USA Staffing

Position Title: Personnel Security Specialist
Agency: Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Announcement Number: OPR-12743435-DHA-BVG Opens in new window
Open Period: Thursday, June 5, 2025 to Wednesday, June 11, 2025

For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.

1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?

A. No, I do not claim Veterans' Preference

B. 0-point Sole Survivorship Preference (SSP)

C. 5-point preference based on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (TP)

D. 10-point preference for non-compensable disability or Purple Heart (XP)

E. 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of at least 10% but less than 30% (CP)

F. 10 point preference based on widow/widower or parent of a deceased veteran, or spouse or parent of a disabled veteran (XP)

G. 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of 30% or more (CPS)

2. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:

you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy
your grade is equivalent to or higher than the grade level of the vacancy
the promotion potential (full performance level) of the position you are being separated from is equal to or higher than the promotion potential of the vacancy, and
your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

You will be required to submit supporting documentation to validate your claim of CTAP eligibility such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Resource Center.

A. Yes

B. No

3. 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
your grade is equivalent to or higher than the grade level of the vacancy
the promotion potential (full performance level) of the position you are being separated from is equal to or higher than the promotion potential of the vacancy, and
your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

You will be required to submit supporting documentation to validate your claim of ICTAP eligibility such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50. For more information, review the USAJOBS Resource Center.

A. Yes

B. No

1) Are you a current DHS employee in the competitive service with a specific notice of RIF separation or a Certificate of Expected Separation?

2) Are you a former DHS employee in the competitive service separated by Reduction in Force (RIF)?

3) A former competitive service employee fully recovered from a compensable injury after more than 1 year?

If yes, confirm:

you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy
your grade is equivalent to or higher than the grade level of the vacancy
the promotion potential (full performance level) of the position you are being separated from is equal to or higher than the promotion potential of the vacancy, and
your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

To verify your eligibility for option 1); you must submit your RIF separation notice or Certificate of Expected Separation, your most recent SF-50 noting your current position, grade level, and duty location, and a copy of your most recent performance rating.
To verify your eligibility for option 2); you must submit your RIF separation SF-50 and a copy of your most recent performance rating.
To verify your eligibility for option 3); you must submit documentation showing injury compensation benefits cease or the Department of Labor denies an appeal for continuation of injury compensation benefits.

A. Yes

B. No

1. Select the location(s) you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location.

A. Washington, DC

B. Farmers Branch, TX

2. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.

3. Which of the following items describes your current or recent (within the last five years) political appointee service? If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.

A. Yes, I am considered a political appointee as described under 5 U.S.C. sections 5312 through 5316.

B. Yes, I am considered a Non-career Senior Executive Service (SES), Limited Term SES, Limited Emergency SES Executive Branch employee.

C. Yes, I am considered a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or appointee who served in a political capacity under agency-specific authority in the Executive Branch.

D. Yes, I am considered a political appointee in the Executive Branch (as described in a., b. or c above) in a covered position in an agency having an interchange agreement with OPM, which allows movement from the agency's system to the competitive civil service.

E. None of the above. I am not considered a current or recent (last 5 years) political appointee as described above in items a, b, c, or d.

4. I acknowledge that I am solely responsible for the answers and documentation submitted in my online application. I understand that my answers cannot be altered once I have submitted my application and the announcement has closed. I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of the information contained in my online application for Federal Employment is true, correct, complete, and made in good faith. I understand that a false or fraudulent answer to any question or item on any part of my online application may be grounds for not hiring me, or for firing me after I begin work, and may be punishable by fine or imprisonment or both (See section 1001 of title 18, United States Code).

By clicking "Yes" below, I certify that I accept responsibility for the responses and documentation submitted in my online application and that the information I have provided is true to the best of my knowledge.

A. Yes

B. No

5. Do any of your family members work for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement?

(A family member means an individual with any of the following relationships to the applicant: (1) Spouse, and parents thereof; (2) Sons and daughters, and spouses thereof; (3) Parents, and spouses thereof; (4) Brothers and sisters, and spouses thereof; (5) Grandparents and grandchildren, and spouses thereof; (6) Domestic partner and parents thereof, including domestic partners of any individual in (2) through (5) of this definition; and (7) Any individual related by blood or affinity whose close association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship.)

A. Yes

B. No

6. If the answer to the question above is yes, please provide the relative(s)' name, relationship, and the ICE office or organization for which your relative(s) works (if known).

If the answer to the question above is no, please indicate 'not applicable'. (limit 1,000 characters)

1. Which of the following statements best describes your experience and/or education that would qualify you at the GS-9 grade level?

A. I have at least one year of specialized experience at the GS-07 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as: Reviewing personnel security documents for accuracy and completeness; verifying previous background investigations of applicants, contractors, and other personnel; collaborating with applicants to obtain missing information required for suitability paperwork; assisting specialists with the review of suitability documents to ascertain the impact on the granting, denying, or revoking of security clearances; assisting security specialists in the evaluation and recommendation of suitability and security determinations; responding to requests for personnel security information or assistance; researching personnel security guidelines, polices, and procedures.

B. I have successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree, two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a LL.B/J.D., if related. Graduate level education must have been from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

C. I have a combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience as described in the vacancy announcement. Combinations are computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate education beyond the first year may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grade GS-09 for the combination. Graduate education must be from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

D. I do not possess the specialized experience and/or education described above.

2. If you answered A or C, please provide the position titles(s) and dates of employment referenced in your resume that demonstrates the experience related to your response.
(limit 100 characters)

3. Which of the following statements best describes your experience and/or education that would qualify you at the GS-11 grade level?

A. I have at least one year of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as: Reviewing personnel security questionnaires for completeness and accuracy, initiating contact with personnel to resolve discrepancies; identifying and comprising written summaries of issues that impact credentialing, fitness, suitability, and/or national security eligibility determinations; making recommendations related to credentialing, fitness, suitability, and/or national security eligibility determinations.

B. I have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a LL.M., if related. Graduate level education must have been from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and activities necessary to do the work.

C. I have a combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience as described in the job opportunity announcement. Combinations are computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate education beyond the second year may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grade GS-11 for the combination. Graduate education must be from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

D. I do not possess the specialized experience and/or education described above.

4. If you answered A or C, please provide the position titles(s) and dates of employment referenced in your resume that demonstrates the experience related to your response.
(limit 100 characters)

5. Which of the following statements best describes your experience that would qualify you at the GS-12 grade level?

A. I have at least one year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as: Applying broad understanding of personnel security regulations across multiple determination types (e.g. credentialing, fitness, suitability, and national security eligibility); obtaining sufficient evidence to support personnel security determinations; making recommendations and decisions related to credentialing, fitness, suitability, and/or national security eligibility; using knowledge of personnel security, relaying information related to adjudication and/or background investigations to junior staff.

B. I do not possess the specialized experience described above.

6. If you answered A, please provide the position titles(s) and dates of employment referenced in your resume that demonstrates the experience related to your response. (limit 100 characters)

7. Which of the following statements best describes your experience that would qualify you at the GS-13 grade level?

A. I have at least one year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as: Reviewing, evaluating and making determinations related to complex personnel security cases (e.g. credentialing, fitness, suitability, and/or national security eligibility) ensuring compliance with federal regulations; providing expert guidance on credentialing, fitness, suitability, and/or national security eligibility; providing advice on case preparation efforts; preparing complex written correspondence, reports, and/or briefings related to personnel security to a broad range of audiences; developing and providing training to junior staff members and/or other agency personnel.

B. I do not possess the specialized experience as described above.

8. If you answered A, please provide the position titles(s) and dates of employment referenced in your resume that demonstrates the experience related to your response. (limit 100 characters)

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