Security Specialist

Security Specialist

Department: Department of Commerce

Location(s): Boulder, Colorado, Washington, District of Columbia, Suitland, Maryland

Salary Range: $118675 - $187093 Per Year

Job Summary: This vacancy is for a Security Specialist in the Office of the Secretary within the Department of Commerce.

Major Duties:

• As a Security Specialist, you will perform the following duties: Ensuring the protection and safe handling of National Security Information (NSI) and sensitive but unclassified information, ensuring appropriate controls and procedures are in place for access to and storage of Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), and providing definitive technical expertise on matters related to NSI and Communications Security, to include advising senior-level officials Managing badging operations for a HQ or bureau location by implementing employee/contractor ID issuance procedures, developing and implementing internal controls for badging to ensure compliance, and managing HSPD-12 credentialing. Conducting analytical, planning, and advisory work to develop guidance and evaluate policies and procedures critical to publish the Office of Security's mission. Conducting risk assessments and occupant emergency plan reviews for Department of Commerce facilities and evaluating and recommending measures designed to safeguard personnel to prevent unauthorized access to equipment, facilities, material, and documents, safeguarding them against espionage, sabotage, damage, and theft. Supporting Access Control, technical security, and physical security initiatives including conducting inspections and inquiries related to the proper protection of NSI and sensitive but unclassified information. Supporting other security programs, to include having awareness into foreign access management. This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Security Specialist ZA-0080-04, (FPL:04) positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Qualifications: Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Occupational-Series Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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. This position is being filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). To qualify at the ZA-04 level, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-03 or GS-12 in the Federal service. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-03 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: 1. Applying security concepts, principles, practices, and on a wide range of security activities including personnel, information, or physical security. 2. Providing support and technical guidance for security activities and programs. 3. Analyzing, interpreting, and applying statutes, regulations, and procedures. 4. Advising customers and leadership on security policies, procedures, and regulations.

How to Apply: Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.The application process is as follows: To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. Note: To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account (https://usajobs.gov). There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. {If utilizing the "Locking Assessment Responses" functionality, substitute this paragraph with the recommended text found in Appendix E.} To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.

Application Deadline: 2026-03-17