Clarification from the agency

Open to U.S. Citizen (Direct Hire Authority: This position is being filled using OPM VA-wide Direct Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205) through December 31, 2023.

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The Deputy Chief of Police is responsible for assisting the Chief with the operation, direction, and control of the law enforcement and physical security activities of a Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). He/she is responsible to provide extensive support in the management of physical security of assets, information, buildings and people. Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Personnel/Training

• Preparing reports on the performance of department personnel; planning, assigning and explaining work requirements to subordinate supervisors; developing solutions to continuing problems; resolving technical work problems; hearing grievances and serious employee complaints; approving, modifying or rejecting career development plans, training requests, and employee utilization proposals; dealing with union officials and others on matters involving collective bargaining members
• Submitting reports to justify increases in department personnel; evaluating resumes of prospective candidates; and conducting performance-based interviews to assist in selecting appropriate candidates
• Developing 24/7 duty schedules; planning and directing facility law enforcement and security operations; delegating enforcement to subordinate staff; assigning patrol and special duties to supervisory police officers; and ensuring patrol coverage
• Ensuring new employees are properly oriented and familiarized with applicable policies and procedures
• Ensuring all training requirements by VA are met for Police Service staff and that performance proficiency meets the goals of the Medical Center and the service
• Exploring training opportunities for staff to improve or enhance delivery of services and increase officers' cultural competencies
• Informing subordinates of equal employment programs, mandatory training, leave/overtime policies, etc.

Physical Security

• Assisting in the development of local policies and implementing corrective procedures to alleviate identified physical security problems
• Assisting in the development of the physical security plans and objectives and for collaborating on behalf of the Chief in producing Medical Center policies
• Participating in major and minor construction projects during all phases of the project (design, review, construction, activation, etc.) to help ensure VA's physical security requirements are properly met and support VA's safety and security goals
• Conducting or providing assistance in physical security surveys and vulnerability assessments on schedules set-forth by VA
• Assisting in analyzing findings to determine weaknesses, prioritizing vulnerabilities and determining necessary courses of action to mitigate risk

Police and Security Administration

• Interpreting complex security policies and procedures and providing guidance to senior facility leadership, other service chiefs, program managers, VBA, and NCA leaders within the Medical Center's catchment area
• Aiding in the establishment of Memorandum's of Understanding (MOUs) with law enforcement agency executives responsible for the jurisdictions in which VA has facilities
• Providing support to maintain a proactive internal self-inspection process addressing program requirements set-forth by offices within VA, the Joint Commission, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities
• Ensuring physical security and vulnerability assessments are completed as required with a focus on mitigation of risk, compliance, and improving overall facility safety and security processes
• Facilitating the justification, specifications, appropriations, and effective utilization of all equipment, hardware, supplies and financial matters regarding the facility level law enforcement and security program

Police & Security Operations

• Assisting in managing the modernization efforts and with the plans for the integration of new initiatives, advancements in technology, policies, etc.
• Assisting in the development and modification of new Veteran-specific policies and procedures
• Performing assignments that advance the department's public safety strategies in comparison to technology investments
• Providing assistance to ensure the proper enforcement of laws and regulations
• Coordinating with United States Attorneys concerning the enforcement of criminal law and regulations on VA property
• Responding and providing leadership during emergencies and serious incidents impacting VA on a 24/7 basis
• Maintaining heightened security postures and program readiness to meet higher levels of alert
• Supporting the Firearms Program at the facility level, ensuring that critical elements of the program are met

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday; 08:00 a.m. to 04:30 p.m.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Security Specialist/PD99955-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/28/2022

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-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. 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.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience assisting with operating, directing, and controlling law enforcement and physical security activities equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: applying specialized knowledge of security administration programs; coordinating among the differing needs of a variety of departments in order to execute tasks; utilizing comprehensive knowledge of security and law enforcement policy requirements; identifying, planning, and implementing processes and/or solutions to complex security problems at a facility/installation; applying in-depth operational knowledge of security programs, laws and regulations; planning for and accommodating multi-layered security considerations due to new construction and skill to identify vulnerabilities to take corrective action; applying technical knowledge of multi-layered security systems and advising the Chief of Police and facility management on improvements and additions to existing systems or the acquisition of new security systems; and consolidating, evaluating, and analyzing a wide variety of facts, situations, and initiatives to develop responses to security needs. (This experience must be supported by your resume to be creditable.)

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Education and Training: Knowledge of teaching, training, research, making presentations, lecturing, testing, and other instructional methods.
• Managing Human Resources: Plans, distributes, coordinates, and monitors work assignments of others; evaluates work performance and provides feedback to others on their performance; ensures that staff are appropriately selected, utilized, and developed, and that they are treated in a fair and equitable manner.
• Physical Security: Knowledge of methods and controls to protect an organization from natural or man-made threats to physical locations where information systems equipment is located or work is performed (for example, computer rooms, work locations, and equipment rooms).
• 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.

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.

Note: 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.

Physical Requirements: The position is required to exert considerable and strenuous physical effort on a regular basis while performing the functions of the position. These functions are normally performed while the position conducts security surveys and inspections, which require crawling in unusually confined building areas. May be called upon to defend themselves and members of staff, patients or the public against physical attack and may be required to exercise deadly force if necessary. Requirements of the position include maintaining firearms qualifications, climbing flights of stairs, carrying heavy equipment/patients during emergencies, running, bending, stooping, physical restraint of aggressive persons, being subjected to assaults by persons evading arrest. Inspections and audits of security systems, constructions sites, and full searches require the performance of duties in a variety of inclement weather conditions walking, crawling in wooded or over-grown field conditions in all elements of seasonal weather.

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/.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.