Federal Housing Finance Agency Logo
Position Title
Personnel Security Specialist/Senior Personnel Security Specialist
Agency
Federal Housing Finance Agency
Announcement Number
OFOM-25-04 Opens in new window
Open Period
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 to Wednesday, January 22, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position?

If yes, confirm:
• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent. For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center

To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
(limit characters)
3. Are you a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions AND you:

• served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (Note: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility); OR,
• are entitled to veterans' preference?

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources. 

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service.
(limit characters)
Preferences
1. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
2.

In the last five years (from the closing date of this announcement) have you served, or are you currently serving, as an Executive Branch Political, Schedule C, or Non-career Senior Executive Services appointee? You can find out if you have held one of these appointment types by looking at the SF-50s in your Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF), in Section 5 where the legal authorities are listed.

  • A political appointee is an appointment made by the President without confirmation by the Senate (5 CFR 213.3102(c)) OR an assistant position to a top-level federal official if filled by a person designated by the President as a White House Fellow (5 CFR 213.3102(z)).
  • A Schedule C appointee occupies a position excepted from the competitive service by the President, or by the Director of OPM, because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position duties (5 CFR 213.3301 and 5 CFR 213.3302).
  • A Non-career SES appointee is approved by the White House and serves at the pleasure of the appointing official without time limitations (5 CFR 317 Subpart F).
(limit characters)
Assessment 1
INSTRUCTIONS: Thank you for expressing interest in the Personnel Security Specialist/Sr. Personnel Security Specialist position located in the Office of Facilities and Operations Management (OFOM) at the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). You will be evaluated on your responses to this assessment questionnaire; then, we will compare your responses against your resume and supporting documentation. Please Note: Your resume MUST clearly identify the dates that support your experience (month/year) and the number of hours per week worked for each position. (limit characters)
1. Minimum Qualifications EL-12: This section will be used to determine if you possess the specialized experience needed to qualify for this position. From the description below, choose the letter beside the statement that BEST describes your background relevant to this position at the EL-12 grade level.
(limit characters)
2. Minimum Qualifications EL-13: This section will determine if you possess the specialized experience needed to qualify for this position. From the description below, choose the letter beside the statement that BEST describes your background relevant to this position at the EL-13 grade level. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
3. I have adjudicated background investigation reports and made determinations of the suitability and security eligibility of individuals for entry and/or retention in sensitive and non-sensitive positions in an agency.
(limit characters)
4. I have reviewed, assessed, and analyzed information from various sources, and made determinations on security clearance for employees or other persons for access to sensitive information, resources, material, or work sites.
(limit characters)
5. I have prepared notifications on suitability determinations, such as interrogatory letters, letters of proposed action, advisory opinions, or explanation of actions taken.
(limit characters)
6. I have maintained appropriate documentation or recordkeeping on personnel security issues, such as investigations, suitability determinations, or designation of sensitivity levels.
(limit characters)
7. I have conducted training and quality assurance reviews to ensure consistent application of policy and procedures relevant to the background investigation and security clearance areas.
(limit characters)
8. I have regularly provided guidance to employees, contractors, vendors, or management officials on personnel suitability or security issues or requirements.
(limit characters)
9. I have developed personnel security education and awareness programs to provide information on personnel security programs or issues.
(limit characters)
10. I have interpreted regulations and/or provides general information on personnel suitability or personnel security matters.
(limit characters)
11. I have developed work plans for personnel security or suitability case processing operations.
(limit characters)
12. I have directly worked for stakeholders to identify opportunities to improve efficiency of background and suitability investigation processing.
(limit characters)
13. I have reviewed documentation and other information to evaluates the authenticity and pertinence of information to the investigation in process.
(limit characters)
14. I have administered initiation, review, and submission of background investigation requests.
(limit characters)
15. I have served as a primary point of contact for managers, employees, and staff on issues related to personnel security processes.
(limit characters)
16. I have prepared communications for managers, staff, and other partners related to the personnel security process (such as providing status updates, requesting additional information, etc.).
(limit characters)
17. I have identified opportunities to improve or enhance customer responsiveness in a personnel security operation without sacrificing the rigor or confidentiality of investigations.
(limit characters)
18. I have worked directly with customers to make security processing appointments and gather information necessary to making security determinations.
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19. Certification of Application: I understand that detailed descriptions of my work experiences in my resume must fully support the responses I selected in this questionnaire. If my resume does not support my responses, the human resources office will rate my application based on the level of competency demonstrated in my resume. (If you select "No" to this question, you will be removed from consideration.)
(limit characters)