Security Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; West Palm Beach (FL); On-site; USD 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs, West Palm Beach VA Medical Center, is seeking a Security Assistant to support the Personnel Security Program. The role focuses on security data handling, credentialing tasks, and processing background information to ensure proper clearance levels.

The position emphasizes attention to detail, customer service, and compliance with security procedures. On-site work in West Palm Beach, FL, with standard federal benefits and a structured career path.

Qualifications

• Must meet qualification standards by closing date.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-04 in the organization.
• Education substitution allowed with education above high school level.

Responsibilities

• Perform security-related functions in support of the Personnel Security Program.
• Issue and process security IDs and badges.
• Maintain databases and records for background investigations and suitability.

Skills

Attention to Detail

Customer Service

Decision Making

Flexibility

Integrity/Honesty

Interpersonal Skills

Learning

Reading Comprehension

Self-Management

Stress Tolerance

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

The Legacy VISN 8 Network Office is recruiting to fill a Security Assistant vacancy in the West Palm Beach VAMC to perform security-related functions in support of a Network Personnel Suitability and Credentialing Program (hereinafter, 'Personnel Security Program') within a shared services unit. The Personnel Security Program assures that all appointees have the appropriate level of security/suitability clearance commensurate with their assignment. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/01/2026.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

GS-05 grade level

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Extracting information from various sources that requires considering and applicability of information and the characteristics and quality of the source; issuing security ID cards; performing clerical assistance tasks in support of established programs (e.g., personnel, physical, information or industrial security) when such work requires; general administrative and/or clerical skills, practical knowledge of specific security administration; experience in initiating background information. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed education above the high school level in any field. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school. (Transcript required). OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education above the high school level. (Transcript required)

GS-06 Grade Level

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Using forms administrative tasks associated with the authorization and issuance of the personal identification card, a standardized identification badge designed to increase security related with physical access to Federal facilities and networks and logical access to computer systems; obtaining, inserting, and correcting missing and incorrect data in Personnel Security files and automated systems; assuring that paperwork related to the suitability process is forwarded for inclusion in the appropriate system of records, i.e., official personnel folders; conducting onboarding tasks with HR functions.
• Education: There is no educational substitution at the GS-06 level.

GS-07 Grade level

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Collecting appropriate background security information, tracking and reviewing data, completion of reports, maintaining databases and processing; enter, extract, and evaluate employee information via access to various computer databases; initiating, reviewing, and approving background cases related to the completion of suitability investigations; completion of reports; maintaining databases and processing, position risks sensitivity levels, pre-employment processes, log maintenance, electronic fingerprints, minor identification card troubleshooting; ad min tasks associated with authorization of personal identification cards, special projects, performing audits, credentialing rules and regulations.
• Education: There is no education substitution at the GS-07 grade level.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

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; religions; 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.

Note

A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements

The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as papers, small boxes, or books.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/