Security Specialist

Maritime Administration•Washington, DC

About The Position

This position is in the Office of Management and Administrative Services, Office of the Associate Administrator for Administration, Maritime Administration (MARAD). The Security Specialist safeguards information, personnel, and property from theft, loss, misuse, fraud, or disclosure; supports development and evaluation of security policies for headquarters and field elements; and provides emergency and non-emergency communications capability in accordance with approved requirements. The role enforces MARAD’s personnel, information, physical, and emergency security programs. It supports personnel-clearance processes, advises officials on personnel security requirements, and briefs and debriefs employees and others. The specialist is responsible for receipt, custody, transmission, destruction, and control of TOP SECRET and SECRET materials, subject to applicable custody provisions. The specialist conducts workplace, storage-area, administrative-office, and contractor-operation inspections to assess risks, compliance with standards and safety procedures, and program effectiveness; identifies hazards and ensures corrective action. The role maintains liaison with the Department of Transportation Office of Security and oversees MARAD’s National Industrial Security Program, OPSEC, and INFOSEC programs. The ideal candidate has comprehensive knowledge of federal security principles, policies, regulations, and procedures needed to administer and support personnel, physical, information, and operational security programs. GS-11 applicants may qualify through specified experience, graduate education, or a combination; GS-12 applicants must qualify through experience. A background investigation and pre-employment and random drug testing are required. The position may require a one-year probationary period.

Requirements

For GS-11 experience qualification: at least one year of experience equivalent to GS-09 applying security principles, concepts, techniques, policies, and guidelines to administer and evaluate personnel, physical, information, and background investigations.
For GS-11 education qualification: three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or an equivalent doctoral degree; a combination of graduate education and experience may also qualify.
For GS-12 experience qualification: at least one year of experience equivalent to GS-11 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 solutions.
For GS-12 experience qualification: experience evaluating personnel security information, background investigations, and derogatory information to make determinations and recommendations concerning eligibility for access to classified or sensitive information. Education alone does not qualify at GS-12.
Submit transcripts for verification when relying on education qualifications.
A background security investigation and favorable adjudication are required.
A pre-employment or pre-appointment drug test and random drug testing are required.
Complete a one-year probationary period unless already completed; continued employment is subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
Federal applicants must meet time-in-grade requirements, including 52 weeks at the next lower grade when applicable.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
Qualifications are evaluated on personnel security principles and procedures; researching and interpreting security laws, regulations, directives, and policies; and analyzing security information and risks to support decisions and recommendations.

Responsibilities

Safeguard information, personnel, and property from theft, loss, misuse, fraud, or disclosure.
Assist in developing, establishing, recommending, and evaluating conformance with national security policies for MARAD headquarters and field elements.
Provide emergency and non-emergency communications capability at headquarters and field locations in accordance with approved requirements.
Enforce MARAD personnel, information, physical, and emergency security activities, including clearance of applicants and employees and access clearance for classified material.
Advise officials on personnel security requirements and brief and debrief employees and others on security requirements.
Manage the receipt, custody, transmission, destruction, and control of TOP SECRET and SECRET materials, subject to applicable custody provisions.
Conduct inspections of workplaces, storage areas, and administrative offices to assess risk, compliance with standards and safety procedures, and program effectiveness.
Inspect contractor operations for compliance with safety regulations and standards and identify and ensure correction of hazardous acts or conditions.
Maintain liaison with the Office of Security in the Office of the Secretary of Transportation on assigned security matters.
Oversee MARAD’s National Industrial Security Program, OPSEC program, and INFOSEC program.