Security Assistant

Role overview

The Smithsonian Institution is hiring a Security Assistant in Washington, DC to support the day-to-day management of identification badges and access credentials. This role is the primary service contact for employees and visitors who need ID-related assistance and access support.

What you will do

The position includes responsibilities at either the GS-05 or GS-06 level, depending on qualification and selection.

• Carry out ID office procedures in line with physical security and identity management rules, policies, and directives.
• Receive credentialing paperwork and confirm that all required fields and attachments are complete.
• Check submitted forms for mistakes, missing information, or inconsistencies, return incomplete items, and follow up for corrections.
• Welcome staff and visitors at the service counter, respond to questions, and guide them through access-related processes.
• Support daily ID office operations, including tracking blank badges and accessories, ordering supplies, and maintaining distribution records.

At the GS-06 level, the role also expands to include additional adjudicative and administrative duties.

• Evaluate pre-employment background check cases and make determinations based on suitability and credentialing standards.
• Prepare correspondence, maintain office files, and help compile reports or briefing materials for the ID Office Supervisor.

Qualification requirements

Applicants must meet the experience or education requirements for the grade level being considered.

• GS-05: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-04 in federal service is required.
• GS-06: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 in federal service is required.
• For promotion candidates, the required one year time-in-grade at the next lower grade must be met within 30 days of the closing date.
• Selected candidates must submit detailed, original resume content showing actual experience; copying vacancy language may disqualify the application.

Specialized experience

• For GS-05, qualifying experience includes reviewing credential request forms for completeness and accuracy, supporting system access and credential issuance, assisting applicants and staff with personnel security and credentialing questions, and monitoring office mailboxes, help lines, and shared resource accounts.
• For GS-06, qualifying experience includes the same core work plus conducting preliminary case reviews, identifying minor suitability concerns, and referring cases to senior staff for full adjudication.

Education and eligibility

• GS-05 applicants may also qualify through education with four years of study above high school.
• No education requirement is stated for the position overall.
• Applicants may qualify through a combination of education and experience.
• Applicants with foreign education must provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation where applicable.
• The role is open only to candidates with career or career-conditional status, or those otherwise eligible.
• Male applicants born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Current or former federal employees applying under competitive merit promotion rules must satisfy time-in-grade requirements.
• Part-time, unpaid, and volunteer service may be counted if it is relevant, and weekly hours must be clearly stated.

Additional information

This position is part of a bargaining unit. Recruitment incentives may be offered, but any award depends on availability and approval, and may require a service agreement. Applications may be considered for similar openings across the Smithsonian Institution at the same location. Applicants should be committed to public service, the rule of law, and the U.S. Constitution.

Benefits

The Smithsonian provides a benefits package that includes vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, health and life insurance, accident insurance, flexible spending accounts, long-term care insurance, and retirement options.

Application note

The resume must be no longer than two pages and should clearly connect the applicant's background to the listed duties and specialized experience.