Security Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Sheridan, WY

5h

About The Position

The Security Assistant performs security-related functions in support of a Network Personnel Suitability and Credentialing Program within a shared services unit. The program ensures that appointees have the appropriate security or suitability clearance for their assignments. The incumbent assists the Personnel Security Specialist and also supports the Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Program.

The position supports background investigations and suitability processes, including working with applicants on electronic screening forms and coordinating with Recruitment and Staffing to ensure background documents are complete and accurate. It also supports daily PIV operations, including card issuance and lifecycle management, biometric capture, troubleshooting, and guidance to PIV stakeholders. The incumbent maintains databases and logs, monitors pending cases, follows up on their status, and prepares regular reports for management and program improvement.

The position is sedentary, typically involving seated work, with some walking, standing, bending, and carrying light items. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM. The position has promotion potential to the full performance level when regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met; selection at a lower grade does not guarantee promotion.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Meet the qualification requirements for the grade level sought by the announcement closing date of November 12, 2026.
• For GS-05: one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-04, or four years of education above high school, or a qualifying combination of education and experience. Specialized experience examples include office work, database maintenance, handling varied processes, resolving non-recurring problems, meeting deadlines, and following instructions, manuals, and regulations.
• For GS-06: one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05. Examples include office and database work; registering and enrolling applicants or customers; evaluating eligibility and identity; taking or scanning photos and fingerprints; submitting fingerprints to the FBI and investigation forms to OPM; reviewing investigation results; and approving or denying requests.
• For GS-07: one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-06. Examples include initiating, reviewing, and approving background cases for release; reviewing position risk sensitivity and required background levels; entering appointee data and referring appointees for fingerprinting; maintaining reinvestigation logs and processing cases through e-QIP; taking and transmitting electronic fingerprints; and entering suitability data in databases.
• There is no educational substitution for GS-06 or GS-07.
• Complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
• Selected applicants must complete pre-employment requirements, an online onboarding process, and a background/security investigation, and provide acceptable identification.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel.
• Serve a one-year probationary period.
• Applicants relying on education for qualification must submit transcripts; only qualifying education from appropriately accredited institutions is accepted, and foreign education requires a certificate of foreign equivalency with transcripts.

Responsibilities

• Initiate, review, and release applicants’ and appointees’ background investigations in e-QIP or in conjunction with the VA Personnel Security Adjudication Center.
• Perform administrative tasks for authorization and issuance of PIV cards, support card programming, and troubleshoot minor PIV system malfunctions.
• Assist the Personnel Security Specialist with collecting background information, tracking and reviewing data, preparing reports, maintaining databases, processing follow-up actions, and assisting with suitability adjudications.
• Provide technical advice and guidance to employees, contractors, affiliates, and volunteers on PIV Program matters and role-holder responsibilities.
• Help applicants experiencing difficulties completing electronic background-screening forms, and coordinate with Recruitment and Staffing to ensure required background documents are complete and accurate.
• Take and transmit electronic fingerprints for applicants and employees, including when FBI results are returned as unclassifiable.
• Enter and maintain suitability-related data in required databases from sources including fingerprint and badge logs, investigation notices and requests, investigation results, interim reports, adjudication assignments, and final dispositions.
• Use USA access to create and issue PIV cards, capture biometrics, troubleshoot card and PIN issues, and perform card lifecycle management.
• Assist with personnel security functions for VA subjects in VA-CABS, using the application and its basic functions.
• Support daily PIV Program operations by performing Registrar and/or Issuer duties and training Sponsors on their roles and responsibilities.
• Monitor pending items, compile data, prepare regular reports, follow up on status, and record results for management and program performance or improvement initiatives.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package.
• VA may, upon request and approval before appointment, credit job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service toward the annual-leave accrual rate; approval is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed