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Security Guard

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Reclamation
Northern California Area Office - Security Response Force

Summary

Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Security Guard. Make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

This position is designated as an emergency responder. You will be required to work more than 8 hours a day, on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.

First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
4 vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$50,460 - $65,599 per year

Highest Previous Rate may be used following agency policy. Salary is subject to annual review and adjustment.

Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - May involve occasional travel up to 10% of the time (some overnight stays) to attend meetings, conferences, training, site visits, etc.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
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
CBVH-27-DE-13070612-DE-SL
Control number
885874200

Videos

Duties

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This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Northern California Area Office, Security Response Force in Shasta, CA.

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a member of an armed tactical security force responsible for the protection and lives in and around Reclamation facilities and land from hazards.

At the full performance level (GS-07) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Serve as a member of a highly trained tactical response team.
  • Maintain proficiency in the application of security procedures, regulations, orders, use of weapons, self-defense, vehicle operation and first-aid.
  • Under emergency situations, take appropriate action to protect lives and property.
  • Possess and use special weapons, tactics, methods, and procedures to protect against terrorist attacks.
  • Protect against terrorist or criminal activities, vandalism, sabotage, trespass, theft, fire and/or accident, willful damage and/or destruction.
  • Detain violators of rules and regulations and turn them over to Federal, civil, or other law enforcement officer for arrest.
  • Regulate pedestrian and vehicular traffic to prevent accidents, congestion and parking problems.
  • Enforce applicable rules and regulations governing breaches in physical security controls (locks, gates, electronic security systems. or barriers).
  • Enforce applicable rules and regulations governing vehicle use, parking, building or other facility access.
You must successfully complete an intensive 8-10 week basic training conducted at Grand Coulee, WA. (see Qualifications) (Travel/Transportation are covered by sponsoring organization) If applicant is unable to attend any part of the academy assigned, they will be removed from consideration.

Physical Demands: Work is physically demanding and may require the employee to be on continuous foot patrol during a 12-hour shift. On a regular and recurring basis considerable and strenuous physical exertion such as frequent climbing of multiple flights of stairs, lifting objects over 50 pounds, crouching, or crawling in restrictive areas during patrol or apprehension activities, as a member of the SRF employee may also have to defend oneself or others against a physical attack.

Employee will be required to pass annual certification, which will include physical tasks and other selected tasks relating to the performance of duties such as marksmanship. Employee must be physically and mentally prepared to respond to incidents in as rapid and efficient manner as safety permits.

Training exercises and emergency responses require walking, crawling, climbing, running, etc., and occasionally carrying heavy weapons and/or related equipment throughout all areas of the facility. When performing duties, the incumbent may also be required to rappel off structures, climb ladders, and perform other strenuous activities. Work is sedentary when at a stationary post or on mobile patrol.

Work Environment: Performance of duties regularly involves high risk of exposure to potentially dangerous situations or unusual environmental stresses that require a range of safety and other precautions (e.g., subject to possible physical and/or terrorist attack and similar situations that cannot be controlled). Reclamation facilities and lands are often widespread and include dams, associated tunnels, galleries, powerhouses, switchyards, visitor centers, support 6 PD# 24197 facilities in the industrial area, administrative facilities, warehousing, engineering, and repair buildings.
Security Guards are involved in these areas on a recurring basis in all weather conditions while carrying out assigned duties.

The work is performed in an outdoor environment for extended periods of time, in which there is regular and recurring exposure to moderate and extreme discomforts and unpleasantness (such as high temperatures reaching as high as 120 degrees) and provides essentially no shade or other respite from the extreme heat. Despite the arduous conditions that work is performed in, officers are required to wear full duty uniforms including a heavy ballistic vest, dark clothing, and other required equipment which also compounds the stress on the body (duty belt, weapon, etc.).

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Direct Deposit participation required.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/.
  • Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times will result in removal from the position.
  • You will be required to obtain a successful pre-employment physical examination by a licensed physician certifying your ability to perform the duties of this position. A physical exam may not be required if a comparable agency approved examination was performed within the last 12 months. The cost of the exam will be reimbursed by the agency.
  • As a condition of employment and throughout service as a BOR Security Guard, the Employment Physical Training (PT) test must be passed by performing the SRF Physical Fitness Procedures. (See Qualifications Section for additional information on the Employment PT test.)
  • You will be required to submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment as a condition of employment. This position is also subject to random drug testing.
  • You will be required to wear the Reclamation issued uniform while working.
  • Firearm qualification and certification are required for the role, and ongoing proficiency must be maintained. To meet that requirement, the Lautenberg Amendment requires that the employee may not have any convictions of domestic violence, and the employee will be required to certify that they have no convictions. You must at least 21 years old. You must be free of any domestic violence convictions.
  • You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
*Additional Requirements located under Additional Information* *

Qualifications

Competition for Security Guard positions is restricted by law to persons entitled to Veterans' preference as long as such applicants are available for appointment. You MUST upload proof of military service if you are claiming Veterans' preference. More information on Veterans' preference can be found at the following link: https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/veterans-preference/

Applications from non-preference eligibles will be accepted, but they will not be considered if there are a sufficient number of preference eligible applicants.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/13/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience at this level includes: work with Federal, State, municipal, local, or private protective organizations that involved the protection of property against such hazards as fire, theft, damage, accident, or trespass; or maintaining order and protecting life. Such experience must have provided a knowledge of protective systems and techniques. Acceptable experience includes service in the Armed Services or Coast Guard that involved the performance of guard duties on a regular or intermittent basis. Preferred candidates will have specialized experience gained through service in a combat-arms, (i.e., infantry, armor, special operations) or combat support (i.e., military police, field artillery, military occupational specialty) in any of the armed services.

Preferred candidates will have specialized experience gained through service in a combat-arms, (i.e., infantry, armor, special operations) or combat support (i.e., military police, field artillery, military occupational specialty) in any of the armed services.

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.

All security guard personnel hired for the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) must meet all the following mandatory Conditions of Employment for the position. If an employee cannot meet the requirements imposed by the agency, the employee will be removed from Federal service. The Conditions of Employment are as follows:

BOR Security Guard Academy: Employee must successfully complete an intensive 8-10-week basic training conducted at Grand Coulee. The tests outlined in the video include both classroom instruction and personal demonstration of proficiency in the material taught. These sessions and subjects require mental and physical proficiency. Each session builds on the previous instruction, and periodic tests are administered throughout the sessions. Each test must be passed to continue to the next phase of training, and failure to satisfactorily complete a training session will lead to removal from federal service.

About Security Response Force (SRF):Protecting Critical Infrastructure (Security Response Force Video): https://youtu.be/vVYTWutAYBI, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvHsnLEo5Rt47-QeEybaxD6uOSDZKWPEu .
Security Response Force Employment Physical Training (PT) Requirements: Security Response Force: Physical Fitness Test - 2023 Update (youtube.com).

Physical Fitness Standards. As a condition of employment and throughout service as a BOR Security Guard, the Employment Physical Training (PT) test must be passed by performing the SRF Physical Fitness Procedures included in the link above. Scoring details can be found at SLE 04-03 AppA

All applicants are required to complete all 4 categories and achieve a combined score of 100 points or higher. The same criteria will be used for all ages and genders. Security Response Force Testing Requirements is included in the link above.

At the end of the first year of employment and every year thereafter, the employee will be required to successfully pass all segments of the Employment PT test, the requirements are listed above. If the employee does not initially pass any part of the annual test, they will be given 60 additional days to successfully pass all segments of the test. If the employee cannot pass any part of the test during the annual test, they will be removed from federal service.

This position requires carrying and using firearms. To be able to meet this requirement, the Lautenberg Amendment requires that incumbents may not have any convictions of domestic violence and therefore the applicant will be required to certify that they have no convictions. This information will be verified through the Public Trust Background Investigation.

Firearm Proficiency. Upon completion of the intensive basic training, the employee must meet marksmanship standards. In addition, the employee must successfully pass the annual firearms proficiency test. If the employee fails to demonstrate firearm proficiency initially or upon re-certification, they will be removed from the position.

Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Education

This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

Additional information

*Requirements Continued:

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will 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.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your probationary your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Additional Information:

Bureau of Reclamation's Security Response Force Security Response Force | Bureau of Reclamation Intranet

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

There are two tours for full-time permanent personnel operating 24 hours per day, seven days per week for the security response force program support.

Related Non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630).

All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.

Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

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), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of any additional assessment(s) required for this position.

Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into the following categories:

  • Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position

  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job

  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.

You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Conflict Management
  • Firearms
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Problem Solving
  • Public Safety and Security

For evaluating the quality of candidates for referral to the selecting official, a three-phased process will be used.

Phase 1: Applicants respond to a questionnaire certifying that they are minimally qualified identifying their level of qualifications for this position.

Phase 2: Applicant resumes will be reviewed to validate information provided on the resume and the responses to the questionnaire. Their application package will be scored based on the information provided, which must be supported within the resume, and their level of qualifications will be determined.

Phase 3: Candidates who pass the third phase will have their resume sent to a Subject Matter Expert(s) who will review and score the resume against the competencies. Conflict Management, Firearms, Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, and Public Safety and Security Those candidates who score as best qualified will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessment(s), including a structured resume review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.

Bureau of Reclamation

The Department of the Interior protects and manages the Nation's natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information about those resources; and honors its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and affiliated Island Communities. Click here to learn more about the Department of the Interior and its bureaus.

The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. Click here to learn more about the Bureau of Reclamation.

Agency contact information

Shawn Lipinski
Email
shawn_lipinski@ios.doi.gov
Address
NCAO
Bureau of Reclamation
16349 Shasta Dam Blvd
Shasta Lake, CA 96019
US

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