Lead Security Assistant - Lead VA Police Dispatcher

Summary

This position is located in Police Services within the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center. The primary purpose of the position is to lead a team of Security Assistants (VA Police Dispatchers) responsible for monitoring physical security equipment and systems.

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Duties

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Leader Responsibilities - 30%

• Ensures that the organization's strategic plan, mission, vision and values are communicated to the team and integrated into the team's strategies, goals, objectives, work plans and work products and services
• Articulates and communicates to the team the assignments, projects, problems to be solved, actionable events, milestones, and/or program issues under review, and deadlines and time frames for completion
• Responsible for leading a team of a minimum of three Security Assistant GS-0086-05 positions
• Coaches the team in the selection and application of appropriate problem-solving methods and techniques, provides advice on work methods, practices and procedures, and assists the team and/or individual members in identifying the parameters of a viable solution
• Responsible for identifying, distributing and balancing workload and tasks among employees
• Adjusts the workload in accordance with established priorities and skill levels to ensure timely accomplishment of assigned team tasks
• Ensures that each employee is kept busy

Physical Security Support - 25%

• Performs alarm and access monitoring, tracing access patterns, programming, assigning or removing user permissions, updating databases, remotely opening and securing doors during routine and emergency operations and generating a variety of reports as needed
• Assesses on-scene behavior and determines when it is appropriate to dispatch law enforcement or other personnel to investigate
• Responsible for responding to alarm systems monitoring fire, access, intrusion, duress/panic, medical emergencies, psychiatric emergencies, medical assist teams, etc.; and emergency digital paging system
• Monitors emergency weather alerts and transmits warnings system wide when appropriate
• Maintains radio/alarm activity records/logs to include dates, times, and results of communications and activities and prepares completed reports
• Performs and documents emergency callbacks when necessary

Communications - 25%

• Monitors and receives routine and emergency calls from a variety of sources that need police, fire, medical or other emergency services
• Determines the nature and location of the emergency; prioritizes events and commits police resources appropriately; determines what notifications are necessary based upon event type, makes such notifications and coordinates follow-up communications
• Receives and process emergency calls, maintains contact with law enforcement units on assignment, maintains status and location of Police Officers and coordinates communication between agencies as needed

Operations Support - 20%

• Performs system checks on a variety of equipment used in the dispatch center
• Troubleshoots systems when problems arise and resolves issues whenever possible
• Conducts equipment inventories and completes records and other logs
• Performs monthly alarm checks, submits reports documenting the operational status of each circuit tested. Initiates work orders for malfunctioning circuits and equipment
• Enters, updates and retrieves information from a variety of computer systems and sensitive databases
• Uses state and the National Crime Information Computer (NCIC) to access sensitive law enforcement information to support field operations and investigations
• Queries for items such as criminal histories, arrest warrants, drivers record, vehicle registration, stolen property, firearms, etc.

Performs other duties as necessary

Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 7:00a.m.- 3:00 p.m. (shift hours can vary, to be discussed in interview)

Compressed/Flexible: available

Telework: This position is not authorized for telework.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Lead Security Assistant - Lead VA Police Dispatcher / PD013620

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Position requires eligibility for access to Commonwealth Law Enforcement Network (CLEAN) / Pennsylvania Justice Network (JNET). Applicant will be ineligible for access if it is found in their criminal history:- A conviction or is under indictment for any felony.- A conviction or is under indictment for any misdemeanor for which more than 1 year in prison can be imposed as punishment.-A conviction or is under indictment for any computer crime. Computer Crimes, as refers to Pa Title 18 Crimes and Offenses Chapter 76 Computer Offenses or the equivalent penalties as provided by the laws of any other state, territory, or under federal law.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/08/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement : Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

• Specialized Experience GS-06: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: training, leading, coordinating or supervising others in related duties such as: articulates and communicates to the team the assignments, projects, problems to be solved, actionable events, milestones, and/or program issues under review, and deadlines and time frames for completion; coaches the team in the selection and application of appropriate problem-solving methods and techniques, provides advice on work methods, practices and procedures, and assists the team and/or individual members in identifying the parameters of a viable solution; performs alarm and access monitoring, tracing access patterns, programming, assigning or removing user permissions, updating databases, remotely opening and securing doors during routine and emergency operations and generating a variety of reports as needed. Assesses on-scene behavior and determines when it is appropriate to dispatch law enforcement or other personnel to investigate; determines the nature and location of the emergency; prioritizes events and commits police resources appropriately; determines what notifications are necessary based upon event type, makes such notifications and coordinates follow-up communications; troubleshoots systems when problems arise and resolves issues whenever possible. Conducts equipment inventories and completes records and other logs. Performs monthly alarm checks, submits reports documenting the operational status of each circuit tested. Initiates work orders for malfunctioning circuits and equipment.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

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; religions; 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.

Note : A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary in nature in an office environment. Most duties can be accomplished from a sitting position. The mental stress is much more demanding than the physical stress because of the split decisions that must be made as a police or fire alarm activates, telephones ringing, and radio communication requesting instructions or information. Must have a keen sense of hearing in responding to numerous audible/visual signals of wire communication receivers, and occasionally weak radio transmissions or signals. Must be able to multi-task in a stressful environment.

Work Environment: Performs duties in a temperature and humidity-controlled environment at a radio/telephone console with associated equipment. Systems and equipment are electronic in nature, emitting signals, and tones of varying degrees of intensity. The area is confining, with a normal noise level. The room is subject to being cooler than normal because of glass exterior walls, and fans to cool the SSTV Systems.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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.