Personnel Security Specialist III - Remote

at  Protection Strategies Inc

ABOUT US:

Do you want to make a difference? Do you want to join a diverse team supporting a unifying mission? PSI is always looking to enhance its staff with professional, talented individuals.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

• A minimum of three to four years of experience in adjudication rendering suitability and fitness recommendations on behalf of the Federal Government.
• Have successfully completed formal training in suitability adjudications towards adjudicator certification in compliance with National Training Standards established by OPM.
• Conducted first and second level and/or quality review of others making suitability or fitness recommendations.
• Five years of experience providing professional and competent customer service, working with customers by phone, by email, and in person.
• Ability to pay strict attention to detail to ensure data errors are minimized.
• Ability to apply analytical security processes and procedures with assigned tasks in a timely manner or as requested.
• Ability to perform and adapt in a high tempo, fast paced and fluid security environment.
• Experience conducting and interpreting database checks and credit reports.
• Demonstrated analytical ability to critically review and analyze various types of incoming material and investigative reports to discern potential security vulnerabilities and to identify viable investigative leads.
• Work under general supervision and provide guidance for junior team members.
• Experience analyzing investigative reports and other sources of information to identify security vulnerabilities; to develop investigative leads; to propose a recommendation as to the approval, denial, or revocation of eligibility for access to national security information based on the application of the appropriate adjudicative standards.
• Experienced in the adjudication of complex and multi-issue cases.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing to elicit detailed information from a variety of sources necessary to evaluate an individual’s conduct and character.
• Demonstrated practical knowledge of commonly applied personnel security and suitability principles, concepts, and methodologies in carrying out a variety of support assignments.
• Ability and willingness to learn the basic functions and operations of all systems associated with personnel security processing.
• Monitors personnel security mailbox, work log, and workflow as necessary.
• Must possess and demonstrate an applied knowledge of utilizing the General Services Administration USAccess system to sponsor individuals for HSPD-12 PIV credentials to grant logical and physical access to client facilities and allow enrollment of fingerprints for criminal history records checks.
• Must possess a favorably adjudicated background investigation completed within the last five years at the BI, Tier 4 level or SSBI, Tier 5 level; and be able to maintain the favorable result throughout employment on the contract.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

This individual supports the Office of Security Services, Personnel Security Operations Branch providing administrative and technical support for a staff engaged in personnel security and suitability operations and assuring the implementation and compliance with security and suitability programs, policies, and requirements. In addition, this position is responsible for first-level adjudicative recommendations on both interim and final decisions, as well as quality review of work products of lower-level specialists and assistants.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Validates the need for investigation by conducting a check of the OPM CVS.
• Establishes, reviews, and monitors background investigation accounts, and information in the DCSA NBIS eApp system.
• Identifies where reciprocity may be accepted in processing based on PERSEC community and client policies.
• Initiates background investigations at the correct tier based on the risk/sensitivity level of the position in the DCSA NBIS eApp system.
• Creates security and/or suitability files for applicants or contractors; organizes records; maintains files; and collates documents in support of the client background investigation process.
• Utilizes the GSA USAccess system to sponsor individuals for HSPD-12 PIV credentials to grant logical and physical access to client facilities and allow enrollment of fingerprints for criminal history records checks.
• Subject to review by client personnel, and pursuant to protocols and processes approved by client personnel, the individual’s specific duties are as follows:
• Conducts pre-employment inquiries as necessary to resolve issues.
• Contacts other personnel security operations and documents the reason for a “please call” designation in CVS.
• Conducts status checks on background investigations utilizing the automated OPM Personnel Investigations Processing System (PIPS).
• Assists in training staff.
• Assist with audits, special projects, and process improvement when necessary.
• Monitors personnel security mailbox, work log, and workflow as necessary.
• Reviews the entire case file and makes a suitability/fitness recommendation based on the criteria found in the OPM Suitability Processing Handbook.
• Reviews all required documentation to ensure they are complete and accurate and that the information in all documents and case papers, hard copy or electronic, meets OPM standards for case scheduling.
• Conducts telephone and written inquiries in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974.
• Conducts Subject contact in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 and obtains written statements when required.
• Conducts post-investigation follow-up necessary for issue resolution and adjudication.
• Utilizes case management systems to document adjudicative recommendations as appropriate.
• Completes adjudicative recommendations within established time frames.
• Manages e-delivery of completed investigations to ensure adjudicative recommendations are made within established time frames.
• Drafts correspondence in the form of Letters of Interrogatory, Adjudicative Worksheets, and Notices of Proposed Action.
• Conducts inventory and quality checks on pending Report of Investigation (ROI).
• Reports results of adjudication as required by SEC internal policy.
• Must have applied knowledge of GSA PIV card processing system, USAccess.
• Must have applied knowledge of Trusted Workforce.