Personnel Security Specialist

U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), part of the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Professional Responsibility, Personnel Security Division in Washington, DC, is seeking qualified personnel for the GS-13 level.

Candidates will review security investigation packages, evaluate information using adjudicative standards, and manage case actions in dedicated databases. This role requires experience in personnel security, familiarity with adjudicative processes, and the ability to prepare

Qualifications

• Specialized experience in personnel security investigations and adjudication.
• Ability to apply personnel security, suitability, fitness, and national security standards.
• Experience using personnel security systems and investigative databases.

Responsibilities

• Review personnel security investigation packages and related records for adequacy and coverage.
• Apply adjudicative standards to evaluate information and identify issues.
• Use security systems and databases to research, document, and manage case actions.
• Prepare written adjudicative summaries, notices, recommendations, or other case documents.
• Provide technical guidance on personnel security processes to staff and stakeholders.

Skills

Specialized experience

Personnel security

Investigations workflow

Job description

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Professional Responsibility, Personnel Security Division located in Washington D.C.

This announcement will be open for 5 business days OR until the first 100 applications have been received, whichever happens first.

Additional selections may be made for other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

Experience: You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Reviewing personnel security investigation packages, reciprocity requests, and supporting records to determine adequacy, compliance, and required investigative coverage.
• Applying personnel security, suitability, fitness, and national security adjudicative standards to evaluate investigative information and identify issues requiring resolution.
• Using personnel security systems and investigative databases to research, document, track, and manage case actions in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Preparing written adjudicative summaries, notices, recommendations, or other case documentation to support personnel security determinations.
• Providing technical guidance on personnel security processes, investigative requirements, adjudicative standards, or case handling procedures to staff, stakeholders, or program officials.

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.

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; and
• Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 10/23/2026.

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 (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non‑prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers

Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

• Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
• A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
• Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
• Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement.

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‑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 here.