Personnel Security Specialist I / Adjudicator I - Remote - contingent upon reward - Protection Strategies Inc

Personnel Security Specialist I - Remote

About Us:

Do you want to make a difference? Do you want to join a diverse team supporting a unifying mission? PSI is always looking to enhance its staff with professional, talented individuals.

PSI is willing to sponsor candidates for Top Secret Clearance (for specific jobs that require it)

Culture

PSI's success is driven by our motto "People First, Mission Always." We put people first, and this starts with our team members. We treat everyone on our diverse team with respect, and we work hard to ensure everyone's success by providing leadership, training, mentorship, and development opportunities. Our competitive benefits and culture of integrity, professionalism, and excellence attracts top talent in the industry.

Missions

Together with our federal partners, PSI is engaged in protecting critical assets by investigating and adjudicating personnel for secure and sensitive programs, protecting the resiliency of the Nation's essential infrastructure, and supporting the safe placement of unaccompanied refugee minors. We support the mission of our customers through trusted partnerships and by creating tailored solutions that meet their needs and overcome the challenges created by the ever-evolving landscape.

Workforce Diversity

PSI has achieved and maintains one of the most diverse workforces in the country. 56% of our workforce is ethnically diverse and 53% of our workforce are women. This extends to our leadership team as well. 56% of our leadership team is ethnically diverse and 50% of our leadership team are women. At PSI, we do not talk about doing the right thing, we just do it.

About the role:

This individual supports the Office of Security Services, Personnel Security Operations Branch providing administrative and technical support for a staff engaged in personnel security operations and assuring the implementation and compliance with security programs, policies, and requirements. In addition, this position is responsible for first-level adjudicative recommendations on both interim and final suitability and fitness determinations. This individual provides investigative support related to conducting pre-employment inquiries and issue resolution covering the character, practices, suitability, or qualifications of persons seeking to work for or on behalf of the client. Contacting federal, state, and local officials, and other organizations and individuals related to the subject investigation, to gather facts, obtain statements, learn sequences of events, obtain explanations, and other advance investigative objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Validates need for investigation by conducting a check of OPM Central Verification System (CVS).
• Establishes, reviews, and monitors background investigation accounts, and information in the DCSA National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) eApp system.
  
• Identifies where reciprocity may be accepted in processing based on PERSEC and client policies.
  
• Creates security and/or suitability files for applicants or contractors; organizes records; maintains files; and collates documents in support of the federal customer's background investigation process.
  
• Initiates background investigations at the correct tier based on risk/sensitivity level of the position in the DCSA NBIS eApp system.
  
• Utilizes the GSA USAccess system to sponsor individuals for HSPD-12 PIV credentials to grant logical and physical access to client facilities and allow enrollment of fingerprints for criminal history records checks.
  
• Contacts other personnel security operations and documents the reason for a "please call" designation in CVS.
  
• Conducts status checks on background investigations utilizing the automated OPM Personnel Investigations Processing System (PIPS).
  
• Reviews the entire case file and makes a suitability/fitness recommendation based on the criteria found and methodology prescribed in the OPM Suitability Processing Handbook.
  
• Conducts pre-employment inquiries as necessary to resolve issues.
  
• Utilizes case management systems to document adjudicative recommendations as appropriate.
  
• Completes adjudicative recommendations within established time frames.
  
• Documents adjudicative recommendations in a clear and concise manner for second-level review.
  
• Drafts correspondence in the form of Letters of Interrogatory (LOIs), Adjudicative Worksheets, and Notices of Proposed Action for second-level review.
  
• Conducts inventory and quality checks on pending ROIs.
  
• Monitors personnel security mailbox, work log, and workflow, as necessary.
  
• Report results of adjudication as required by internal procedures.
  
• Reviews all required documentation to ensure they are complete and accurate and that the information in all documents and case papers, hard copy or electronic, meets OPM standards for case scheduling.
  
• Reports and documents result of inquiries.
  
• Conducts telephone and written inquiries in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974.
  
• Conducts subject contact in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 and obtains written statements when required.
  
• Conducts post-investigation follow-up necessary for issue resolution and adjudication.
  
• Must have applied knowledge of GSA PIV card processing system, USAccess.
  
• Must have applied knowledge of Trusted Workforce.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• A minimum of one year of experience in adjudications rendering suitability and fitness recommendations on behalf of the Federal Government.
• A minimum of one year of case work processing on behalf of the Federal Government
• Have successfully completed formal training in suitability adjudications towards adjudicator certification in compliance with National Training Standards established by OPM.
• Conducted first and second level and/or quality review of others making suitability or fitness recommendations.
• Experience conducting and interpreting database checks and credit reports.
• Three to four years of experience providing professional and competent customer service, working with customers by phone, by email, and in person.
• Ability to pay strict attention to detail to ensure data errors are minimized.
• Ability to apply analytical security processes and procedures with assigned tasks in a timely manner or as requested.
• Ability to perform and adapt in a high tempo, fast paced and fluid security environment.
• Experienced in the adjudication of complex and multi-issue cases.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing to elicit detailed information from a variety of sources necessary to evaluate an individual's conduct and character.
• Demonstrated practical knowledge of commonly applied personnel security and suitability principles, concepts, and methodologies in carrying out a variety of support assignments.
• Ability and willingness to learn the basic functions and operations of all systems associated with personnel security processing.
• Prefer an applied knowledge of utilizing the General Services Administration USAccess system to sponsor individuals for HSPD-12 PIV credentials to grant logical and physical access to client facilities and allow enrollment of fingerprints for criminal history records checks.
• Must possess a favorably adjudicated background investigation completed within the last five years at the BI, Tier 4 level or SSBI, Tier 5 level; and be able to maintain the favorable result throughout employment on the contract.

Company Benefits/Perks:

• Medical
• HSA + HRA
• Goodrx
• Telemedicine
• Dental Benefits
• Vision Benefits
• Basic and Voluntary Life and Ad&D
• Disability Products
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401(K) Retirement Plan
• Commuter Benefits
• Financial Advisor
• Tuition Assistance

EEO Statement:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status. Our company takes affirmative action in support of its policy to and advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Our company maintains a drug-free workplace. All offers of employment will be contingent on applicant passing a pre-employment drug screen.