- Position Title
- PERSONNEL SECURITY SPECIALIST
- Agency
- Customs and Border Protection
- Announcement Number
- OPR-DE-12732856-MCM Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Monday, July 7, 2025 to Friday, July 11, 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?
2.
Are you a current or former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employee who meets one of the following criteria:
- Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Eligible: You have received notice that you will be displaced from the DHS, or
- Displaced DHS employee with a confirmed Reemployment Priority List (RPL) registration:
- You have received notice that you will be displaced from the DHS, or
- You have been separated by a reduction in force (RIF) from DHS within the last two years, or
- You are fully recovered from a compensable injury after more than one year from date of separation from DHS due to a Workers Compensation Claim?
- You occupy a position located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy, if you are a former DHS employee your former position of record is 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 will be separated; AND
- Your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
- Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice, AND
- Copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50, AND
- Documentation of a successful performance review
3.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency? If yes, confirm:
- You occupy (or have been separated from) a position 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
- Your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent
- Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice, AND
- Copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
The following set of questions focus on how you are eligible to apply for this announcement. Eligibilities are known as the specific hiring authorities that allow you to be considered for this announcement. Applicants will only be considered for eligibilities for which they claim during the online application and provide documentation displaying their eligibility for the hiring authority. Please see the required documents section of this announcement for documentation information. For more information regarding what hiring authorities you may be eligible for, please see the following link https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/
Note, the Promotion Potential question applies to current or former Federal employees only. If you are not a current or former Federal employee, select No. Selecting No or answering this question incorrectly will not remove you from consideration. However, if you only claim the promotion potential eligibility, you will not receive further consideration for this position.
Note, the Promotion Potential question applies to current or former Federal employees only. If you are not a current or former Federal employee, select No. Selecting No or answering this question incorrectly will not remove you from consideration. However, if you only claim the promotion potential eligibility, you will not receive further consideration for this position.
4.
This question applies to current DHS employees. If you are not a current DHS employee, select No. If you claim only this eligibility, and you are not a current DHS employee, you will not receive further consideration for this position.
Are you a current Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employee who is currently employed with DHS in a permanent competitive service position? DHS includes the following agencies: CBP, ICE, FEMA, FLETC, USCIS, USCG, USSS, etc.). Please visit http://dhsconnect.dhs.gov for a comprehensive list of all DHS agencies.
Note: To verify your eligibility as a current DHS employee you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting: Tenure: Career or career-conditional (1 or 2) and Position Occupied: Competitive service (1).
If you do not meet any of the categories above, you must answer no to this question.
Are you a current Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employee who is currently employed with DHS in a permanent competitive service position? DHS includes the following agencies: CBP, ICE, FEMA, FLETC, USCIS, USCG, USSS, etc.). Please visit http://dhsconnect.dhs.gov for a comprehensive list of all DHS agencies.
Note: To verify your eligibility as a current DHS employee you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting: Tenure: Career or career-conditional (1 or 2) and Position Occupied: Competitive service (1).
If you do not meet any of the categories above, you must answer no to this question.
5.
Reasonable Accommodations for taking the online assessments are provided on a case-by-case basis only to qualified individuals with a disability covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
Do you have a disability (physical or mental) that you believe will interfere with completing the online assessments and require a Reasonable Accommodation?
Preferences
1.
Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.
2.
Are you a current political Schedule A or Schedule C Executive Branch employee or a former political Schedule A or Schedule C Executive Branch employee who held the position within the last five years applying to a competitive or non-political excepted service position under Title 5 of the United States Code or are you a current non-career Senior Executive Service (SES) Executive Branch employee or a former non-career SES Executive Branch employee who held the position within the last five years applying to a competitive or non-political excepted service position under Title 5 of the United States Code?
To verify, please submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form (SF-50) or other relevant documentation reflecting your status as a Political Appointee.
To verify, please submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form (SF-50) or other relevant documentation reflecting your status as a Political Appointee.
3.
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, before completing an application for CBP employment.
If you do not meet the residency requirement as stated above 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 wavier by meeting one or more of the following conditions:
Exceptions may be granted to applicants if they can provide complete state-side coverage information required to make a suitability determination. Examples of state-side coverage information include: the state-side address of the company headquarters where the applicant's personnel file is located, the state-side address of the Professor in charge of the applicant's "Study Abroad" program, and/or the state-side addresses of anyone who worked or studied with the applicant while overseas. If selected for a position, you must provide documentation to support a request for an exception.
Do you meet the residency requirement?
If you do not meet the residency requirement as stated above 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 wavier 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
Exceptions may be granted to applicants if they can provide complete state-side coverage information required to make a suitability determination. Examples of state-side coverage information include: the state-side address of the company headquarters where the applicant's personnel file is located, the state-side address of the Professor in charge of the applicant's "Study Abroad" program, and/or the state-side addresses of anyone who worked or studied with the applicant while overseas. If selected for a position, you must provide documentation to support a request for an exception.
Do you meet the residency requirement?
4.
Are you receiving a civilian retirement annuity from OPM based on retiring from the Federal government? If you select yes and you are selected for this position, your salary will be off-set by the amount of your civilian retirement annuity.
To verify, you must submit a copy of your retirement SF-50 with your application package. It is also recommended to submit a copy of your most recent annuity statement.
Note, this does not apply to military retirement and annuity pay.
To verify, you must submit a copy of your retirement SF-50 with your application package. It is also recommended to submit a copy of your most recent annuity statement.
Note, this does not apply to military retirement and annuity pay.
5.
I have read and understand the following statement: You will be considered for the highest grade level for which you qualify for. Eligibility will be verified based on your resume and transcripts. You must have gained the work experience by the closing date of this announcement. Full-time work experience is 35 or more hours worked per week and must be clearly stated on your resume. Qualifications based on work experience will be determined by what is listed on your resume. Work experience refers to both paid and unpaid experience, such as volunteer work.
Your resume must include the following:
Do you agree to provide a resume that contains the necessary requirements listed in the instructions above?
Your resume must include the following:
- Be in English
- Include full legal name
- Address
- Phone number
- Complete work history (which includes job titles)
- Detailed description of your duties (including tasks performed)
- The dates you performed those duties (MM/DD/YY - MM/DD/YY)
- Hours worked per week for any position you worked that was not full time (less than 35 hours per week)
- Series
- Grade level(s)
- Salary
Do you agree to provide a resume that contains the necessary requirements listed in the instructions above?
6.
Are you a current or former Federal employee? If yes, it is recommended that you submit a copy of your SF-50(s) (Notification of Personnel Action) to support your experience. Also, ensure that your resume contains a detailed description of your federal work experience, including the dates you performed those duties, your hours worked per week, job title, as well as series, grade level(s), and salary (if applicable).
7.
In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires a USA Hire online assessment, which measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. If you are required to take the USA Hire assessment, you will be emailed a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. The USA Hire online assessment must be completed within 48 hours, following the close of this announcement. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). See the How to Apply and Next Steps within the Job Opportunity Announcement for additional details.
Do you acknowledge that you may be required to take an additional online USA Hire assessment, via an email link sent to you after completion of this application, and that failure to complete any portion of the assessment will remove your application from consideration?
Do you acknowledge that you may be required to take an additional online USA Hire assessment, via an email link sent to you after completion of this application, and that failure to complete any portion of the assessment will remove your application from consideration?
Assessment 1
The following questions determine whether or not you meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position. You may wish to consult the vacancy announcement for a description of those requirements.
1.
Which of the following statements best describes your education and/or experience to qualify for the GS-11 grade level?
2.
Which of the following statements best describes your experience to qualify for the GS-12 grade level?
The following questions rate applicants who meet the minimum eligibility and qualification requirements.
3.
Indicate the extent of your ability to communicate with all levels of managers, staff members, and outside groups.
4.
Which of the following best describes your experience or ability to prepare a detailed adjudicative evaluation of all relevant information based on communication from candidates?
5.
I have experience or training in interpreting and applying policies and procedures, in order to maintain the effectiveness of a program.
6.
Which of the following best describes your experience creating and/or documenting all actions within designated personnel security systems of records?
7.
Please indicate your experience reviewing, screening and evaluating reports of investigation, personnel security forms and relevant documents and information as well as other information relating to personnel suitability to include but not limited to, ensuring timeliness and completeness of adjudicative determinations and case processing.
8.
A Personnel Security Specialist must be familiar with all aspects of background investigation submission, tracking, and processing to ensure accuracy and timeliness of requests and granting of suitability and/or eligibility determinations. From the following choices, please select the one that best describes your experience.
9.
Which of the following best describes your knowledge of and experience with a variety of personnel security related information technology systems sufficient to query and research developed information?
10.
Which of the following best describes your knowledge of and skill in utilizing personnel security related information technology systems (e.g., ISMS, PIPS, e-QIP) to conduct research and training?
11.
Indicate the extent of your experience conducting research through a wide assortment of databases and information systems to locate specific data.
12.
I have experience with a variety of personnel security related information technology systems (e.g., ISMS, PIPS, e-App) sufficient to query and research developed information.
13.
Indicate the extent of your experience with the principles, policies, procedures, laws, and regulations related to Personnel Security background Investigations.
14.
I have assembled complex documentation (for example, legal documents, employee statements, reference material) to make determinations on a background investigation or similar investigation.
15.
Which of the following best describes your experience performing a variety of law enforcement and other database checks?
16.
I have experience rendering preliminary adjudicative determinations to authorize interim suitability determinations.
17.
I have rendered final adjudicative determinations.
18.
Which of the following best describes your knowledge of personnel security requirements to include Executive Orders, regulations, departmental/component policies, and local office procedures?
19.
Indicate the extent of your experience creating and/or documenting all actions within designated personnel security systems of records.
20.
Which of the following best describes your experience and skill level when conducting detailed reviews of historical records, investigation documents, and other developed records, to render a final adjudicative determination on behalf of the agency?