What are the responsibilities and job description for the Security Assistant position at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
Summary
The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is recruiting for a Security Assistant (Dispatcher). The Security Assistant will function under Public Safety Service. The primary purpose of the position is to monitor physical security equipment and systems.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 12/08/2025. Preferred Experience: At least 1 year of 911- Emergency Police/Fire Dispatching - Monitoring alarms. 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-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: One (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 level in the Federal service that equipped you with the particular knowledge - skills - and abilities to perform successfully the duties of a Security Assistant - and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. Specialized experience includes: the use of various computer - automation systems; computer skills in terms of data entry - compiling information - preparing and submitting reports - and database maintenance and management; maintaining confidentiality of information - both electronic and print; and communication and interpersonal relation skills sufficient to appropriately and courteously relate to internal and external customers both verbally and in writing. NOTE: 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. ~OR~ EDUCATION: Have successfully completed (4) years of education above the high school level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business - secretarial or technical school - junior college - college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours - 45 quarter hours - or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business - secretarial or technical NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ COMBINATION: Possess equivalent combinations of successfully completed post high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e. beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify - a copy of your transcript is required. Physical Requirements and Work Environment: The work is typically sedentary in nature. However - there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as papers - books - small parts; etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. Working on off-tours - rotating shifts or regular overtime may be required. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices - meeting and training rooms. The work area is adequately lighted - heated - and ventilated. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Duties
The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is recruiting for a Security Assistant (Dispatcher). The Security Assistant will function under Public Safety Service. The primary purpose of the position is to monitor physical security equipment and systems.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 12/08/2025. Preferred Experience: At least 1 year of 911- Emergency Police/Fire Dispatching - Monitoring alarms. 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-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: One (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 level in the Federal service that equipped you with the particular knowledge - skills - and abilities to perform successfully the duties of a Security Assistant - and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. Specialized experience includes: the use of various computer - automation systems; computer skills in terms of data entry - compiling information - preparing and submitting reports - and database maintenance and management; maintaining confidentiality of information - both electronic and print; and communication and interpersonal relation skills sufficient to appropriately and courteously relate to internal and external customers both verbally and in writing. NOTE: 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. ~OR~ EDUCATION: Have successfully completed (4) years of education above the high school level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business - secretarial or technical school - junior college - college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours - 45 quarter hours - or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business - secretarial or technical NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ COMBINATION: Possess equivalent combinations of successfully completed post high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e. beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify - a copy of your transcript is required. Physical Requirements and Work Environment: The work is typically sedentary in nature. However - there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as papers - books - small parts; etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. Working on off-tours - rotating shifts or regular overtime may be required. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices - meeting and training rooms. The work area is adequately lighted - heated - and ventilated. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Duties
- This position serves as the Security Assistant for Police Service within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) with a primary purpose to monitor physical security equipment and systems
- Major duties and responsibilities include: Physical Security Support: monitors and responds to alarms
- traces access patterns - programming - assigns or removes user permissions - and remotely opens and secures doors during routine and emergency operations
- determines when to dispatch law enforcement or other personnel to investigate
- maintains radio/alarm activity records/logs to include dates - times - and results of communications and activities
- prepares completed reports
- issues and retrieves government issued keys and/or identification cards
- and maintains accountability of Police Officer badges issued and all associated logs
- Communications: monitors and receives routine and emergency calls from a variety of sources that need police - fire - medical or other emergency services
- maintains contact with law enforcement units
- monitors and directs responses to security and life safety communications - radio dispatches - telephone calls - and other emergency communication circuits
- coordinates with various federal - state and local law enforcement officials for coordination of emergency situations
- and operates a variety of communications equipment - telephones and computer systems to support both routine and emergency operations
- Operations Support: performs system checks on a variety of equipment used in the dispatch center
- troubleshoots systems when problems arise and resolves issues whenever possible
- conducts equipment inventories and completes records and other logs
- enters - updates and retrieves information from a variety of computer systems/databases
- uses state and the National Crime Information Computer (NCIC) to access sensitive law enforcement information to support field operations and investigations
- enters or updates regional and national records
- compiles and prepares reports related to events occurring in the operation of the police control center
- completes vehicle registration tasks and issues decals and permits
- Performs other related duties as assigned
- Work Schedule: Sunday-Saturday rotating 8-12 hour shifts to include weekends - holidays and overtime to meet the needs of the Medical Center Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Position Description/PD#: Security Assistant/PD99858A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Salary : $40,332 - $52,426