Clearance Coordinator (DC)

The Tatitlek Corporation•, DC

6d•$49•Onsite

About The Position

The Clearance Coordinator will support initial pre-employment background investigations conducted for the purpose of determining suitability and security clearance eligibility, inclusive of Presidential Appointees and Foreign/Civil Service and Wage Grade applicants, contractors, and periodic updates and “for cause” reinvestigation of employees and/or post-employment special access program eligibility. The Clearance Coordinator will receive direct government oversight, assignments, and directions from the assigned Government Office/ Program Director, through an assigned team leader.

Requirements

Citizenship: U.S. Citizenship required.
Education: High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Experience: Five (5) to (7) years of professional job-related experience working within the personnel security and suitability field.
Each year of college can be substituted for one year of experience.
Knowledge of security requirements established in legislation, regulations and various policy statements pertaining to Personnel Security. These may include E.O. 12968, E.O. 13467, ICD 704, Personnel Security Standards and Procedures Governing Eligibility for Access to Sensitive Compartmented.
Knowledge of factors which might affect the suitability of applicants for employment with the Federal Government, and the Department of State, ass codified in 5 CFR 731, 732, 736 and 3 FAM 622.
Knowledge of security regulations and policies affecting employment of individuals in the Department of State.
Knowledge of the organization and operation of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the Department of State and of the mission, goals, and objectives of the personnel security program.
Managing, distributing, storing, safeguarding, and determining final dispositions of personnel security files in accordance with regulations set forth in 5 FAM 400 - 490 and 5 FAH-4 H-100 Records Management.
Fulfilling internal and external requests received via email, phone, and in person for file digitization, delivery, and retention.
Liaising with Embassies, Consulates, Regional Security Officers, and third-party companies regarding electronic biometric transmissions and fingerprinting appointments worldwide.
Obtaining and processing biometric data (both digital and hardcopy), in compliance with federal and Department policies.
Maintaining knowledge of various fingerprinting technologies, including those supported across industry standards.
Conducting National Agency Checks to support the background investigation process, in accordance with the Federal Investigation Standards (FIS) and SEAD 4 Adjudicative Guidelines.
Experience with Records of Arrests and Prosecutions (RapBack), and their role in the federal Trusted Workforce 2.0 initiative.
Maintaining knowledge of the Next Generation Identification (NGI) system.
Receiving and interpreting records of criminal history as received by Local Agencies, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other law enforcement entities.
Maintaining knowledge of federal reinvestigation requirements, to include but not limited to the Continuous Vetting initiative as set forth by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA).
Interpreting federal records of US citizenship, and conduct the appropriate investigations as required by 12 FAM 270.
Communicating with external offices regarding sensitive programs, to include eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).
Withdrawing eligibilities when employees are no longer actively serving in a Department of State position.
Verifying the clearance eligibility of Department Full Time Employees (FTE), Personal Service Contractors (PSC), and Detailees.
Supporting Department investigations by requesting Reports of Investigation and other investigative documents required to make an adjudicative review or grant reciprocity.
Releasing investigative documents to accredited members of other federal agencies for use in granting eligibility.
Processing visits requests from external agencies, including reviewing information for accuracy, updating all appropriate databases, and notifying appropriate personnel.
Passing eligibilities to external agencies for temporary access.
Coordinating the submission of Q clearance requests to the Department of Energy.
Excellent writing skills and command of the English language.
Proficiency in Microsoft applications, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
Position will be subject to a U.S. Government Security Investigation. Incumbent shall possess or obtain/maintain a minimum a SECRET up to TOP SECRET clearance as identified by program. Interim clearances may be accepted by the COR with Government Program Manager’s approval.
As a condition of employment, must pass a pre-employment drug screening, as well as have acceptable reference and background check results.

Nice To Haves

Preferred professional experience in personnel security or equivalent duties.
Preferred: Customer Service.
Preferred: Department of State experience.

Responsibilities

Analyze and apply applicable federal policies and laws, such as the Security Executive Agent Directive (SEAD) 7 and 5 CFR 731 and use available databases and resources to identify candidates who may be eligible for reciprocity.
Conducts quality assurance and assessment of requests for investigation and adjudication in accordance with standardized office and bureau procedures, FAM requirements, and other policies, as applicable.
Combines security and adjudicative policy with varying suitability or position-specific requirements to determine if a full background investigation is required or if reciprocity or another abbreviated transfer of eligibility may apply.
Serves as a technical authority on the interpretation and implementation of personnel security guidelines, policies and regulations, and the organizations which administer them.
Utilizes various federal databases and resources to research candidates’ investigative history. Prepares reports and maintains records of research to support the subsequent investigative and adjudicative process.
Provides exemplary customer service support to candidates for access and eligibility determinations with the U.S. Department of State. Serves as the direct point of contact for assigned clients and regularly communicates via phone and email. The Clearance Coordinator will answer questions, resolve emerging problems, and collect required paperwork in a timely manner to support the investigative and adjudicative process.
Address client complaints or concerns as they arise and adhere to Department policy and procedure while creating an amicable solution that satisfies both the customer and the Department of State.
Builds rapport with clients to improve the customer experience and positively represent the Office of Personnel Security, the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, and the U.S. Department of State.
Reviews requests from internal Department sources, such as human resources personnel, Diplomatic Security personnel (Regional Security Officers, DS Special Agents, DS/SI/PSS staff), hiring managers, and other Department of State personnel, then triages and redirects inquiries using a foundational knowledge of personnel security.
Maintains a knowledge of biometric data policy and advise candidates on how and where to fulfill fingerprinting prerequisites to support background investigations and Trusted Workforce 2.0 requirements.
Supports other government agencies who have agreements with DS/SI/PSS for their on boarding and personnel security review process, such as Millennium Challenge Corporation, U.S. Trade and Development Agency, contract companies party to a contract with the U.S. Department of State. Liaise with agency personnel as required and provide priority processing and customer service for candidates.
Manages an assigned caseload to direct the timely initiation of investigations. Evaluates submitted paperwork for accuracy in compliance with prescribed Federal Investigative Standards and criteria, ensuring sufficiency of coverage of often complex and controversial investigative information. Drafts follow-up questions for cases where insufficient information was provided.
Works independently on assigned caseload and applies organizational and time management skills including proactive planning and systematic scheduling. Responsible for creating and adhering to a personal schedule of daily phone calls, candidate email inquiries, case processing, and other required tasks, as assigned.
Conducts and analyzes results of a variety of National Agency Checks including, but not limited to, the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), Treasury Enforcement Communication Center (TECS), Consular Consolidated Database (CCD), and National Student Clearinghouse (NSC). Consolidates results and prepares reports for the conduct of background investigations.
May assist in special projects, as assigned.
May assist in the conduct of training classes and seminars for personnel located both domestically and overseas.
May assist in the professional development of lower-level specialists and assistants.
Maintains authoritative knowledge of all aspects of the assigned systems and applications.
Maintains all required documentation and system accesses.
Other duties as assigned.