Summary

Securing Travel, Protecting People - At the Transportation Security Administration, you will serve in a high-stakes environment to safeguard the American way of life. In cities across the country, you would secure airports, seaports, railroads, highways, and/or public transit systems, thus protecting America's transportation infrastructure and ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce.

This job is open to

• Internal to an agency
  
  Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

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

Duties

This Transportation Security Inspector position is located at Newark International Airport (EWR), Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As a Transportation Security Inspector, you will be responsible for ensuring security compliance of persons and transportation systems and entities regulated under the Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1500 series. You will perform selected assignments and progressively responsible inspection work such as:

• Conducting less complex inspections or portions of more complex inspections.
• Applying basic technical inspection knowledge acquired in formal core training and on-the-job training (OJT), along with any limited experience gained prior to or after such training.
• Conducting regulatory inspections and investigations, and supporting criminal investigations related to alleged or suspected security violations.
• Responding to security incidents, threats, violations, or potential violations.
• Providing overt and covert presence, including high visibility activities, to detect and reduce identified security threats and vulnerabilities.
• Participating in covert and overt test and audits, as well as vulnerability assessments.
• Reviewing and analyzing assessment reports and testing results with specific attention to identifying unusual trends or actions that appear to have the potential for developing a security or safety problem.

Note: This work is observed and reviewed frequently during inspections and at completion for technical accuracy, application of inspection methods and techniques, and oral and written effectiveness and clarity. If selected, you will perform work in one or more specialty areas for which hired (aviation, cargo, or surface). The duties of this position are performed under close supervision and guidance.

Emergency Essential Position: This position is designated as an Emergency Essential (EE) position. This designation requires the employee to remain in a duty status if an emergency arises.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

1. You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National.
2. You must have reached the minimum age (18) at the time of application.
3. You must complete a favorable Background Investigation (BI).
4. Selective Service registration is required.
5. Pass pre-employment Drug Screening AND you will be subject to post-employment random drug and alcohol testing.
6. You must hold a valid driver's license.
7. Surface TSIs must successfully complete the RR101 and HAZMAT training programs, in addition to the Basic Transportation Security Inspections and/or Surface Course.
8. You must be willing to undertake extensive travel, at times overnight, as required.
9. You must hold or be able to obtain a Government travel card.
   
   Must be available, as needed, to respond to security-related crisis or incidents to protect U.S. transportation interests within the U.S. and possibly worldwide.
10. You must be available to work various shifts, including frequently changing and uncommon tours of duty.

If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment.

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

Additional Position Information:

• Working conditions include, but are not limited to, arduous conditions such as traversing rough terrain and uneven surfaces, prolonged standing, bending, and stooping to observe work operations, ability to climb into aircraft baggage holds, rail cars, aircraft and other transportation equipment.
• Work may require driving or traveling by motor vehicle and occasionally involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risk or discomforts that require special safety precautions.
• This position is not covered by Law Enforcement Availability or Law Enforcement Retirement.

Qualifications

To qualify for the SV-G Pay Band (equivalent to GS-5/7/9), you must possess one of the following:

• Experience: Three years of general experience, one year of which was equivalent to at least the SV-F or GS-4 grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Such experience will demonstrate the ability to: analyze problems, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; plan and organize work; and communicate effectively orally and in writing.

OR

• Education: Bachelor's or higher-level degree in any field from an accredited college or university.

OR

• Combination of education and experience: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements and may be computed by first determining the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the position; then determining the education as a percentage of the education required for the position; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for the position.

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.

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:

1. Narrative description of duties with start and end dates (including the month and year) for work experience.
2. 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.
3. Performance level (i.e. band or grade)

Utilizing the USAJOBS Resume Builder and completing all available fields is strongly encouraged.

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

Education

If you are using education to meet all or part of the qualification requirements, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or an itemized list of college courses from an accredited college or university, which includes equivalent information from the transcript (course title, semester/quarter hours, and grade/degree earned) in your resume. The information must be provided with the application by the closing date of the announcement. If selected, the applicant must supply a transcript or certification of degree.

Additional information

Qualified non-competitive eligible candidates may be referred for consideration on a separate, unranked list.

More than one position may be filled from this announcement.

Eligibility to apply for other Federal positions: TSA is an Excepted Service agency exempt from most of Title 5 United States Code, including regulations which apply to displaced Federal employees (CTAP/ICTAP) of other agencies, and employment with TSA does not confer "Competitive Status" that generally results from selection and service in Competitive Service agencies. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has established an Interchange Agreement, which allows most permanent TSA employees to apply and be considered for vacancies in Competitive Service agencies. Information from OPM on this or other Interchange Agreements is available at: www.opm.gov/

To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation as a condition of placement into this position.

DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

TSA employees who are absent for the purpose of performing military duty may apply for any vacancies announced in their absence.

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. 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 here:

https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire

• Benefits
  
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  
  Review our benefits
  
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies that are relevant to the duties of this position and must be fully supported by information in your resume:

• 1801 General Inspection, Investigation, Enforcement, and Compliance
• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Critical Thinking
• Flexibility
• Interpersonal Skills
• Written Communication

The candidates with the highest self-assessment scores will be invited and required to take the Writing Skills Assessment (WSA) soon after the closing date of this announcement. The WSA must be scheduled and completed within fourteen (14) calendar days of the invitation being sent in order to remain under consideration for the position. The score obtained on the WSA will account for 50% of the overall score used to determine those who are best qualified for consideration.

WSA Exemption Note: Candidates that currently hold, or have previously held, a Transportation Security Inspector position (at TSA, at any band level) will be exempted from the writing skills assessment. If you are eligible for the exemption, and wish to claim exemption, you must claim your exemption when prompted within the online application questionnaire. Please note that upon claiming exemption status, the employment records of current TSA employees will be reviewed to confirm eligibility for exemption. Those that are not current TSA employees must submit exemption documentation (as defined in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement). Candidates exempted from the WSA will be evaluated based upon the first phase of the hiring process only.

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.

You may preview the questions for this vacancy here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12418786

• Benefits
  
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  
  Review our benefits
  
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
• Required Documents
  
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  
  In addition to a resume and the assessment questions, you must submit copies of any of the following documents if you are applying based on being a current eligible TSA employee (which includes permanent employees and 5 year temporary employees), or education or a combination of education and experience:
  
  SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action - Current TSA employees are strongly encouraged to submit the most recent non-Award SF-50, at the time of application, to support eligibility for Status consideration. TSA employees who do not submit the SF-50 with the application must document their current TSA position in their resume and may be required to provide the SF-50 document during the selection process. TSA employees may obtain a copy of their most recent non-Award SF-50 at https://eopf.opm.gov/dhs/.
  
  Transcripts - If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed under the Qualifications and Evaluations section, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript(s) with your application. If selected, an official/sealed college transcript(s) will be required to verify education prior to employment.
  
  WSA Exemption Documentation - If you are not a current TSA employee, but claim exemption from the assessment, you must submit a personnel action SF-50(s) to document that you have held a Transportation Security Inspector position at TSA. If you claim exemption and do not submit this supporting documentation, you may not receive assessment exemption consideration.
  
  If you do not submit required documentation described in this job opportunity announcement, your application will be deemed incomplete and you will be ineligible for further consideration for this vacancy.
  
  
  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
  
  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
  schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  
  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
• How to Apply
  
  Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
  
  1. To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
  2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
  3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
  4. After submitting an online application, you will be notified that your application was received. This message will be delivered to you via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder.
  5. If you are found eligible for the position, you will receive an invitation from usastaffingoffice@opm.gov to take the Writing Skills Assessment. You must schedule and complete this assessment within 14 days upon receiving the invitation. If you have trouble locating the invitation, check the Spam or Junk folders in your email account or log into your USAJOBS account and click the "Track this application" button to check for copies of any email communications which may have been blocked or identified as spam by your email services provider.
  6. Failure to comply with this deadline will result in your application being closed. If closed, you will need to reapply to a future job announcement.
  7. We encourage you to apply online. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, please contact HC-ServeU@tsa.dhs.gov .
  
  To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account (https://usajobs.gov). There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account at https://www.usajobs.gov. On the Home page, scroll down and locate your job application. Once the job has been located, click the "Track this application" link on the right under the application date. The page will refresh to display the Agency's Application Information page where you can scroll down and review any notifications the agency has sent you. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.If you are entering TSA employment on an appointment without time limitations, you must serve a basic trial period unless you have already met the requirement.
  
  Agency contact information
  
  
  
  HC ServeU Customer Care
  
  Email
  
  HC-ServeU@tsa.dhs.gov
  
  Address
  
  Newark Liberty International - EWR
  
  DO NOT MAIL
  
  Newark, NJ 07114
  
  US
  
  Next steps
  
  The questionnaire in conjunction with your resume will be used to determine whether you meet the minimum experience requirements for the position. If so, then the WSA results will be used to assess your qualifications for the job, and will be used to identify the best qualified applicants to be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We will notify you of the outcome of these steps when they have been completed.
  
  To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
• Fair and Transparent
  
  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
  
  
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Criminal history inquiries
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

In addition to a resume and the assessment questions, you must submit copies of any of the following documents if you are applying based on being a current eligible TSA employee (which includes permanent employees and 5 year temporary employees), or education or a combination of education and experience:

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action - Current TSA employees are strongly encouraged to submit the most recent non-Award SF-50, at the time of application, to support eligibility for Status consideration. TSA employees who do not submit the SF-50 with the application must document their current TSA position in their resume and may be required to provide the SF-50 document during the selection process. TSA employees may obtain a copy of their most recent non-Award SF-50 at https://eopf.opm.gov/dhs/.

Transcripts - If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed under the Qualifications and Evaluations section, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript(s) with your application. If selected, an official/sealed college transcript(s) will be required to verify education prior to employment.

WSA Exemption Documentation - If you are not a current TSA employee, but claim exemption from the assessment, you must submit a personnel action SF-50(s) to document that you have held a Transportation Security Inspector position at TSA. If you claim exemption and do not submit this supporting documentation, you may not receive assessment exemption consideration.

If you do not submit required documentation described in this job opportunity announcement, your application will be deemed incomplete and you will be ineligible for further consideration for this vacancy.


If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:

1. To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
4. After submitting an online application, you will be notified that your application was received. This message will be delivered to you via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder.
5. If you are found eligible for the position, you will receive an invitation from usastaffingoffice@opm.gov to take the Writing Skills Assessment. You must schedule and complete this assessment within 14 days upon receiving the invitation. If you have trouble locating the invitation, check the Spam or Junk folders in your email account or log into your USAJOBS account and click the "Track this application" button to check for copies of any email communications which may have been blocked or identified as spam by your email services provider.
6. Failure to comply with this deadline will result in your application being closed. If closed, you will need to reapply to a future job announcement.
7. We encourage you to apply online. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, please contact HC-ServeU@tsa.dhs.gov .

To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account (https://usajobs.gov). There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account at https://www.usajobs.gov. On the Home page, scroll down and locate your job application. Once the job has been located, click the "Track this application" link on the right under the application date. The page will refresh to display the Agency's Application Information page where you can scroll down and review any notifications the agency has sent you. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.If you are entering TSA employment on an appointment without time limitations, you must serve a basic trial period unless you have already met the requirement.

Agency contact information



HC ServeU Customer Care

Email

HC-ServeU@tsa.dhs.gov

Address

Newark Liberty International - EWR

DO NOT MAIL

Newark, NJ 07114

US

Next steps

The questionnaire in conjunction with your resume will be used to determine whether you meet the minimum experience requirements for the position. If so, then the WSA results will be used to assess your qualifications for the job, and will be used to identify the best qualified applicants to be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We will notify you of the outcome of these steps when they have been completed.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Criminal history inquiries
• Financial suitability
• Selective Service
• New employee probationary period
• Signature and false statements
• Privacy Act
• Social security number request