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Security Assistant

Department of Transportation
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the OST Office of Security. The incumbent serves as the DOT Passport and Visa agent and the security program's primary Driver/Courier, responsible for securely transporting passport and visa documents within Washington, DC. The incumbent is also a Department of State Certified Passport Agent and serves as a backup to the primary Passport Agent and performs the full range of passport, visa and other ID Media services.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
12/06/2024 to 12/16/2024
This job will close when we have received 200 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$45,146 to - $72,703 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 05 - 07
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—This position may be eligible for occasional and/or regularly scheduled telework. The number of telework days approved will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
9
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
OST.M-2025-0018
Control number
822589400

Duties

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As a Security Assistant, you will:

  • Serve as the official Driver/Courier for the delivery and pick-up of passports and visa documents to and from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the U.S. Department of State (DOS), and foreign embassies and consulates within Washington, DC. Delivery and pick-up locations will vary from day to day.
  • Be knowledgeable about traffic and parking regulations in Washington, DC. Ensure that all appropriate measures are taken following any traffic or parking incidents or violations.
  • Process passport and visa requests, review applications for completeness, prepare memos and letters to the DOS and embassies, and enter data into the Passports and Visas Database and SharePoint site.
  • Use tact and diplomacy and maintain an effective working relationship with the initiating office, the DOS passport office, embassies, consulates, and the traveler to coordinate all requests.
  • Prepare correspondence, including letters of authorization, and applicable forms to be forwarded for submission to the DOS passport office, various embassies, and consulates.

The ideal candidate for this position has previous experience as a courier safeguarding and transporting classified and/or sensitive but unclassified documents such as passports and applications containing Personally Identifiable Information (PII).  The candidate has excellent customer service skills and experience interacting with senior officials, including foreign embassy personnel, in a professional manner.  The candidate has knowledge of traffic and parking regulations and is familiar with primary and secondary streets in Washington, DC.  The candidate is in good physical condition, able to walk several blocks or more. The candidate is able to relay critical information verbally and in writing.  The candidate is flexible for scheduled and unscheduled courier runs for urgent passport and visa needs.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration.
  • You must meet specialized experience to qualify.
  • Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
  • Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
  • PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
  • TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
  • DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
  • DRUG TEST: This position has been determined to be a critical safety/security position as defined in the Department of Transportation (DOT) Order, DOT 3910.1D entitled "Drug and Alcohol-Free Departmental Workplace." Therefore, if selected for the position you will be required to submit to a pre employment/pre-appointment drug test, you will also be subject to Random Drug Testing.
  • DRIVER'S LICENSE: You will be required to possess and maintain a valid state driver's license at all times while employed in this position in order to perform the duties of the position. Your driving record must have little to no infractions. 

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet either the education or specialized experience requirements for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify for the GS-05, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-04 grade level in the following:

  • Experience applying of Department of State passport and visa rules and regulations.
  • Experience operating a vehicle and performing daily safety inspections.
  • Experience preparing correspondence, including letters of authorization and forms.

To qualify on education at the GS-05:Completion of Four full academic years (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours) of post-high school leading to a bachelor's degree or equivalent degree.

To qualify for the GS-06, you must have at least one year of equal or equivalent experience equal to the GS-05, which includes:

  • Experience processing passport and visa requests, reviewing applications for completeness, preparing memos and letters to the U.S. Department of State and embassies.
  • Experience safeguarding sensitive documents and maintaining custody and control of Government-furnished items.
  • Experience with customer service and communication to with foreign embassies and consulates.

You cannot qualify on education at the GS-6 level; you must have experience.

To qualify for the GS-07, you must have at least one year of equal or equivalent experience equal to the GS-06, which includes:

  • Experience compiling statistical reports when required regarding the issuance of passports and visas at DOT.
  • Experience coordinating the day-to-day administrative support work in an office which includes reviewing security forms and documents and entering confidential information in various databases.

You cannot qualify on education at the GS-7 level; you must have experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

  1. Vehicle Operation - Knowledge of procedures for operating motor vehicles, including cars, trucks, or watercraft.
  2. Security - Knowledge of the laws, regulations, and guidelines related to securing personnel, facilities, and information, including the requirements for handling, transporting, and protecting classified information and proper reporting of security incidents.
  3. Written/Verbal Communication – Writes and speaks in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.

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.

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date.

Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, FairChanceAct@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

How you will be evaluated

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

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume/ application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Your resume must contain sufficiently detailed information upon which to make a qualification determination. Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level. 

To compete with U.S. Citizens:  If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified which is based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference that have provided supporting documents will receive selection priority over non-veterans. The top-rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position.

To compete with other competitive status government employees: If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be scored based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. The top-rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review.

Eligible Federal employees also seeking consideration for noncompetitive reassignment for this position must indicate interest in the assessment. Noncompetitive federal candidates must have competitive status on a SF-50, meet minimum qualifications, have served at the same grade or higher, and held or exceeded the promotion potential of this position.

All applicants:  Your application will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. The answers you select in the on-line process must be substantiated in your application package.  If upon review, it is determined that your described work history, competencies, and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be updated on your behalf or you may not be referred to the selecting official. Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers. The Automated Staffing Office is ultimately responsible for determining your final rating.


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