Expert Transportation Security Officer - Security Training Instructor

About the role

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.

What you will do

• This Expert Transportation Security Officer - Security Training Instructor position is located at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
• As a Expert Transportation Security Officer (ETSO), you will support the airport training program through performance of a variety of training related functions.
• In addition to program responsibilities, as an ETSO you will perform pre-board security screening of persons, cargo, carry-on, and checked baggage as directed by the Federal Security Director (FSD) or his/her designee a minimum of 20% of the time.
• Specific program responsibilities include the following: Acting as training course lead in support of Training Programs including ensuring class materials are coordinated and in place, confirming roster, ensuring evaluations are done and submitted, conducting testing, and recording of results, and ensuring all employee course completion information is recorded in the Online Learning Center (OLC).
• Performing training instruction within established guidelines and standards in support of nationally developed training courses (e.g., new hire training, On-Screen Alarm Resolution Protocol, Crossover).
• Supporting recurrent training needs; conducting return to duty and remediation training.
• Developing and/or adapting local training materials to meet requirements.
• Delivering instructor development courses in support of the STI position (e.g., Instructor Presentation Skills Course and Train the Trainer Courses for nationally developed programs).
• Assisting Training Specialist in providing oversight to collateral duty Assistant Training Instructors (ATI) and other support staff.
• Conducting instructional delivery quality assurance assessments at local airports or transportation facilities, as well as assisting with assessments at other locations as needed; contributing to reviews and edits of Standard Operating Procedures.
• Conducting TSA Quality Assessments (locally or nationally).
• Managing classroom dynamics, resolving classroom problems, and coordinating needed support and materials; monitoring and evaluating training for appropriate adjustments and recommending enhancements; maintaining communication with management and supervisors concerning training issues that may reveal security screening weaknesses or vulnerabilities.
• As directed, providing mentoring/coaching to address identified training needs.
• Administering and scoring training tests (e.g., job knowledge, image).
• Assisting with PASS Practical Skills Observations (PSOs) and conducting Level 3 assessments.
• NOTE: Employees must maintain all screening certification requirements and perform screening functions (passenger, baggage, or both) a minimum of 20% of the time.
• 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.
• NOTE: Employees occupying frontline positions, i.e., individuals performing security screening operations and occupying positions that involve contact with the traveling public on a regular and recurring basis, are required to wear TSA approved and issued personal protective equipment (PPE).
• This requirement is in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic and comply with Executive Order 13991 and TSA's Pandemic and Emerging Infectious Disease and Workforce Protection Plan.
• PPE includes TSA issued surgical masks, face shields, and nitrile gloves.
• At TSA, the health and safety of our employees is a top priority.

Requirements

• 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).
• Obtain and maintain a Secret level security clearance.
• 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.
• 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.

How you will be evaluated

The assessment process for the Expert Transportation Security Officer is a multiple hurdle process. Initially, you will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality and extent of the experience and/or related education as reflected in your resume and supporting documentation.

You are encouraged to ensure work experiences clearly show possession of specialized experience required for this position. Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Grouping procedures.

Under Category Grouping, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories: Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies as determined by the job analysis.

Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies as determined by the job analysis.

Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies as determined by the job analysis. If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.

The most qualified applicants will be referred for further consideration through the remainder of the assessment process. Referred candidates will then be required to pass both the structured interview and training demonstration assessment phases. Only applicants successfully passing both phases will be referred for selection consideration.

Structured interview and training demonstration assessment results will be good for six months. You may preview the questions for this vacancy here: ***

Documents you must provide

• Your resume must clearly demonstrate how you meet this requirement; otherwise, you will be deemed ineligible.
• Additionally, copying and pasting information from the announcement into your resume will not adequately convey your qualifications.
• Resume Requirements: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages.
• The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.
• Narrative description of duties with start and end dates (including the month and year) for work experience.
• State the number of hours worked in a position (i.e. full-time or part-time).
• If part-time, state the total number of hours worked per week.
• Performance level (i.e. band or grade) Utilizing the USAJOBS Resume Builder and completing all available fields is strongly encouraged.
• You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.
• In addition to a resume, you must submit copies of any of the following documents if you are applying based on being a current eligible TSA employee (which includes permanent employees and 5 year temporary employees), or education or a combination of education and experience: SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action - Current TSA employees are strongly encouraged to submit the most recent non-Award SF-50, at the time of application, to support eligibility for Status consideration.
• TSA employees who do not submit the SF-50 with the application must document their current TSA position in their resume and may be required to provide the SF-50 document during the selection process.
• TSA employees may obtain a copy of their most recent non-Award SF-50 at ***
• Detail Documentation - Eligible applicants who wish to qualify for this position based upon experience obtained while serving on a detail with TSA must submit signed copies of the corresponding TSA form 1160, Terms And Conditions For Temporary Internal Assignment -Detail, or an SF-52, Request for Personnel Action, as supporting documentation along with their application otherwise the experience cannot be credited.
• If you do not submit required documentation described in this job opportunity announcement, your application will be deemed incomplete and you will be ineligible for further consideration for this vacancy.

What to expect next

If needed, applicants may request a religious accommodation as part of the hiring process from the designated contact noted in the vacancy announcement (for contact information please see 'Agency Contact Information' listed within the 'How to Apply' section of this job announcement).

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (***), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: ***

Additional information

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

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.