Personnel Security Specialist

This position is located in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Office of Administrative Services (OAS), Security and Emergency Management Division, Personnel Security Branch. OAS plans and administers a variety of administrative support programs, including security services, safety and health services. SEMD provides a broad range of innovative services and programs responsive to the physical and personnel security needs of the USPTO workforce.

The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Virginia. Presence at the Alexandria, VA campus is required for this role, as it includes on site functions that must be performed in person. Position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy/business unit discretion. The agency currently allows for 52 hours of telework per leave year.

This position is perfect for you if: You enjoy assisting in the administration of the agency's personnel security programs and a variety of security related administrative and technical duties; and applying commonly applied security principles, concepts, and methodologies to provide support to the supervisor and other security specialists on a variety of matters regarding personnel security programs of the agency and the office.

You excited about assisting with adjudicating contractor cases for fitness and national security cases for USPTO personnel as requested or that may require coordination with federal intelligence and law enforcement entities. You are eager to conduct or assist with interviews with individuals to obtain information related to criminal activity, social misconduct, financial irresponsibility, and other personal and volatile issues.

You are energized by assisting in the day-to-day operations of personnel security, information security (education and awareness) and the application of security policy in the USPTO. You are excited to participate in the agency's personnel security education and awareness program by preparing and conducting security briefings.

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. OPM Qualifications Standards are available at Security Administration Series 0080 Specialized Experienceis experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.

To be creditable, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07 in the Federal service: For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS-07. Specialized experience for this position includes: Experience assisting with processing personnel security forms to ensure the scope of information requested in the instructions is met, (e.

g. reviewing the forms to identify any incomplete or inconsistent data and contacting relevant subject to obtain omissions, corrections, or required signatures); Experience assisting with processing employee or contractor background investigations in accordance with HSPD-12 and 5 C.F.R, 731; and Experience participating in interviews with senior security specialists to obtain additional background information from contractor and or/employees.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, Ameri. Corps) 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.

GS-09 Master's or equivalent graduate degree; Or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; Or LL.B, LL.M., or J.D., if related. If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.

Education

completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to General Schedule Qualification Policies for more information. You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.

S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website

• US Department of Education . Another listing of services that can perform this evaluation is available at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration. NOTE: Only education and experience acquired before the filing deadline will be considered. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.