Supervisory Transportation Security Inspector (Surface)

Summary

Duties

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This Supervisory Transportation Security Inspector (Surface) position is located at Surface Operations, West Region, HOU, Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Duties include but are not limited to:

• Planning, developing, implementing, administering and evaluating critical transportation inspections programs for the compliance of persons and transportation under Title 49 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Part 1500 series.
• Serving as a technical expert to the Regional Security Director (RSD), Regional Operations Director (ROD), regional and local field staff, and industry stakeholders on the administration of critical and complex compliance and enforcement programs designed to ensure secure transportation and to protect the nation's public from terrorism, piracy, or other acts of sabotage to transportation systems, facilities, and networks.
• Administering critical and complex compliance.
• Supervising and mentoring a team of Transportation Security Inspectors (TSIs) Surface Operations.
• Conducting and supervising subordinate TSIs in administering inspections of all surface transportation regulated parties, including, but not limited mass transit, trucking, freight/passenger rail, and other transportation personnel subject to Federal regulations involving transportation security.
• Conducting and supervising subordinate TSIs in performing complex and technical inspections of all regulated parties to determine overall security posture and compliance.
• Monitoring TSI compliance with applicable laws, security policies, regulations, security directives and agreements to identify potential problem areas or deviations from prescribed standards.
• Performing technical reviews, analyzing and making appropriate recommendations concerning security measures promulgated through TSA approved security programs.
• Identifying and responding to security violations or potential violations. Responding to transportation security incidents and other incidents as defined by the National Incident Management Systems or as directed by the Regional Security Director (RSD) and/or Regional Operations Director (ROD).
• Determining when an enforcement action should be initiated, preparing enforcement investigation reports and recommending to TSA counsel the type of action and level of penalty commensurate with the nature and severity of the violation.
• Providing testimony and participating in enforcement proceedings.
• Entering reviewing and approving accuracy of records pertinent to investigations, inspections and incidents into the national database Performance and Results Information Systems (PARIS) and security assessments within the Surface Data Management System (SDMS).
• Reviewing and approving data pertinent to investigations, inspections and incidents entered into the national database PARIS by subordinate TSIs.
• Reviewing, analyzing, and approving assessment reports and test results with specific attention to identifying unusual trends or actions that appear to have the potential for developing a security/safety problem.
• Reviewing and formulating recommended or alternative courses of action to be pursued by regulated parties in order to satisfy security requirements.
• Coordinating, performing, or reviewing evaluations of the integration of new technology, traditional measures, and human factors to assure operational effectiveness and efficiency of the overall security system.
• Coordinating and performing security assessments and audits, validating and inspecting security processes, procedures, programs, and security training on surface transportation systems.
• Preparing and reviewing written analyses of inspections, assessments, and determining the adequacy of corrective measures required to improve security posture or to restore compliance.

Supervisory/Managerial duties includes serving as a first line supervisor for the organization. This includes but is not limited to: assigning work, setting priorities, and reviewing and evaluating work and performance of subordinates; approving leave; coaching and developing employees; recommending corrective or disciplinary actions; assisting in budget planning and projecting short-term needs; managing projects within assigned resources; resolving routine problems that typically impact the objectives of the organizational unit; and when required, coordinating with customers outside the immediate organization.

Note: This work is observed and reviewed frequently during inspections and at completion for technical accuracy, application of inspection methods and techniques, and oral and written effectiveness and clarity.

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

1. You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National.
2. You must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret level security clearance.
3. Selective Service registration is required.
4. Must pass pre-employment drug screening AND random drug/alcohol testing.
5. Must have and maintain a valid Driver's License.
6. You must be available for "on call" work and be available for duty within the U.S. and possibly worldwide to protect U.S. transportation interests.
7. Must be able to obtain and maintain a government travel card.
8. You must be available to work various shifts, including frequently changing and uncommon tours of duty.
9. Must successfully complete the Basic Transportation Security Inspections.
10. You must, on an annual basis, or as directed, complete the OGE-450 Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, to include an annual ethics training course.
11. You must be able to walk on uneven surfaces such as railroad ballast and/or crushed rock, etc. for an extended period of time.

Supervisory/Managerial Trial Period Requirements: Unless previously completed, you must satisfactorily complete a one-year supervisory trial period to continue in this supervisory/managerial position

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:

• Serving as a senior specialist or team lead in conducting surface transportation security inspections and investigations,
• Determining when enforcement action should be taken,
• Performing security assessments on surface transportation systems; AND
• Monitoring compliance with policies, regulations, security directives, and agreements to identify potential problems and deviations from TSA and/or other Federal regulatory operations.

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.

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.

Benefits

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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.

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; situational telework may be permitted in accordance with departmental policy 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 - 3