Summary Join our team as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to mentor and train stakeholders on policy interpretation and application, manage complex issues to meet Federal Investigative Standards, and advance DCSA's mission. Responsibilities include mentoring staff, creating training material, presenting guidance, and fostering strong team dynamic all with the goal of ensuring efficient, high-quality products being delivered to our customers aligned with organizational goals. Responsibilities All U.S. Citizens who reside or currently employed in the Fort Meade local commuting area, which includes the District of Columbia and Baltimore City; Maryland counties of Anne Arundel, Prince George, Montgomery, Howard, Harford, Charles, Calvert, Carroll, Frederick and Baltimore; Adams County in Pennsylvania; City of Alexandria, VA; Virginia counties of Arlington, Stafford, Prince William, and Fairfax and all cities existing in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania within the geographic area bounded by the outer boundaries of the combined areas of the aforementioned counties. OR All U.S. Citizens who reside or currently employed in the Boyers, PA local commuting area, which includes the Pennsylvania counties of Butler, Clarion, Armstrong, Allegheny, Beaver, Lawrence, Mercer, Crawford, Erie, Venango, Jefferson, Indiana, and Westmorland; Ohio counties of Columbia, Trumbull, and Mahoning; and all cities existing in Pennsylvania or Ohio within the geographic area bounded by the outer boundaries of the combined areas of the aforementioned counties. Salaries by location: Fort Meade, MD: $120,579 - 156,755 Boyers, PA: $108,957 - $141,646 As a LEAD PERSONNEL SECURITY SPECIALIST you will be responsible for the following duties: Serve as a SME of DCSA's Federal Investigative Program, Federal Investigative Standards (FIS), Investigative Suite of Tools (IST), case processing systems, and Quality Oversights' internal applications and databases. Mentor and train staff on guidance and interpretations related to complex investigations, quality review, while adjusting duties to achieve the highest level of efficiency and assisting with project management. Navigate complex investigative issues where there is little to no Policy guidance. Researching the issue and related Policy guidance and be comfortable making decisions with little supervisory input Identify problems, trends, needed training areas and provide viable solutions to management Manage multiple workloads ensuring deadlines are met with little supervisory intervention Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications The experience described in your resume will be evaluated and screened from the Office of Personnel Management's (OPMs) basic qualifications requirements. See: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0000/security-administration-series-0080/ for OPM qualification standards, competencies and specialized experience needed to perform the duties of the position as described in the MAJOR DUTIES and QUALIFICATIONS sections of this announcement by 02/03/2025 Applicant must have directly applicable experience that demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies necessary for immediate success in the position. Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must have specialized experience sufficient to demonstrate that you have acquired all the competencies necessary to perform at a level equivalent in difficulty, responsibility, and complexity to the next lower grade (GS/GG-12) in the Federal service and are prepared to take on greater responsibility. Generally, this would include one year or more of such specialized experience. Specialized experience for this position includes: Experience with DCSA Background Investigations, particularly with interpretation and application of DCSA Policies and Procedures. Making decisions in areas of DCSA Background Investigations that have little or no Policy guidance. Resolving debates of Policy interpretation and achieving consensus. Working projects independently with little supervisory oversight, researching problems and making intelligent decisions that further the DCSA mission. Experience in making decisions and developing training in areas of DCSA Background Investigations. Guiding others through training or individual mentoring to make those decisions as well, oftentimes in areas that have little or no Policy guidance. Experience in working projects independently with little supervisory oversight, researching problems, tracking progress, creating training, and making intelligent decisions that further the DCSA mission. Specifically you will be evaluated on the following competencies: 1. Developing Others - Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by inspiring and providing a learning environment of ongoing feedback and opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods, enabling employees to address skill gaps and realize their highest potential. Actively encourages and supports enhancement of a joint perspective. 2. Teaching Others - Helps others learn through formal or informal methods; identifies training needs; provides constructive feedback; coaches others on how to perform tasks; acts as a mentor. 3. Decision Making - Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change. 4. Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. 5. Writing - Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience. 6. Information Security - Applies knowledge of policies, procedures, and requirements established under appropriate authorities to protect information that, if subjected to unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause damage to national security. Education Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level. Additional Information VETERANS PREFERENCE/CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL In accordance with DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, veterans preference is not required to be applied when considering candidates with prior Federal competitive or excepted service who have completed a probationary or trial period and have not been separated for cause. Therefore, veterans preference will not be applied to applicants with current federal service, or former federal civilian service meeting the above criteria. Other Notes: Re-employed Annuitant: This position does not meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf Applicants selected from this announcement may be required to serve a two-year trial period. If selected, Federal employees currently serving in the competitive service must acknowledge that they will voluntarily leave the competitive service by accepting an offer of employment for a DCIPS excepted service positions. If selected, non-DCIPS candidates must acknowledge in writing that the position they have been selected for is in the excepted service and covered by DCIPS. Selection under this appointment authority does not confer civil service competitive status. All current and former Federal employees must submit a copy of your latest SF50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your tenure, grade and step, and type of position occupied (i.e., Excepted or Competitive); or similar Notification of Personnel Action documentation, i.e., Transcript of Service, Form 1150, etc. Resumes should NOT include: Classified information/SSN/Photo of yourself/personal information (gender, religion, affiliation etc/Encrypted digitally signed docs). Resumes with this prohibited information will be automatically ineligible for consideration.