Summary The Peace Corps shares a unique relationship with the countries and people our community has worked alongside in pursuit of world peace and friendship for more than 60 years bringing together skilled, committed Volunteers with welcoming host communities for service opportunities in more than 60 countries. Volunteers live and work side by side with community members on locally prioritized projects, building relationships, exchanging cultures and knowledge, and helping transform lives. Responsibilities The Security Assistant performs the following major duties: Advise facility security personnel on matters requiring clear explanations of regulations and procedures In support of senior security specialist, collect information, interview staff members, observe physical conditions, and related activities concerned with violations and compromises. Support the security of communications security (COMSEC) materials and equipment. Ensures protection levels and procedures conform to established standards. Maintain and/or update the headquarters security plans. Assist senior security specialist in the documentation of measures to comply with internal agency security policies and procedures as well as those defined by external authorities (e.g. Interagency Security Committee (ISC), Overseas Security Policy Board (OSPB), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), etc.) and their application to Peace Corps facilities and operations and resolve complex security issues. Support senior security specialist in the evaluation of compliance with emergency management related 2 directives, regulations, policies, civil rights laws, standards and guidance (e.g., National Security Strategy, Presidential Policy Directives, Homeland Security Presidential Directives, National Incident Management System, National Response Framework, and National Disaster Recovery Framework). Research appropriate preparedness and response activities associated with natural and/or man-made disasters in support of senior security specialist. Maintain current rosters and contact information for office staff and agency emergency response personnel. Other duties as assigned within this PD. Requirements Conditions of Employment Please read this announcement in its entirety prior to submitting your application. You must be a U.S. Citizen. You must be at least 18 years of age. All Federal employees are required to have federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing. If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so. For additional information, see www.sss.gov. You must complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency. You must go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. These documents must be unexpired original or certified copies. You must successfully complete a background security investigation with favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet this requirement will be grounds for employment termination. Prior to employment, and in compliance with statutes 5 USC 3322 and 22 USC 2507b, Peace Corps will conduct a check of Peace Corps records for both Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and former Peace Corps employees. All new employees are required to certify and submit a state of understanding acknowledging adherence to the Peace Corps condition of employment prior to day 1 of employment with the Peace Corps. This position requires you to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance. This job has been identified as a testing designated position under our Drug-Free Workplace Program. Therefore, you must satisfactorily complete a drug test prior to being hired. As an employee, you will be subject to random drug testing. This is not a bargaining unit position. A one-year probationary period is required. The initial appointment is a term of five years. Qualifications All qualification requirements must be met by 09/15/2024 (the closing date of the announcement). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. To ensure full credit for your experience, please indicate the start and end dates (month, day, and year) of employment, the number of hours worked per week, and the location of employment in your resume. Qualification claims will be subject to verification. Specialized Experience: This vacancy is being announced at two grade levels: Specialized Experience at the FP-7 (GS-7): To be minimally qualified for this position at the FP-07 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression, FP-8 or GS-5 level which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience includes: Experience developing or implementing plans, processes, or strategies to prepare for or respond to emergencies; Experience developing or implementing plans, processes, or strategies to secure physical assets; Experience communicating complex information in a simplified manner both verbally and in writing. Experience administering databases and data entry; Experience administering identity credentials. OR Specialized Experience at the FP-5 (GS-09): To be minimally qualified for this position at the FP-05 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression, FP-7 or GS-7 level which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience includes: Experience determining eligibility for access to classified or sensitive information and locations and granting access based upon established standards; Experience inspecting, analyzing, and evaluating security systems; Experience assisting senior security specialist in the documentation of measures to comply with internal agency security policies and procedures. AND Time-in-Grade (TIG) Requirements: Current or Formal Federal employees, including current Peace Corps employees, must meet applicable TIG requirements to be considered eligible. To meet TIG for positions above the FP-09 (GS-05) grade level, you must have served at least one year (52 weeks) at the next lower grade (or equivalent) in the normal line of progression for the position to which you are applying. All current or former Federal employees (including internal employees) must provide a copy of their SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one), "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility. The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). Please note: Past experience that satisfies the Specialized Experience MUST be well documented within your resume. Failure to provide this information in your resume with corresponding start and end dates (month, day, and year) of employment, the number of hours worked per week, and location of employment may result in disqualification from further consideration. Specialized Experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector, or through volunteer work done with National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) or other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. Additional information on qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site. Peace Corps employees are employed using the Foreign Personnel (FP) pay scale. The FP pay plan does not follow the same structure as the GS pay plan. In the FP pay plan, as the grade-level numbers decrease the level/pay for the position increases. The FP-09 is the lowest entry-level grade and the FP-01 is the highest senior-level grade. Education Additional Information The minimum and maximum salaries listed on this announcement include locality pay. If you are a current federal employee, your agency may grant you reemployment rights in accordance with Section 310 of the Foreign Service Act, 22 USC 3950. You must request and be granted reemployment rights prior to separation from your current federal agency. Peace Corps Information: This is a federal civilian job in the Excepted Service. Peace Corps employees are paid on the Foreign Personnel (FP) pay scale. Telework eligible positions do not guarantee telework. See Peace Corps Manual Section 623 for agency policy regarding telework. The Peace Corps uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities. This is a drug-free workplace and we promote a drug-free environment. Additional hiring needs may be filled through this vacancy. Intelligence Background Information: Peace Corps Manual Section 611 is applicable to this position: This prohibits the employment of certain persons previously engaged in intelligence activities or connected with intelligence agencies within the past 10 years. If you have ever worked for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), you are not eligible for employment at the Peace Corps in any capacity, and you should not apply for employment. Acceptance of employment with Peace Corps precludes employment by certain intelligence organizations for a specific period of time, determined by the employing agency, after Peace Corps employment ceases. Applicants who are found to be otherwise qualified will be required to submit a completed Intelligence Background Questionnaire upon request, indicating whether the applicant has been involved in or has had any connection with intelligence activities or related work and, if so, the nature and dates of his or her involvement. Failure to meet this requirement will result in disqualification from further consideration. If you have any other type of possible intelligence connection, your application will not be further considered until you submit this form. Except when the CIA or the National Security Agency (NSA) is involved (see below), if your connection with an Intelligence Agency involves an immediate family member who works or has worked in intelligence, the immediate family member should complete the form, not the applicant. Usually relying on memory is sufficient to answer most if not all of the questions. If you have an immediate family member who works or has worked for the CIA, you should not give them this form to complete. Please contact your relative in person-not by phone, email, social networking, or any other means that is not in person- and ask him or her to contact the Office of General Counsel at the CIA. If you or an immediate family member have been employed by or associated with the NSA, you or your family member must contact the NSA Prepublication Review Office at 443-634-4095.