Security Specialist

Maritime Administration (DOT); Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 85,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

Maritime Administration (MARAD) in Washington, DC, seeks a Security Administration specialist to safeguard information, personnel, and property and to support compliance with national security requirements. The role develops and evaluates conformance with security policies for headquarters and field locations and provides emergency and non-emergency communications capabilities.

Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of federal security principles, regulations, and procedures and work

Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge of federal security principles, policies, and procedures.
• Experience assisting in development and evaluation of conformance with national security policies.
• Ability to provide emergency and non-emergency communications at HQ and field sites.

Responsibilities

• Enforces MARAD’s security program including personnel, information, physical and emergency security activities such as: clearance of applicants and employees for entry or retention in employment, and/or the clearance of employees and other persons for access to classified material.
• Provides assistance to officials on personnel security requirements. Briefs and debriefs employees and others on security requirements.
• Maintains liaison with the Office of Security in the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, on assigned security matters.
• Oversees and is responsible for the National Industrial Security Program, as well as the OPSEC and INFOSEC programs in MARAD.
• This position is established to ensure the safeguard of information, personnel, and property from theft, loss, misuse, fraud, or disclosure; and to provide emergency and non-emergency communications capability at headquarters and field locations.

Job description

Summary

This position is located in the Office of Management and Administrative Services, Office of the Associate Administrator for Administration, Maritime Administration (MARAD).

Work Site Details

Telework eligible: No

Remote job: No

Relocation expenses reimbursed: No

Location: Washington, DC

Vacancy count: 1

Compensation and Benefits

Salary: $85,447 – $133,142 per year

Pay scale and grade: GS 11 – 12

Promotion potential: 12

Work schedule: Full-time – Full Time

Travel Required: Not required – Some travel will be required.

Appointment type: Permanent

Occupations and job series: 0080 Security Administration

Supervisory status: No

Federal service type: This job is in the Competitive Service

Represented by a union: Yes – This is a Bargaining unit position represented by AFGE, local 4028.

Drug test: Yes

Security clearance: Secret

Position sensitivity and risk: Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk

Background check type: Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure required: No

Announcement number: MARAD.HQ-2026-0047

Control number: 891334900

This job is open to

• Federal employees – Competitive service


• Internal to an agency


• DOT-wide employees with competitive status only, including FAA employees eligible for competitive announcements through FAA’s OPM Interchange Agreement.

Duties

This position is established (1) to ensure the safeguard of information, personnel, and property from theft, loss, misuse, fraud, or disclosure; (2) assist in the development, establishment, recommendation, and evaluation of conformance with national policies for the headquarters and field elements of the Maritime Administration; and (3) provide both emergency and non emergency communications capability at headquarters and field locations in accordance with approved requirements.

• Enforces MARAD’s security program including personnel, information, physical and emergency security activities such as: clearance of applicants and employees for entry or retention in employment, and/or the clearance of employees and other persons for access to classified material.


• Provides assistance to officials on personnel security requirements. Briefs and debriefs employees and others on security requirements.


• Exercises responsibility for the receipt, custody, transmission, destruction, and control of all materials classified TOP SECRET or SECRET with the exception of physical custody of such material as is authorized to be under the custody of others under the provisions of Maritime Administrative Orders.


• Independently and as a member of a team, performs inspections of workplaces, storage areas, and administrative offices to identify and evaluate risk potential; determines the extent to which mechanical and physical conditions comply with required or accepted standards, adherence to established safety policies and procedures, and the effectiveness of the assigned program. Inspects contractor operations to insure safety regulations and standards are compiled with and to identify and insure correction of hazardous acts or conditions.


• Maintains liaison with the Office of Security in the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, on assigned security matters.


• Oversees and is responsible for the National Industrial Security Program, as well as the OPSEC and INFOSEC programs in MARAD.

The ideal candidate for this position will possess comprehensive knowledge of federal security principles, policies, regulations, and procedures necessary to administer and support an effective personnel, physical, information, and operational security program.

Conditions of Employment

Must meet specialized experience stated in Qualifications section

Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date

Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.

• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.


• Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.


• BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals. Appointment will be subject to the applicant’s successful completion of the security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.


• DRUG TEST: This position has been determined to be a critical safety/security position as defined in the Department of Transportation (DOT) Order, DOT 3910.1D entitled “Drug and Alcohol-Free Departmental Workplace.” Therefore, if selected for the position you will be required to submit to a pre-employment/pre-appointment drug test, you will also be subject to Random Drug Testing.


• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).


• TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, and (3) meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

++To qualify for the GS-11 on Experience,++

• Experience applying security principles, concepts, techniques, policies, and guidelines to administer and evaluate personnel, physical, information, and background investigations.

++To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone,++

3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

You can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

++To qualify for the GS-12 on Experience,++

• Experience administering, evaluating, and improving personnel, physical, information, industrial, and emergency security programs and applying and interpreting federal security laws, regulations, policies, and directives to resolve security issues and develop effective solutions.


• Experience evaluating personnel security information, background investigations, and derogatory information to make determinations and recommendations concerning eligibility for access to classified or sensitive information.

You cannot qualify on education at the GS-12 level; you must have experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

• Technical Competence – Knowledge of personnel security principles and procedures, including security clearances, investigations, access determinations, reporting requirements, and adjudicative considerations.


• Problem Solving – Skill in researching and interpreting security laws, regulations, directives, policies and applying them to specific operational situations.


• Reasoning – Ability to analyze security-related information, evaluate risks and competing requirements, and reach logical conclusions to support security decisions and recommendations.

For all types of consideration, 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.

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/employment-faq/federal-hiring/how-do-i-apply-for-federal-jobs/

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date.

Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant’s criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, [e-mail]. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Open in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. To receive full credit during evaluation, your assessment responses must explicitly point back to your resume, as HR cannot make assumptions about your experience. You must write your narrative answers in full paragraph format, beginning each response with the exact position title, organization, employment dates (MM/YYYY–MM/YYYY), full-time/part-time, average hours worked per week, and federal series/grade (if applicable) as listed on your resume. Within the paragraph, clearly describe your specific individual duties, actions taken, tools used, and measurable outcomes to prove your level of expertise. HR will cross-check your narrative against your resume; if your resume does not fully support every detail and timeframe claimed in your written response, the claimed experience will be disallowed, which may result in an ineligible determination.

Eligible Federal employees also seeking consideration for noncompetitive reassignment for this position, must indicate interest in the assessment. Noncompetitive federal candidates must have competitive status on a SF‑50, meet minimum qualifications, have served at the same grade or higher, and held or exceeded the promotion potential of this position.

All applicants: Your application will be reviewed in two phases determine how you move forward in the hiring process. Phase I: Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. ONLY two (2) pages of your resume will be reviewed. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) will not be reviewed. Applicants passing “Phase I” will move on to the “Phase II” of the assessment process where your application will be reviewed and rated based on the KSAs/Competencies listed in the vacancy announcement by a Subject Matter Expert (SME).

Required documents

RESUME: In accordance with the OPM memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, resumes with a maximum of two (2) pages in length will be accepted as part of your application. These should be legible and in a readable font size. A determination of your eligibility and/or qualifications will be based only on those two (2) pages.

Your resume MUST contain specific information that can be used to make a qualification determination, including employment beginning and ending dates for each position, whether employment is Full-time or Part-time, or average number of hours worked per week, and position titles. If the position is/was in the Federal government, you will need to provide the position series and grade level. The resume should show relevant experience and education, as well as support the required specialized experience.

TRANSCRIPTS: Transcripts are REQUIRED (For the GS-11 only) if you are substituting education for experience. The transcripts need not be official, but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements.

FEDERAL APPLICANTS: You must submit SF‑50(s) that verify your highest competitive grade, full performance level, and eligibility as a federal applicant. DO NOT submit an award SF‑50 as these often do not verify grade or eligibility. For consideration for a promotion, Box 4 of the SF‑50 must show a date that is at least 52 weeks prior to the job announcement closing. We recommend submitting your last promotion SF‑50 or within-grade increase SF‑50. Pay adjustment raise SF‑50s for the current year will not support the 52 weeks’ time-in-grade requirements. https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/service/sf-50

PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS/INCENTIVE AWARDS: If applicable, performance appraisals and/or Incentive award documentation may be submitted and will be forwarded to the selecting official as support in consideration of your application in the evaluation process. To receive due weight, you must submit a recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (do not submit a performance plan) and/or incentive award documentation dated within the last 18 months (i.e. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increases, etc.)

If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP):

• Your most recent performance appraisal,


• The proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and


• Your most current SF‑50, displaying current series and grade.


• YOU MUST SUBMIT ALL 3 documents and meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 80) to be considered under CTAP.

Displaced employees may be eligible for CTAP priority consideration. For more information, please review the OPM Employee’s Guide to Career Transition.

Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents. Uploading documents to USAJobs does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system.

Next steps

You may check your application status by logging into your USAJOBS account. Within two weeks of the closing date, your application will be reviewed and rated. Ratings will be determined based on the documents and information received by the closing date. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. If you are selected for an interview, the hiring manager will contact you directly. Once a hiring decision is made, we will notify all applicants of your final status.

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Financial suitability New employee probationary period Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy Selective Service Signature and false statements Social security number request

Agency contact information

Automated Staffing Office

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Address: DOT, MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, 1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR – 50, Washington, District of Columbia 20590, United States