Personnel Security Specialist

Customs and Border Protection; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Customs and Border Protection in Washington, D.C. is seeking personnel security specialists to adjudicate clearances and review investigations under DHS. The role requires interpreting evolving laws and applying them to determine appropriate background checks.

Successful candidates will navigate education–experience combinations and complete online assessments as part of the hiring process. This federal position emphasizes accuracy, compliance, and cross‑functional coordination.

Qualifications

• Experience handling personnel security investigations and deciding clearance levels.
• Ability to interpret evolving laws, directives or regulations for security/suitability.
• Knowledge of combining education and experience for qualification processing.

Responsibilities

• Adjudicating requests for security clearances.
• Reviewing submitted background investigation packages and obtaining additional information as needed.
• Determining type and level of background investigation required.
• Adjudicating suitability of personnel security investigations and reinvestigations.
• Interpreting relevant laws/regulations and establishing local policies.

Skills

Adjudicating clearances

Reviewing background investigations

Determining investigation requirements

Interpreting laws and regulations

Education

PhD or equivalent doctoral degree substitution

Job description

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Personnel Security Division located in Washington DC. Additional selections may be made beyond the total number of vacancies specified using this vacancy announcement. Further selections may also be made for additional organizational divisions and\/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

Experience GS-11:

• Adjudicating requests for security clearances
• Reviewing submitted background investigation packages and requesting additional information from subjects in order to resolve\/clarify any discrepancies
• Determining the type\/level of background investigation required

Experience GS-12:

• Adjudicating suitability of personnel security investigations and reinvestigations
• Interpreting and reviewing new laws, directives or regulations pertaining to personnel security\/suitability programs and establishing local policies and procedures
• Reviewing reports of personnel security investigations and polygraphs to identify discrepancies or derogatory information

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.

Education Substitution:

• GS-11: A Ph.D. or an equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.M. degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for experience required at this level. (A course of study in business, international business, or a related field is qualifying.) Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise three years of graduate study. If that information is not available, use 54 semester or 81 quarter hours.
• There is no education substitution at the GS-12 grade level for this occupation.

Combining Education and Experience:

To combine your education and experience, you must convert each to a percentage, and then add the percentages. The combined total of your percentage of education and experience must equal at least 100% in order to qualify. If your education is currently described in quarter hours, convert the quarter hours into semester hours by multiplying the quarter hours by the fraction 2\/3. To calculate your percentage of graduate education, divide the number of graduate semester hours by 18. To determine your percentage of qualifying experience, you must divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by the required number of months of experience. Add your percentages of education and experience. The two percentages must total at least 100%. 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). 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. You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 09\/09\/2026. In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Overstating your qualifications and\/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (