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 Inspector (Surface) position is located in Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Duties include but are not limited to: Work independently under limited supervision with responsibility for ensuring regulatory compliance of persons and transportation systems and entities regulated under Title 49 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Part 1500 series. Leading in the administration of critical and complex compliance and enforcement programs designed to protect the nation's public transportation systems. Performing the full range of regulatory compliance activities in Surface Inspections. Serving as a technical specialist and primary point of contact on transportation security regulations for assigned industry operations demonstrating substantial knowledge and understanding of one or more specialties, sufficient to provide specialized support. Providing guidance to lower-level technical staff on how to solve difficult issues and serving as a team leader in assigning, overseeing, guiding and reviewing the work of other TSIs on selected inspections and non-inspections activities, when required. Conducting regulatory inspections and investigations, and supporting criminal investigations related to alleged or suspected security violations. Responding to and coordinating security incidents, threats, violations or potential violations. Coordinating, participating, and providing overt and covert presence, including high visibility activities, to detect and reduce identified security threats and vulnerabilities. Coordinating and participating in covert and overt tests/audits, vulnerability assessments. Planning and assigning work, setting priorities, developing performance standards, reviewing and evaluating work and performance of subordinates; approving leave, coaching and identifying developmental and training needs for employees. Manages studies and analyses that provide operating direction on feasibility of implementing security programs and support for screening operations. Partners with key stakeholders to address complex issues related to security operations. Providing for or arranging needed development and training; recommending corrective or disciplinary actions; and recommending promotions, and reassignments. Resolving routine problems that typically impact the objectives of the organizational unit. Providing advice, counsel and instructions to employees on work and administrative matters. Providing input to budget requests or other resource requirements. Maintaining frequent contact with the other work units and activities throughout the field activity to provide or receive services and exchange information about work operations. Maintaining contact with the general public to ensure information provided is accurate and consistent. Conducts and/or reviews inspections of surface transportation systems as well as security initiatives across the Nation's Transportation System. Coordinates preventative measures, safeguards, and rapid response initiatives to ensure the secure and free flow of surface transportation assets across the Nation and to prevent instances of terrorism or other incidents. Plans and coordinates with surface transportation system stakeholders in solving problems and addressing concerns relative to the applicable security programs as well as current and relevant TSA Security Directives and regulatory requirements. Responsible for conducting, reviewing and analyzing security and program assessments reports and testing results with special attention to identifying unusual trends or action that appear to have potential for developing a security concern. Develops security and risk mitigation measures for surface transportation systems. Establishes goals and tracks progress of required inspection/assessment activities within assigned area of responsibility. Provides subject matter expertise to the AFSD, FSD or HQs staff as applicable. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National You must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret level security clearance You must pass pre-employment drug screening AND you will be subject to post-employment random drug and alcohol testing Selective Service registration is required You must hold and maintain a valid driver's license Successfully completing the Basic Transportation Security Inspections Course. 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. You must be available to work various shifts, including frequently changing and uncommon tours of duty. Undertaking extensive travel, at times overnight, as required. 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. 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-I Pay Band (equivalent to GS-13), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-H or GS-12 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: Conducting transportation security inspections and investigations; Engaging in testing security systems; Determining when enforcement action should be taken; Documenting the results to monitor compliance with policies, regulations, and agreements to standards; and Identifying potential problem areas 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. 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.