Personnel Security Specialist Jobs
Personnel Security Specialist jobs are open across federal agencies, defense contractors, and private sector organizations, from entry-level adjudicators to senior program managers, with specializations in background investigations, clearance adjudication, and insider threat analysis. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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MANTECH seeks a motivated, career and customer-oriented Personnel Security Specialist to join our team in Fort Belvoir, VA.
The Personnel Security Specialist Mid-Level will support multiple Special Access Programs (SAPs), applying an in-depth understanding of program regulations to coordinate, administer, and execute personnel and physical security duties across the enterprise.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Process, track, and quality-review incoming Program Access Request (PAR) packages and route for appropriate approvals via the JADE database.
- Update and maintain the JADE database with Program Indoctrination Agreements (PIAs), Debriefing Statements, foreign travel records, and security violation reports.
- Perform personnel security verification and eligibility actions utilizing the Defense Information System for Security (DISS).
- Conduct initial and annual security training, multi-level program access briefings, and formal debriefings for program personnel.
- Assist customers and stakeholders with PAR status inquiries, reciprocity reviews, pending actions, and individual personnel security folders.
- Review DD-254s, issue Pre-Screening Questionnaires (PSQs), and coordinate Continued Access Eligibility (CAE) requests and Counterintelligence (CI) checks.
- Support SAP and SCI facility accreditations, multi-discipline self-inspections, document reviews, and the secure destruction and reproduction of classified materials.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of lower-level education, formal training, and progressively responsible experience.
- 3+ years of experience in personnel security (PERSEC), Special Access Programs (SAP), or a closely related government security discipline.
- Demonstrated proficiency utilizing DISS, JADE, or comparable personnel security databases.
- Practical knowledge of Program Access Requests (PAR), DD-254 documentation, and Pre-Screening Questionnaire (PSQ) workflows.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience supporting SAP and SCI facility accreditation and de-accreditation processes.
- Prior experience conducting multi-discipline security self-inspections and standard operating procedure (SOP) development.
- Familiarity with media control, classified reproduction, and destruction procedures for accountable items.
Clearance Requirements:
- An active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility.
- Candidate must be capable of obtaining and maintaining SCI and SAP access.
Physical Requirements:
- Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
- Needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, and secure storage areas.
- Frequently communicates with co-workers, management, and customers, which may involve delivering briefings and exchanging accurate information in these situations.
MANTECH seeks a motivated, career and customer-oriented Personnel Security Specialist to join our team in Fort Belvoir, VA.
The Personnel Security Specialist Mid-Level will support multiple Special Access Programs (SAPs), applying an in-depth understanding of program regulations to coordinate, administer, and execute personnel and physical security duties across the enterprise.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Process, track, and quality-review incoming Program Access Request (PAR) packages and route for appropriate approvals via the JADE database.
- Update and maintain the JADE database with Program Indoctrination Agreements (PIAs), Debriefing Statements, foreign travel records, and security violation reports.
- Perform personnel security verification and eligibility actions utilizing the Defense Information System for Security (DISS).
- Conduct initial and annual security training, multi-level program access briefings, and formal debriefings for program personnel.
- Assist customers and stakeholders with PAR status inquiries, reciprocity reviews, pending actions, and individual personnel security folders.
- Review DD-254s, issue Pre-Screening Questionnaires (PSQs), and coordinate Continued Access Eligibility (CAE) requests and Counterintelligence (CI) checks.
- Support SAP and SCI facility accreditations, multi-discipline self-inspections, document reviews, and the secure destruction and reproduction of classified materials.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of lower-level education, formal training, and progressively responsible experience.
- 3+ years of experience in personnel security (PERSEC), Special Access Programs (SAP), or a closely related government security discipline.
- Demonstrated proficiency utilizing DISS, JADE, or comparable personnel security databases.
- Practical knowledge of Program Access Requests (PAR), DD-254 documentation, and Pre-Screening Questionnaire (PSQ) workflows.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience supporting SAP and SCI facility accreditation and de-accreditation processes.
- Prior experience conducting multi-discipline security self-inspections and standard operating procedure (SOP) development.
- Familiarity with media control, classified reproduction, and destruction procedures for accountable items.
Clearance Requirements:
- An active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility.
- Candidate must be capable of obtaining and maintaining SCI and SAP access.
Physical Requirements:
- Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
- Needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, and secure storage areas.
- Frequently communicates with co-workers, management, and customers, which may involve delivering briefings and exchanging accurate information in these situations.
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Find JobsPersonnel Security Specialist Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in personnel security specialist jobs.
- Active Secret, Top Secret, or TS/SCI security clearance required by most employers
- Experience adjudicating cases under the 13 Adjudicative Guidelines or successor federal standards
- Familiarity with personnel security information systems such as DISS, NBIS, or eQIP
- Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, security management, psychology, or a related field
- Knowledge of Executive Order 12968 and relevant security program regulations
- Experience conducting or reviewing background investigations for federal suitability or clearance eligibility
Tips for Your Personnel Security Specialist Job Search
List your clearance level explicitly
Hiring managers filter resumes for active or current clearances before reading anything else. Write out your clearance level, polygraph type if applicable, and the year it was last adjudicated in a dedicated section near the top of your resume.
Tailor your resume to adjudication standards
Hiring managers want to see that you understand the whole adjudication lifecycle, not just data collection. Name the specific guidelines you've worked under, such as the Adjudicative Guidelines, and describe the case volume and complexity you handled in each role.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists personnel security specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target agencies based on your investigation background
Federal civilian agencies, defense contractors, and intelligence community employers each weight different experience. If your background is in OPM-style background investigations, prioritize civilian agencies. If it's in personnel security program management, defense contractors are your strongest match.
Prepare concrete examples for the structured interview
Expect competency-based questions on handling derogatory information, mitigating national security concerns, and managing competing adjudication workloads. Prepare two or three specific case examples where you documented your reasoning and reached a defensible determination under pressure.
Negotiate clearance-based pay bands strategically
Roles requiring a Top Secret or TS/SCI clearance command a significant premium over those requiring a Secret clearance. Know which pay band tier applies before your offer conversation and ask the recruiter which clearance level the role actually requires day one.
Personnel Security Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most personnel security specialists?
The companies hiring the most personnel security specialists right now include MANTECH, Xcelerate Solutions, and DTSV, with the largest share of openings in Virginia, Maryland, and California, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Defense and intelligence contractors consistently represent the largest share of openings at any given time.
How many personnel security specialist jobs are remote?
About 38% of personnel security specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the sensitive nature of most clearance-related work. Sub-areas such as policy development, training coordination, and program oversight tend to offer more remote flexibility than roles involving active case adjudication or on-site access determinations.
How do you become a personnel security specialist?
Start by earning a bachelor's degree in a field like criminal justice, security management, or a social science, then pursue an entry-level role in a government agency or defense contractor focused on background investigations or administrative security support. Obtaining even an initial Secret clearance opens doors significantly. From there, build direct adjudication experience, study the federal Adjudicative Guidelines, and pursue certifications such as the Certified Protection Professional or Personnel Security Specialist credential to advance.
Can I get a personnel security specialist job with little experience?
Yes, entry points exist for candidates with limited direct experience, particularly in support or investigative assistant roles at federal agencies or large defense contractors. Military service in an intelligence or security occupational specialty is a common and respected pathway. Even without prior personnel security work, a clean background that makes you clearance-eligible, combined with coursework in security policy or relevant internship experience, can get you a first interview for junior positions.
What does the personnel security specialist interview process look like?
Most employers run two to three rounds beginning with a recruiter screening call focused on your clearance status and adjudication background. The second round is typically a structured panel interview with competency-based questions on case scenarios, derogatory information handling, and regulatory knowledge. Some employers add a written exercise asking you to analyze a hypothetical case and document an adjudicative recommendation, particularly for roles with significant independent case load.
Where can I find and apply to personnel security specialist jobs?
You can find and apply to personnel security specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your clearance level, adjudication background, and preferred location, and apply directly to each listing that fits your experience.
See All 47 Personnel Security Specialist Jobs
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