Personnel Security Specialist (Adjudications) - Full Performance at National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) – Chantilly, Virginia

WE ARE THE NRO
For sixty years, the NRO has developed, acquired, launched and operated the satellites that are the foundation for America’s advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified architecture of spacecraft, NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance content on the planet.
Learn more at NRO.gov.

Basic Eligibility For A Position With The NRO

• You must be a U.S. Citizen
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic drug testing
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic polygraph examinations

Where You Will Work

The primary duties of this position are: to evaluate, interpret, and apply adjudicative guidelines; perform analytical functions; determine the suitability and security eligibility of individuals requiring access to classified information in support of the NRO Enterprise (approval or denial). This position will also evaluate an individual’s eligibility to maintain access to classified information (suspension or revocation). This position is in the Office of Security and Counterintelligence (OS&CI) Personnel Security Division (PSD). The Personnel Security Specialist Adjudicator will apply expertise and technical knowledge in support of the security program, including evaluations of potential threat concerns to ensure compliance with current regulations and policies.

The Personnel Security Specialist Adjudicator position is one of many NRO Security positions. Other Security positions include polygraph examiners, program security officers, counterintelligence officers, insider threat specialists, classification management officers, cyber security specialists, and physical security officers. The NRO and the Security Career Field encourages individuals to rotate to other positions to gain a breadth of experiences, knowledge and skills. As such, skills and knowledge relevant to these other positions may be considered in the hiring process.

The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for full performance level (GG 12-13), Personnel Security Specialist (Adjudication), occupational series 0080. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, click here.

Your resume may be considered for other positions which your skills and experience may be a good match.

These are full-time positions that will be opened until filled.

Who May Apply

• This position is open to the public.
• Federal government employees MUST currently be at the grade level or higher as indicated in this announcement. This is NOT a promotion opportunity for current Federal government employees. If selected for the position, Federal government employees will transition laterally at their current grade level and step.
• Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoD 1400.25 Volume 2006.
• The NRO is only accepting external applicants for this job announcement. Current NRO Cadre employees should apply internally.

What You Will Be Doing

• Provide an analytical decision point regarding requesting individuals' access and prepares detailed narratives and/or briefings to include professional recommendations and risk identification based on information gathered from personnel security files, security logs, and data supporting the Office of Security and Counterintelligence (OS&CI). The NRO makes security clearance SCI eligibility determinations using the Security Executive Agent Directive 4 (SEAD 4) guidelines.
• Implement extensive investigative and interviewing techniques and expertise in adjudication procedures to effectively conduct complex CI and Security inquiries, analyze complex records, security files, datasets, reports and investigations to determine way forward; while conducting vetting, make sound and professional referrals to management for internal coordination. Writes concise and cohesive reports and continuously reviews referrals and dispositions made within the organization. Responsible for analyzing investigative results, providing formal presentations (written and oral) and conducting personal interviews.
• Utilize extensive knowledge of regulations and experience gained to gather all pertinent data required to substantiate, disprove, and/or adjudicate significant derogatory information. Derogatory information revealed is reviewed for security significance, and compared to precedent setting cases to determine a recommendation to continue or suspend access.
• Recognize Personnel Security related issues that are of a counterintelligence interest, as well the protection of the associated Personnel Identifiable Information (PII).
• Provide security guidance and direct support in all matters relating to Personnel Security. Use judgement and knowledge of regulations to determine appropriate course of action when significant derogatory information is discovered; recommends and coordinates suspension of access as required. Develop, outline, prepare, schedule, and present security briefings. Unique briefings are independently developed. The supervisor in consultation with the incumbent makes assignments and deadlines.
• Responsible for carrying out assignments and keeping their supervisor informed of progress and work related impediments to mission success. Completed work is reviewed for accuracy and for compliance with complex instructions and guidelines.
• Secure classified information in accordance with E.O.13526. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform and is typically in or directly related to the duties of the position as described above. Experience must be reflected in your resume.

Applicants submitting a resume that exceeds the two-page limit per OPM Memorandum, “Merit Hiring Plan,” dated May 29, 2025, https://www.opm.gov/chcoc/latest-memos/merit-hiring-plan.pdf will not be eligible for consideration. For more information regarding resume writing, see “Guidance for Applicants on 2-Page Resume” and visit the Resume Help Center.

What You Need

• Comprehensive knowledge of security clearance investigative principles, procedures and guidelines in order to make determinations or recommendations on eligibility to access classified information.
• Knowledge and understanding of procedures involved on conducting TS/SCI security clearance background investigations (SSBVSBPR).
• Demonstrated ability to interpret, develop and present security policy and implementing instructions and provide authoritative interpretation and guidance to management officials.
• Ability to analyze, conduct research, solve complex problems and provide innovative solutions to the security adjudication process.
• Ability to apply personnel security principles and methods to process initial clearances, periodic re-investigation and complete clearance adjudication.
• Demonstrated ability to apply techniques of debriefing, interviewing, elicitation, and /or interrogation in a systematic manner through direct and indirect questioning to obtain information of security, counterintelligence, and/or intelligence value.
• Experience preparing accurate and complete reports that document processes outcomes and findings.
• Proven experience developing sources and recovering evidence, analyzing data to determine compliance with laws, regulations and policies.
• Comprehensive knowledge of policies, procedures and requirements established under appropriate authorities to protect information that, if subjected to unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause damage to national security.
• Experience detecting sequences in behavior and notices/attends to others verbal and non-verbal cues.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree

Other Information

• Overtime Statement: MAY be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
• Travel Statement: MAY be required to travel in military or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.
• Financial Disclosure: MAY be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
• Geographic Mobility Agreement: MAY be subject to directed reassignment as required to address mission effectiveness, and/or career development.
• Information Assurance (IA): Must achieve the appropriate IA certification within six months of assignment.
• Emergency Essential: Certain positions MAY be deemed emergency essential and incumbents must be willing to meet all position requirements.

Location
Chantilly, VA

Salary

2026 salary range for the Chantilly, VA area:
GG-12: $102,415 - $133,142
GG-13: $121,785 - $158,322

**These positions are a Full Performance DCIPS position. The NRO is accepting applications from U.S. Citizens and current Federal Government employees for these positions. To qualify for the position, federal government employees MUST currently be at the GG-12 or GG-13 level and may ONLY apply for a lateral reassignment at their current grade level and step. Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoD 1400.25 Volume.

Hiring Incentives
The NRO may offer hiring incentives and other entitlements at management’s discretion.

Trial Period
All new DCIPS employees will be required to serve a 2-year trial period.

Veterans’ Preference
DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans’ Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Vol 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans’ preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 USC, you must submit documents verifying your eligibility upon request.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants

Reasonable Accommodation Policy
Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.
Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:

• An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events.