Summary Serves as the Physical Security Specialist who ensures a safe and secure environment across VHA within various settings, including a variety of jurisdictional environments, such as VHA VISNs, Medical Centers and facilities, Inpatient Clinics, Outpatient Clinics, and domiciliary throughout the United States.

This position serves as a vital part of the VA Police Services often serving as the face of the VA and as the first person a Veteran or visitor encounters when entering a VA facility.

Responsibilities Duties of the Physical Security Specialist will include but are not limited to : Evaluates risk, develops physical security procedures and measures to safeguard personnel, property, and operations from unauthorized access, espionage, terrorism, sabotage, damage and theft.

Provides suggestions on matters pertaining to security systems and security of assets. Conducts security surveys to identify conflicts with security requirements / regulations and recommends actions.

Conducts system audits and evaluates reports of alleged security violations. Provides input and drafts changes regarding physical security policy, doctrine, utility and implementation.

Ensures security requirements and appropriate safeguards are implemented (including cameras, panic and intrusion alarms).

Coordinates an organizations physical security program and manages efforts or functions that impact multiple sites. Participates and leads in community of practice across departments and organizations.

Develops and leads implementation of improvement initiatives within an organization. Conducts audits and provides oversight to multiple police services under a large organization Collects information and prepares reports on facility compliance with operations and regulations.

Develops various physical security-related documents, spreadsheets, graphs, reports and presentations using various automated systems and software packages.

Enters, accesses, and retrieves information in the medical center computer system. Maintains a tracking report to ensure physical security surveys are followed up promptly.

Provides input during the design and construction of planned projects concerning security engineering and electronic security systems.

Establishes, develops, and maintains effective working relationships with other offices / agencies within and outside an organization.

Meets and coordinates with key customers and officials to assess customer satisfaction, explain organization policy and procedures, and resolve problems that arise.

Empathizes, engages, and communicates with all individuals they encounter to ensure a positive outcome and the safety of the facility and its occupants.

Attends security meetings and gathers new or changed security program information to share with security personnel. Responds to reports of a crime in progress and / or calls for police assistance.

Takes appropriate actions to pursue and apprehend offenders. Provides control and leadership of emergencies until relieved by higher authority.

Seeks, detects and protects all evidence, victims and witnesses. Appears at preliminary hearings and / or testifies at trials when needed.

Conducts full investigations over prolong periods or when solutions cannot be achieved during normal patrol shift. Questions / takes statements from victims, witnesses, complainants and interrogates suspects ensuring clarification of conflicting statements.

Work Schedule : Monday - Friday, 8 : 00 am - 4 : 30 pm Compressed / Flexible : Not Authorized Telework : Not Authorized Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Position Description / PD# : Physical Security Specialist / PD99797S Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : May be Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI) : Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report : Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.

S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.

Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12 / 31 / 1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background / security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03 / 13 / 2024.

Time-In-Grade Requirement : Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.

An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement.

In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note : Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and / or education as described below : Specialized Experience : You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

• Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to : providing physical security and assistance to groups and individuals;

utilizing various security equipment and devices; making recommendations to improve security processes; providing physical security consultation services to an organization.

• Also performs law enforcement assignments such as, responding to reports of crimes and / or calls for police assistance;
• securing crime scenes and / or accident sites; taking appropriate actions in emergency situations; conducting investigations;

keeping abreast of law enforcement rules, regulations and techniques. Applicants must possess excellent communication skills.

OR, Education : Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.

D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.

M. in field a directly related to this position being filled (i.e., criminal law, criminal justice, etc.). This education must include courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

Education must have been obtained in an accredited college, or university. NOTE : Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials.

Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination : Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond master's degree as described above to meet total experience requirements.

NOTE : Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

• You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position : Computer Skills Criminal Law Internal Controls / Integrity Interpersonal Skills Personnel Security and Safety Security 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; religions; 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 : A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements : The work requires full use of extremities, normal hearing, and vision to conduct on-site security surveys, inspections, and assessments.

The duties require prolonged standing, walking, crouching, bending, lifting, reaching, pushing, stooping, and climbing stairs and ladders indoors and outdoors.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note : Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment.

You can verify your education here : If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

For further information, visit : Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave : Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee.

Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.

This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

Special Employment Consideration : VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.

3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities , and / or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more.

Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal / VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy.

To be well-qualified : applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job.

Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.

e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date.

The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Last updated : 2024-03-08