Security Specialist

📍 Alexandria, Virginia · 🏛 Washington Headquarters Services · 💰 $121,785–$158,322 per year · 🎓 GS 13 · 🧭 Security Administration (0080) · ⏳ Closes Nov 16, 2026 · 5 days left · 🗓 Posted Nov 9, 2026
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Job details at a glance

AgencyWashington Headquarters Services
DepartmentDepartment of Defense
LocationAlexandria, Virginia
Salary$121,785–$158,322 per year
GradeGS 13
ScheduleFull-time
Occupation seriesSecurity Administration (0080)
Openings2
Hiring pathsInternal to an agency
PostedNov 9, 2026
Application deadlineNov 16, 2026
Telework eligibleYes
Remote jobNo
Security clearanceSensitive Compartmented Information
Relocation expenses reimbursedNo
Promotion potentialNone
Apply on USAJobs (official) ↗

About this job

This position serves as a Security Specialist responsible for analyzing, evaluating, and optimizing complex security integration processes for onboarding personnel and ensuring the delivery of onboarding services for new hires whose gaining organizations are supported by WHS.

Duties

Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following: Interrogates systems of record-including DISS and USA Staffing-to verify personnel security clearances, synchronize TJOs/FJOs, submit parking/facility access via the PFPA Automated Management Portal, and request logical IT network access (NIPRNet/SIPRNet/JWICS) through ServiceNow. Serves as the Site Security Manager (SSM) and Verifying Official (VO) on DMDC's Real-Time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS), issuing Common Access Cards (CAC) and resolving complex multi-system profile synchronization or certificate failures. Directs biweekly NEO sessions, establishing master logistics schedules, reconciling rosters against clearance records, delivering security training modules (OPSEC, INFOSEC, Cyber Hygiene, Insider Threat), and executing Day-1 IT hardware issuance. Coordinates onboarding workflows with critical partners-including PFPA, DMDC, DISA, and the DoW CIO-to resolve service bottlenecks, eliminate operational friction, and maintain high standards of customer service. Tracks program health, cycle times, and readiness indicators using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs); synthesizes data into executive dashboards, portfolio summaries, and talking papers for WHS SESD leadership

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements described below. You may qualify at the GS-13 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to Utilizing personnel security databases of record and identity credentialing systems to verify security clearance eligibility for physical facility and logical network access requests; Formulating operational workflows to streamline security integration, maintain compliance, resolve complex service delivery conflicts, and implement improvements to intake workflows; Evaluating program performance by analyzing onboarding cycle times, customer satisfaction surveys, and operational KPIs in executive reports; AND Managing operational logistics, cross-functional teams, and schedules for recurring corporate New Hire Orientation sessions. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. All qualifications requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. Your resume may not exceed two (2) pages. For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration. Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission.. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible". Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave. Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office. Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience.

Evaluations

This position utilizes a single-hurdle assessment method consisting of a Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel review. Traditional automated occupational questionnaires and USA Hire assessments will not be administered. Qualified applicant resumes and supporting documentation will be independently evaluated by a panel of SMEs using a standardized, competency-based scoring rubric developed during the job analysis. The Human Resources Directorate (HRD) will consolidate the SME ratings to determine final quality categories and generate the referral certificate accordingly. Please ensure your resume explicitly documents how your experience aligns with the specialized experience and competencies listed in this announcement. Personnel and Security Attention to Detail Oral Communication DOD PPP candidates using Application-Based Procedures: Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: Military Spouse Preference applicants, must be selected and placed at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-4) dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. Your resume cannot exceed two pages. See the Required Documents section above for more information. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process, and it is your responsibility to ensure that they do so successfully. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application and questionnaire which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. Read the Eligibility questions carefully. Your responses will affect your consideration for the position. You may qualify for more than one eligibility, so please choose carefully. You will only be considered under the options you have selected. If you respond that you do not meet any of the eligibility questions, you will not be considered for this position. To view the questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13094630 Failure to submit a complete application package will result in an ineligible rating and loss of consideration. Do not email or send hard copy resumes/applications to the Contact Information or Agency Information listed in this vacancy announcement. All resumes/applications received at the addresses listed in the Contact Information or Agency Information will be destroyed and will not be considered for this vacancy announcement. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that all information in their resume and documents are legible and accurate. HR will not modify answers/documents submitted by an applicant.

Applications are handled only on the official announcement. This page is a readable copy of the public announcement data — the official version controls if anything differs.

Apply on USAJobs (official) ↗

Required documents

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DOCUMENT IN YOUR APPLICATION PACKAGE EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR ELIGIBILITY AND QUALIFICATION CLAIMS. You MUST upload the applicable documents with your application package. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further. 1. All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages showing all relevant experience. Your resume must address your technical qualifications for the position, hours worked per week and the dates of employment for each position (hours per week and month/year to month/year to present) listed on the resume and it may not exceed two (2) pages. Your 2-page (or less) resume must be in PDF format, with no smaller than a 0.5" margin and no smaller than a 10-point font. If you submit a resume that exceeds the two-page limit and/or does not meet the margin or font limitations stated herein, you will immediately be deemed ineligible for this position and will receive no further consideration. If you submit a resume that exceeds the two-page limit and/or does not meet the margin or font limitations stated herein, you will immediately be deemed ineligible for this position and will receive no further consideration. If you submit more than one copy of your resume, only the most recent version will be reviewed. The latest timestamp will be used to determine which version of your resume is "most recent." If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you will not be considered for this vacancy. 2. Other supporting documents: Cover Letter, optional Most recent SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade held. It is recommended you provide a SF-50 within the last 52 weeks before the closing date of this JOA for current federal employees. We will use the employment date and grade on your resume in conjunction with the provided SF-50 to help determine initial eligibility, but may require additional information to confirm at the job offer stage if needed. DD-214, SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities DoD Priority Placement Program applicant supporting documentation - See the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section of this announcement Other Noncompetitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable ARE YOU A VETERAN CLAIMING SOLE SURVIVORSHIP PREFERENCE OR 5-POINT VETERANS' PREFERENCE? 1. You must provide legible copy/copies of the following: DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," showing all dates of service, type of discharge as well as character of service (Honorable, General, etc.) or Statement of Service/Proof of Service (in lieu of a DD-214) from your command or local Personnel Support Detachment (PSD). The Statement of Service/Proof of Service must provide all dates of service, the expected date of discharge and anticipated character of service (Honorable, General, etc.). Veterans should upload their DD-214 once they receive it upon separation. 2. You should also document your complete military service information in the Veterans Preference and Military Service Section of the assessment questionnaire (type of preference, dates of service, date of VA letter, character of service, disability claim and rank and date of retirement if retired). ARE YOU A DISABLED VETERAN or CLAIMING 10-POINT VETERANS' PREFERENCE? 1. Disabled veterans, veterans, widows, spouses or the mother of a veteran, who are eligible for 10-point veterans' preference, you must provide legible copies of the following: Applicable supporting documents as noted on Standard Form-15 (SF-15). To obtain a copy of SF-15, go to: https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans ARE YOU A CURRENT OR FORMER POLITICAL SCHEDULE A, SCHEDULE C, NON-CAREER SES OR PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEE EMPLOYEE? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee) Agency; and Beginning and ending dates of appointment.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration. A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements: including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments. HR will initiate the drug test no later than 2 business days after the Tentative Job Offer is accepted. The selectee must sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding." A negative drug test result must be received by HR no later than 30 calendar days after the EOD. Failure to pass the test or provide results in time may lead to the job offer being withdrawn or removal from Federal service. Washington Headquarters Services uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.dhs.gov/E-Verify Stay informed of changes to your application status by signing up for automatic email alerts at: https://www.usajobs.gov/Applicant/Application/ListApplications? Washington Headquarters Services is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. NOTE: Recruitment, relocation, and retention incentives may be considered.

Other information

Probationary Periods: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your 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 probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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. Reemployed Annuitants: Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants (DODI 1400.25, volume 300). http://www.esd.whs.mil/DD/DoD-Issuances/140025/ Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative. Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.

Frequently asked questions

How much does this Security Specialist job pay?

The announcement lists a salary of $121,785–$158,322 per year (GS 13).

When is the last day to apply?

Applications close on Nov 16, 2026 — 5 days from today.

Where is this job located?

This position is located in Alexandria, Virginia with the Washington Headquarters Services.

How do I apply?

Applications are submitted through the official announcement on USAJobs. Use the Apply button on this page to go to the official posting — this site never takes applications itself.

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Data: USAJobs (U.S. Office of Personnel Management), retrieved 2026-11-11 · Announcement IMP-13094630-27-NMP · Official announcement. FederalJobs is unofficial and is not affiliated with OPM or the agency.
Security Specialist
Nov 16, 2026 deadlineApply