverse actions.

PROGRAM COMPLETION AND CONVERSION:
Pathways Recent Graduates may be converted to a permanent position (or in some limited circumstances to a term position lasting 1-4 years) within 180 days of successful completion of the internship program. Eligibility for conversion does not guarantee that CISA will offer conversion.

To be eligible for conversion Recent Graduates must:

Complete one (1) year of continuous service.
Complete 40 hours of training.
Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted.
Demonstrate successful job performance.
Receive a recommendation for conversion.

If Recent Graduate successfully completes the program requirements and converts to competitive service time spent in trial period will count towards the required one-year probationary period.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

You must be a U.S. citizen.
Complete the initial online assessment and USA Hire Assessment if required.
Selective Service - Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service see Federal employees are required to participate in Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer for salary payments.
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.
You must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance suitable for Federal employment as determined by a background investigation. This may include a credit check a review of financial issues as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
This position may be designated as essential personnel. Essential personnel must be able to serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of liberal leave or government closures due to weather protests and acts of terrorism or lack of funding. Failure to report for or remain in this position may result in disciplinary or adverse action in accordance with applicable laws rules and regulations (5 U.S.C. 7501-7533 and 5 CFR Part 752 as applicable).
This position has been identified as a drug testing designated position (TDP) for purposes of the CISAs Drug-Free Workplace Program. All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to a drug test to screen for illicit/illegal drug use prior to receiving a final offer of employment. A final offer of employment is contingent upon a negative drug test result. After appointment you may be subject to periodic random drug testing.

Qualifications

BASIC ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must:

Have completed within the previous two years a qualifying career or technical education program (which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs Job Corps Climate Corps AmeriCorps and Peace Corps); associates bachelors masters professional doctorate vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or intended graduation is no more than 9 months from the date of application; OR
As a veteran (as defined in 5 USC 2108) who due to military service obligations were precluded from applying to the Program during the two-year eligibility period described above. These individuals have a full two-year period of eligibility upon their release or discharge from active no event however may this eligibility period extend beyond six years from the date on which the individual completed their academic requirements.

IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC ELIGIBILITY ABOVE YOU MUST ALSO MEET THE FOLLOWING MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Do NOT copy and paste the duties specialized experience or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. Your resume must describe your work and experience in your own words.

To be considered minimally qualified for this position you must demonstrate that you have the required education and/or experience for the respective grade level in which you are applying.

You qualify at the GS-09 grade level if you have:
EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-07 grade level (or equivalent) performing all the following duties:

Preparing reviewing tracking and signing correspondence necessary for completing personnel security tasks;
Applying quality assurance practices in support of personnel security vetting requirements; AND
Applying security principles while communicating security concerns to senior leadership congressional Staff contractors and applicants.

OR
EDUCATION:
A. Masters or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited institution that included major study in any field of study.
OR
B. Two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a masters degree from an accredited institution that included major study in the field of study described in statement A above. (NOTE: Two (2) academic years of graduate education is defined as the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent two (2) academic years of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school transcript(s) then 36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours is considered as satisfying the two (2) years of full-time study requirement.)
OR
C. LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws) or J.D. (Juris Doctor) degree if related
OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: An equivalent combination of education and experience as described above may be used to substitute for the specialized experience requirement. Only graduate education in excess of the first year (determined by the institution) or 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours (i.e. beyond the first year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement.

You qualify at the GS-11 grade level if you have:
EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level (or equivalent) performing all the following duties:

Developing and delivering briefings project papers reports and correspondence to managers employees and applicants to convey findings and recommendations;
Managing personnel security vetting program position descriptions and contracts to determine the level of security access required for the incumbent; AND
Tracking assigned subdivision tasks to include program review schedules contract invoice payments monthly quarterly and annual performance metrics.

OR
EDUCATION:
A. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited institution that included major study in any field of study.
OR
B. Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited institution that included major study in the field of study described in statement A above.
OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: An equivalent combination of education and experience as described above may be used to substitute for the specialized experience requirement. Only graduate education in excess of the second year (determined by the institution) or 36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours (i.e. beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement.

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.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

This position has an education requirement. You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent (e.g. letter from the registrar unofficial transcripts) showing completion or intended completion (not to exceed 9 months from the date of application) of all educational requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted that includes your name the name of the educational institution course title(s) number of credits grade and date of completion. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

Education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Graduate Education: One academic year of graduate education is the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate schools definition of one year of graduate study 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the qualification requirements. You must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private U.S. organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.

Additional information

Other incentives may be authorized.
If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306 Declaration for Federal Employment and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment dismissal after beginning work fine or imprisonment.
Additional vacancies may be filled with this announcement.
The duration of a Pathways appointment is a trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. We may consider your performance and conduct the needs and interests of the agency whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.
If selected below the full performance level you may be noncompetitively promoted to the next higher grade level after meeting all regulatory requirements and upon the recommendation of management. Promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e. physical or mental) covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position after notification of the adjudication of your request you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Current or Former Political Appointees: 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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A 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.

Review our 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 Experience:

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