Job Details
** Transportation Security Specialist - Explosives**
**Department of Homeland Security**
**Location**
1 vacancy in the following location:
** Relocation expenses reimbursed**
No
** Telework eligible**
No
**Duties**
** 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. For additional information about our agency please:
**Responsibilities**
If selected as a Transportation Security Specialist - Explosives (TSS-E) within Security Operations (SO), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), you will serve as a journey-level subject matter expert for the Federal Security Director (FSD) at designated airports on all issues involving threats to the traveling public from explosives and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
Duties include, but are not limited to:
+ Serving as a key component of a multi-layered security approach.
+ Applying experience and technical knowledge of explosives to assess threats.
+ Educating the screening workforce in the detection of threats.
+ Supporting explosive vulnerability assessments in all modes of transportation.
+ Responding to and assessing all unresolved checkpoint and checked baggage alarms involving possible explosives, IED components or actual IEDs, rendering a final decision on alarm resolution.
+ Assessing the interrelationships between initiators, power supplies, and chemicals. Determining if devices are improvised explosives, commercial explosives, or mixed explosives (fuel mixtures).
+ Deploying in support of risk mitigation efforts to deter, detect, and prevent the introduction of IEDs, IED components or other deadly or dangerous items into the airport environment.
+ Participating with evaluation teams in conducting covert drills to determine effectiveness of the training programs, recommending individuals remediation, and identifying potential security vulnerabilities.
+ Mentoring and training the front line screening workforce to increase their operational knowledge of explosives and IED components. **Travel Required**
Occasional travel - A minimum of one (1) week of travel in a full-time duty status will be required within 90-days of entry on duty to complete TSAs in residence New Hire Training. This training will occur away from the employees duty station of record. Employees will be paid for compensable hours and reimbursed for authorized travel expenses per TSA Travel Policy.
** Supervisory status**
No
** Promotion Potential**
H
**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 Clearance.
+ Must pass pre-employment drug screening AND random drug/alcohol testing.
+ You must submit a Bomb Disposal Graduation/Certification certificate.
+ Selective Service registration is required.
+ See "Conditions of Employment" and "Other Information" sections.
You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.
Selectees must successfully complete all TSS-Explosives training and on the job training (OJT) requirements to remain in the program. Failure to successfully complete the entire selection process including all TSS-Explosives training and OJT requirements will result in termination of employment.
**PLEASE NOTE:** Candidates who become eligible for the structured interview will be required to travel at their own expense to the interview location unless other arrangements are made by TSA officials. Selection for this position will be made only from among applicants possessing the best qualifications.
Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. (This position is not considered scientific/professional.) Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on .
**Conditions of Employment:**
+ You must pass pre-employment drug screening AND you will be subject to post-employment random drug and alcohol testing.
+ Requires a successful background investigation for a secret level security clearance and must maintain eligibility for designated clearance.
+ You must possess United States' Citizenship or be a U.S. National.
+ Must be available to work various shifts and overtime, as needed.
+ You must be willing to undertake extensive travel, at times overnight, as required.
+ You must meet and maintain medical requirements as stated in the TSA Medical Guidelines for Transportation Security Specialist - Explosives (for more information, click ).
+ Exposure to potentially lethal devices and dangerous chemicals is inherent in this position. ** Qualifications**
**Specialized Experience Requirement: For the SV-H Band:** Applicants must possess at least one year of specialized experience (equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the SV-G Pay Band or GS-11 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector) that includes performing duties such as:
+ Assisting with bomb program management responsibilities such as participating as a team member on a bomb squad to include ensuring program requirements were followed, making recommendations on procedures or helping implement processes under the direction of a program manager.
+ Responding to alarms involving possible explosives, IED components, or actual IEDs. Assessing the interrelationship between initiators, power supplies, switches, and chemicals to determine if the device is an improvised explosive, commercial explosive, or military explosive. **Basic Qualification Requirement:** You must be a graduate from an accredited IED/bomb disposal course coupled with field experience as a military or civilian Bomb Appraisal Officer, EOD Technician, Bomb Technician, or similar position. The accredited bomb disposal schools are Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal (the joint service military EOD school) or the Hazardous Devices School (civilian). Graduation certificate must be attached to the application or certification in electronic applications with class number and date along with all assignments to squad and military EOD units.
**Quality Ranking Factor:** Specialized experience acquired within the last five years immediately preceding application has been identified as a Quality Ranking Factor for this position. This means that applicants who have specialized experience within the last five years will receive additional credit for this experience as part of the candidate evaluation process.
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.
**Note:** 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.