Clarification from the agency

All current TSA permanent or competitive temporary employees, TSA-Wide.

This Transportation Security Specialist (Pre-Clearance Advisor) position is located in International Operations (IO), Security Operations (SO), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Duties include but are not limited to:

• Serves as a principal advisor to foreign stakeholders at Preclearance locations on all Aviation Security (AVSEC) screening and operational matters.
• Uses technical and program management expertise developed as a Transportation Security Specialist to complete the majority of the work independently; keeps management apprised of issues that may require or represent significant shifts in operations, policies, and procedures.
• Represents IO as a senior technical point of contact on providing oversight and advice on facilitating TSA security activities in a dynamic environment.
• Elevates and responds to critical incidents that involves all appropriate stakeholders, with clear roles and responsibilities and defined communications channels. Serves as principal point of contact to provide advice and guidance on the application of policies and procedures.
• Reinforces previously conducted TSA standard operating procedures training, for both checkpoint and checked baggage, to augment the overall program; mitigates threats against aviation and other transportation sectors by providing mentorship and direction to personnel engaged in Pc screening activities.

The major duties described above reflect the full performance level of this position. Typically, the lower pay band (I Band) performs the same duties but will receive more guidance and training; and/or projects/work assignments may be less complex.

This vacancy announcement is intended to be assigned to a 36 month tour. If selected, you will be placed on a remote work agreement with the ultimate goal of relocating to one of the foreign duty locations listed in this JOA. The anticipated timeline for relocation is unknown. Locality will be based on your remote work location and changed upon relocation to the foreign duty station.

**This position is intended to be assigned to one of the following foreign duty locations:

1. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (AUH)
2. Brussels, Belgium (BRU)
3. Dublin, Ireland (DUB)- also covers Shannon, Ireland (SNN)
4. Hamilton, Bermuda (BDA)
5. Montreal, Canada (YUL)
6. Nassau, Bahamas (NAS)- also covers Freeport, Bahamas (FPO)
7. Toronto, Canada (YYZ)

If selected, you will be placed on a remote work agreement with the ultimate goal of relocating to one of the foreign duty locations listed above. The anticipated timeline for relocation is unknown.  Locality will be based off your remote work location and changed upon relocation.

An employee who occupies a permanent TSA position in a foreign duty location will be provided return rights to a TSA position in the United States consistent with TSA MANAGEMENT DIRECTIVE No. 1100.30. Appendix 1 of TSA Human Capital Management (HCM) Policy No. 352-2, TSA Priority Placement Program (TSA-PPP).

Positions are not permanent assignments; the max length of a duty assignment is generally two consecutive tours of duty. The initial tour is 36 months, with agency approval a second tour up to 24 months. During your assignment, an employee from Human Capital will work with you to complete a career assessment and to identify future position interests. Using this information, and in consideration with future leadership vacancies, you will be transitioned into another role based on your skills and the agency leadership needs at the termination of your initial assignment.

Conditions of employment

• You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National.
• You must have reached the minimum age (18) at the time of application.
• Selective Service registration is required.
• See additional "Conditions of Employment" and "Other Information" section
• Must pass pre-employment drug screening AND random drug/alcohol testing.
• You must complete a favorable Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI).
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret Clearance.

Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS 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.

Conditions of Employment:

• You must be able to obtain and maintain a TSA Travel Card.
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS) is authorized.
• Occasional travel may be required (25-50% of the time).
• You must have the ability to obtain and retain a Top Secret security clearance.
• Applicant selected for movement into positions covered by the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Program must sign (Condition of Employment for Certain Positions Identified as Critical under the Drug Abuse Testing Program) and must pass urinalysis testing as required prior to appointment and periodically thereafter. Position subject to random drug testing.

COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate:

As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee’s duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination by November 22, 2021, or before appointment or onboarding with the agency, if after November 22. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of the agency a legally required exception from this requirement.

Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the agency’s telework policy.

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:

• Providing recommendations for, and coordinates the implementation of, strategic programs and operations; monitors execution to ensure success;
• Reviewing and assessing security operations and making recommendations for changes to enhance security and efficiency.

To qualify for the SV-J Pay Band (equivalent to GS-14), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-I or GS-13 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:

• Advising stakeholders on AVSEC screening and operational matters and mitigation strategies;
• Providing oversight of passenger and baggage AVSEC screening operations and recommending strategies to improve the implementation and evaluation of programs;
• Reviewing and assessing security operations and making recommendations for changes to enhance security and efficiency.

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. No additional credit is given for overtime. 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.

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.

Resumes must include the following:

• 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)

You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

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 the competencies required for this position.  We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire. If, after reviewing your resume and any supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your category placement may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.

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.