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. Responsibilities This Transportation Security Specialist position is located Security Operations, Surface Operations, Region 1 Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Duties include but are not limited to: Knowledge of, and skill in applying, the applicable laws and regulations to inspection, investigation, enforcement and/or compliance work sufficient to: 1) promulgate transportation sector security laws, regulations, rules, policies, precedents; 2) make ingenious recommendations regarding ongoing security challenges, trends, and vulnerabilities affecting surface transportation; 3) serve as a principal advisor to top agency leadership on regional surface security operational matters; and 4) oversee surface security regulatory & non-regulatory programs within the regions. Professional knowledge of field-based security documentation and guidance, regulatory compliance activities, security assessments, exercises, and security outreaches sufficient to develop and/or report on performance metrics, manage the implementation of surface operations program oversight activities (regulatory and non-regulatory), and brief TSA senior leaders on subsequent security challenges, recommendations, and solutions. Mastery of advanced domestic transportation security operations, standards, concepts, and practices sufficient to: a) apply a wide range of assessment methods and techniques pertinent to the execution of ongoing program operations; and b) to serve as a technical expert within integrated project teams and promote Surface equities within the project teams. Extensive skill in oral and written communication sufficient to conduct briefings with senior management officials; effectively engage in negotiation tactics; maintain various communication linkages; deliver technical presentations; conduct inspections, inquiries, investigations and/or interviews. Explain program and applied concepts; develop, modify, or advise on program policies and standards; prepare executive summaries & detailed assessment, inquiry, or investigation reports; and serve as a technical authority/consultant during meetings or demonstrations. Note: The duties are at the full SV-J performance level. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National. You must have reached the minimum age (18) at the time of application. Selective Service registration is required. Pass a Background Investigation (BI) and maintain eligibility for a clearance at the Secret level. Must successfully pass both pre- and post-employment drug and/or alcohol testing. This is a testing Designated position. Employee required to pass drug screening prior to appointment and periodically as required during employment. Position required to submit a Financial Disclosure Statement, OGE-450, (5CFR Part 2634, Subpart I USOGE, 6/08). Executive Branch Personnel. 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. Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change. Qualifications To qualify for the SV-J Pay Band (equivalent to GS-14), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-I or GS-13 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as: Applying knowledge of laws, regulations, policies, and procedures applicable to railroads, mass transit, highway, pipeline, and other surface transportation systems to serve as a principal advisor for surface operations; and Assessing surface transportation systems to identify risks, threats, vulnerabilities, and security gaps associated with system operations and critical assets; and Providing recommendations for sound security policies and procedures in support of nationwide surface operations programs. 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. You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement. Education 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: www.opm.gov/ 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.