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Security Assistant

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center

Summary

The Security Assistant position is part of Police Services and supports the mission of delivering comprehensive law enforcement, protective services, and investigative support across the Department of Veterans Affairs. Security Assistants help safeguard the VA Community, which includes Veterans, federal employees, contractors, affiliates, visitors, and others who work in, receive services from, or visit VA facilities across VHA, VBA, and NCA nationwide.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$40,736 - $52,957 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 5
Promotion potential
5
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
Yes
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
CBTB-13067283-26-JG
Control number
885825400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205) for this occupation. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Duties

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Major duties and responsibilities include:

  • Monitor alarms and access control systems
  • Trace and analyze access patterns.- Program, assign, and remove user access permissions
  • Update security and access control databases
  • Remotely open and secure doors during routine and emergency operations.
  • Generate required security and operational reports
  • Assess on-scene behavior and determine when to dispatch law enforcement or other personnel.
  • Respond to fire, access, intrusion, duress/panic, medical, psychiatric, and other emergency alarms.
  • Respond to emergency digital paging system alerts.
  • Monitor emergency weather alerts and transmit system-wide warnings when appropriate.
  • Maintain radio and alarm activity logs, including dates, times, communications, and outcomes.
  • Prepare and file completed reports based on activity records
  • .Perform and document emergency callback procedures as required
  • .Track critical information and report findings to the supervisor.
  • Implement policies, procedures, and methods to protect information, personnel, property, facilities, operations, and materials
  • Operate vehicle registration and visitor management programs
  • Operate parking registration and photo identification equipment
  • Issue and retrieve government keys and identification cards
  • Review requests for and issue passes and identification documents
  • Maintain accurate key inventory and accountability databases
  • Maintain accountability records and logs for Police Officer badges issued.
  • Conduct administrative (non-criminal) investigations into lost keys, passes, and PIV cards to assess compromised access and terminate permissions.
  • Monitor and receive routine and emergency calls requiring police, fire, medical, or other emergency services
  • Determine the nature and location of emergencies and prioritize events appropriately
  • Commit police resources based on event type and make necessary notifications
  • Coordinate follow-up communications for ongoing incidents
  • Receive and process emergency calls while maintaining contact with law enforcement units on assignment
  • Track and maintain the status and location of Police Officers
  • Coordinate communications between agencies when necessary.
  • Answer non-emergency calls for assistance
  • Monitor and direct responses to security and life-safety communications, radio dispatches, telephone calls, and emergency circuits
  • Receive and compile information from various sources related to police and emergency incidents
  • Take action on intrusion, duress, and holdup alarms and direct or modify the responding personnel accordingly
  • Coordinate with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials during emergencies
  • Maintain orderly communication flow between the police dispatch center, agency leadership, and the workforce
  • Operate communications and security equipment, including computers, multi-frequency radios, and multi-line telephone systems
  • Support routine and emergency operations using a variety of communications and computer systems
  • Perform system checks on dispatch center equipment and troubleshoot issues as they arise.
  • Conduct equipment inventories and complete required records and logs
  • Perform monthly alarm tests and submit operational status reports.
  • Initiate work orders for malfunctioning circuits or equipment
  • Enter, update, and retrieve information from various computer systems and sensitive databases
  • Use state and National Crime Information Computer (NCIC) systems to access sensitive law enforcement data
  • Query criminal histories, arrest warrants, driver's records, stolen property, vehicle registrations, firearms, and related information.
  • Enter or update regional and national records/messages to assist with recovering stolen property or locating missing/endangered persons
  • Gather and relay relevant information to law enforcement personnel in the field
  • Use VA Police Software to research information, complete reports, logs, and vehicle registrations
  • Compile and prepare reports on events occurring in the police control center.
  • Generate police reports for routine, non-criminal incidents such as lost property or missing patients
  • Process Courtesy Violations Notices (CVN) and U.S. District Court Violation Notices (USDCVN) per established policies.
  • Complete special projects as assigned, including developing program statistics, reports, and related materials.

Work Schedule: 12HR shifts- 6:00 am - 6:00pm and 6:00pm -6:00am (on a rotating schedule )
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Security Assistant/PD00220A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
  • Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement evaluation is required .
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/30/2026.

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-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: : A police dispatcher is responsible for receiving and prioritizing emergency and non-emergency calls, quickly determining the nature of each situation, and dispatching appropriate police units to the scene. They must remain calm under pressure, communicate clearly with callers and officers, and accurately record information. Additionally, police dispatchers are required to monitor radio traffic, coordinate responses among multiple agencies when necessary, and update officers with new information as situations develop. Strong multitasking skills, attention to detail, and the ability to handle stressful situations are essential for this role.
  • 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: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must 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: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond 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..

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-5 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-4. 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. 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/.

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/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Receiving Service Credit for 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced 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 http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork


USA Hire Assessments include a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205) for this occupation.

Agency contact information

Jewel Green
Phone
404-321-6111 X573385
Email
jewel.green@va.gov
Address
Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center
One Freedom Way
Augusta, GA 30901
US

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