Lead Transportation Security Officer

Summary

Securing Travel, Protecting People - At the Transportation Security Administration, you will serve in a high-stakes environment to safeguard the American way of life. In cities across the country, you would secure airports, seaports, railroads, highways, and/or public transit systems, thus protecting America's transportation infrastructure and ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce.

Per TSA Office of the Administrator, this position has been reinstated as bargaining unit eligible.

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Duties

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This Lead Transportation Security Officer position is located at Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF), Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As a Lead Transportation Security Officer (LTSO), you will be responsible for leading at least three full-performance level Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) and, as assigned, trainee and apprentice level TSOs. As an LTSO, you will identify, distribute, and balance workloads and tasks among employees in accordance with established workflow and skill level. You will make adjustments to accomplish the workload in accordance with established priorities. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Providing input to supervisors and managers concerning a variety of human resources matters including, but not limited to, employee performance, promotions, reassignments, awards, etc.
• Implementing security screening procedures in accordance with TSA objectives and directives.
• Assisting with investigations of incidents, and preparing incident reports or other documents that convey required information.
• Responding to breaches of security and emergency situations.
• Training team members, monitoring and reporting on the status and progress of work, and representing the team in communications with the supervisor or manager for the purpose of obtaining resources (e.g., computer hardware and software, etc.).

Emergency Essential Position: This position is designated as an Emergency Essential (EE) position. This designation requires the employee to remain in a duty status if an emergency arises.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National.
• Be at least 18 years of age at the time of application.
• Complete a favorable Background Investigation (BI).
• Pass pre-employment Drug Screening AND you will be subject to post-employment random drug and alcohol testing.
• Selective Service registration is required.
• Must be available to work various shifts and overtime, as needed.
• Must meet and maintain medical requirements for screening work (including a medical examination and physical abilities assessment) including, but not limited to, the following:
  • Be able to efficiently and thoroughly manipulate and lift baggage, containers, and other objects subject to security processing
  • Be able to repeatedly lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds
  • Be able to maintain physical agility that would allow you to squat, bend, and lean to inspect individuals and baggage/cargo
  • Be able to maintain the ability to walk up to two miles during a shift and stand for prolonged periods (e.g., 3-4 hours) of time
  • Be able to maintain a measured threshold for sight: Distance vision correctable to 20/30 or better in the best eye and 20/100 or better in worst eye. Near vision correctable to 20/40 or better Snellen binocular
  • Maintain a measured threshold for hearing: Average hearing loss of 25 decibels (ANSI) at 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz in each ear. No greater than 45 decibels at 4000 and 6000 Hz in each ear
  • Be able to distinguish principal colors that will be a part of images displayed on automated screens: Color perception (e.g., red, green, blue, yellow, orange, purple, brown, black, white, gray). Note: Color filters for enhancing color discrimination are prohibited.
• This position is designated as an Emergency Essential (EE) position . This designation requires the employee to remain in a duty status if an emergency arises.

If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment.

Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for TSA to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

This position is in the bargaining unit for which the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the exclusive representative

Qualifications

To qualify for the SV-F Pay Band (equivalent to GS-9), you must have:

• Minimum experience/education requirements:
  • A high school diploma, or General Educational Development (GED); High School Equivalency Test (HiSET); or Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) high school equivalency certificate; OR
  • At least one year of full-time work experience in security work, aviation screener work, or X-ray technician work.

AND

• One year of specialized experience which has equipped the individual with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position being filled, and that is typically in or related to the work of the TSO. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to the D pay band level or above. Such specialized experience would include:
  
  
  • Providing frontline security protection of air travelers, airports and airplanes.
  • Performing pat down searches, operating an x-ray machine, screening baggage, and reviewing tickets.
  • Identifying dangerous objects on passengers and/or in baggage or cargo, and preventing these objects from being transported onto aircraft.
  • Using diverse electronic detection and imaging equipment.

Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Additional information

Eligibility to apply for other Federal positions: TSA is an Excepted Service agency exempt from most of Title 5 United States Code, including regulations which apply to displaced Federal employees (CTAP/ICTAP) of other agencies, and employment with TSA does not confer "Competitive Status" that generally results from selection and service in Competitive Service agencies. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has established an Interchange Agreement, which allows most permanent TSA employees to apply and be considered for vacancies in Competitive Service agencies. Information from OPM on this or other Interchange Agreements is available at:

To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation as a condition of placement into this position.

DHS 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.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

TSA employees who are absent for the purpose of performing military duty may apply for any vacancies announced in their absence.

More than one position may be filled from this announcement.

If you are entering TSA employment on an appointment without time limitations, you must serve a basic trial period unless you have already met the requirement.

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

Employees who transfer to TSA from an agency that allows employees to maintain an annual leave balance higher than the maximum accumulation for the appointed position will have their leave ceiling set to the maximum accumulation for the appointed position (e.g., United States duty location - 240 hours, foreign duty location - 360 hours, or TSES position - 720 hours). TSA will not make a monetary payment for any leave forfeited under these circumstances.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.