PERSONNEL SECURITY SPECIALIST

US Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

US Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency is seeking a Personnel Security Specialist to support Trust Decision Adjudications. You will analyze security questionnaires, manage adjudication projects, and participate in briefings to ensure accurate, timely determinations while safeguarding sensitive information.

You will interact with security personnel and agencies, applying adjudicative guidelines and ensuring due process throughout the process.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience in applying personnel security practices and procedures.
• Ability to analyze complex case information and adversarial data.
• Experience preparing adjudicative correspondence and decisions.

Responsibilities

• Analyze questionnaires to determine recommendations on national security issues.
• Manage projects and correspondence for Continuous Evaluation and adjudication initiatives.
• Participate in briefings to provide guidance and resolve adjudicative issues.
• Communicate with security personnel and agencies to obtain pertinent information.

Skills

Decision Making

Personnel Security

Writing

Self-Management

Flexibility

Job description

Step into a career where your judgment protects the Nation. As a Personnel Security Specialist with DCSA Trust Decision Adjudications, you will tackle complex cases, influence high-stakes trust decisions, and help shape a stronger personnel vetting enterprise. Bring your analytical edge, lead change, and make a visible national-security impact every day.

If you want purpose, challenge, and real responsibility.

The experience described in your resume will be evaluated and screened from the Office of Personnel Management's (OPMs) basic qualifications requirements. See: 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 11/20/2026

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-11 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:

• 1. Applying personnel security practices and procedures to analyze questionnaires to determine recommendations on issues concerning national security.
• 2. Managing projects and correspondence for Continuous Evaluation and Personnel Security adjudication initiatives.
• 3. Participating in briefings to provide guidance, resolution of adjudicative issues, and assurance of coordinated/uniform personnel security operations.
• 4. Communicating with security personnel, agencies and incumbents to ensure pertinent information is obtained in accordance with due process procedures.

Specifically you will be evaluated on the following competencies

• 1. Decision Making - Evaluates conflicting or incomplete case information, applies adjudicative guidelines, identifies appropriate actions to resolve issues, and reaches sound, supportable security eligibility decisions.
• 2. Personnel Security - Applies personnel security concepts, principles, practices, and applicable procedures to analyze and resolve routine, complex, sensitive, or controversial security eligibility issues.
• 3. Writing - Prepares clear, concise, accurate, and well-supported adjudicative correspondence and decision documents, including Letters of Intent, Statements of Reasons, and revocation or denial documentation.
• 4. Self-Management - Manages workload priorities, documents adjudicative actions accurately and timely, maintains accountability for case progress, and safeguards classified information and sensitive case material.
• 5. Flexibility - Adapts effectively to changing workloads, mission priorities, case complexity, policies, procedures, and personnel security requirements.