Regional Security Director (RSD)

Summary

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

This job is open to

• Federal employees - Competitive service
  
  Current or former competitive service federal employees.
• Federal employees - Excepted service
  
  Current excepted service federal employees.
• Senior executives
  
  Those who meet the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs).

Clarification from the agency

Open to Current/Former Federal employees, SES Reinstatement Eligibles or OPM Approved SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) Graduates. This position is part of the TSA Leadership Succession Planning and Development Program. This is not a permanent assignment; the initial tour of duty is normally 36 months, and with agency approval a second tour of duty up to 24 months. Any subsequent tour of duty extension beyond the second tour will be based on the Agency's needs.

Duties

As the Regional Security Director (RSD), Surface Operations, you will serve as the senior management official and technical expert for TSA on matters involving surface transportation security operations within the assigned geographic area of responsibility (AOR). As the RSD, you will place particular focus/attention in creating the most effective and efficient adaptive security solutions for the surface transportation network within your AOR. Your oversight will include Mass Transit and Passenger Rail; Freight Rail; Highway and Motor Carrier; Pipeline Sections and a supporting role to USCG in Maritime branches. In this regard, you will be responsible for strategic input for surface transportation security operations management and services across the surface transportation sector within your AOR. The responsibilities of the position not only have agency-wide impact and influence, but national impact and scope. As the Regional Security Director, you will provide innovative and expert leadership in the implementation of surface transportation security operations policies, procedures, and operational activities in accordance with applicable Federal and Departmental policies, procedures, laws, and directives.

Major duties include:

• Serving as a principal advisor to the Assistant Administrator (AA), Surface Operations on surface transportation security management programs, Federal regulation requirements and methods as it relates to U.S. surface transportation networks.
• Building strategic industry partnerships, engaging trusted industry operators and advisory groups on a regular basis.
• Providing expert security guidance to executive industry association partners and government sectors on surface transportation security operations issues. Working closely with surface industry partners to coordinate national surface transportation security operations development. Providing expert transportation security information at industry-sponsored conferences/meetings.
• Maintaining a network of surface industry operators for purposes of ensuring that there is current and consistent information regarding TSA policies and activities and their impact on surface transportation partners. As appropriate, you will be responsible for pursuing industry partner buy-in and establishing mutual accountability.
• Serving as the industry surface transportation security operations expert for TSA. Understanding and appropriately implementing transportation security regulations, as well as developing and facilitating the implementation of surface transportation security operations and regulations; maintaining awareness and/or knowledge of the most current, impacting, and proposed/enacted legislation in the area of surface transportation security operations. Understanding and supporting the collaborative environment with surface transportation security partners, to include using non regulatory means to enhance surface transportation security and raise the security baseline.
• Administering the delivery and communication of surface transportation security, work plans, inspections and operations.
• Overseeing all support requirements for coordinating the dissemination of Guidelines, Directives and Program Changes related to surface transportation security policies. Monitoring and reviewing all outstanding security policies, directives, and emergency amendments affecting the industry for relevance.
• Engaging executive industry partners to raise the security bar through addressing the impact of threat information on their operations, and where applicable, the supply chain, the security of the traveling public and commercial goods within the surface transportation sector.
• Serving as the principal interface with executives in the surface industry within your AOR concerning risk-based security.
• Maintaining cybersecurity as a core mission of TSA, and continually seeking methods to educate surface transportation security partners on adopting a holistic risk management approach to defend against malicious cyber-attacks.
• Establishing organizational performance metrics in accordance with TSA's mission, vision, goals, and strategic objectives. Measuring security metric improvement over time for the industry.
• Continually assessing the effectiveness of operations and programs within his/her AOR and adjusting as needed to meet emerging priorities.
• Keeping the AA, Surface Operations apprised of overall operations, current status, and anticipated challenges.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

1. You must possess U.S. Citizenship.
2. You must complete a favorable Tier 5 Background Investigation (T5).
3. You must pass Drug Screening, subject to random drug tests.
4. This position requires a TS/SCI (Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information) clearance that must be completed prior to appointment. You will be subject to a 5-year periodic investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance.
5. Disclosure of your financial information is required.
6. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created in the wake of 9/11 to strengthen the security of the nation's transportation systems while ensuring the freedom of movement for people and commerce. TSA employs a risk-based strategy to secure U.S. transportation systems, with nearly 50,000 Transportation Security Officers, each day at more than 450 airports nationwide. The agency continuously sets the standard for excellence in transportation security through its people, processes, technologies and use of intelligence to drive operations. As a member of the TSES, you may be subject to frequent changes in posts of duty and positions. Mobility is a condition of employment.Applicants and current TSA employees who are selected for a Senior Leadership position must sign and submit a mobility agreement upon acceptance of a job offer. Executing this agreement is required as a condition of employment for an individual selected for a vacant mobility position.
7. This is an Emergency Essential position.
8. Must sign mobility agreement upon selection.
9. Please see the Qualifications section for additional conditions of employment.

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.

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

Qualifications

As a basic requirement, applicants must demonstrate progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level managerial capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs) and Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) listed below. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the equivalent of the GS-15 grade level in the Federal service or its equivalent with state and local government, the private sector, or non-governmental organizations.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show in your resume that you possess the five ECQs and the PTQs listed below. We recommend that your resume emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of programs managed, and your program accomplishments, including results of your actions. Please refer to the Office of Personnel Management's website, https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf for additional information about ECQs.

The application process used to recruit for this position is RESUME-ONLY. Therefore, evidence of each ECQ and PTQ must be CLEARLY REFLECTED in your resume.

If you are a current or reinstatement eligible Career SES/TSES member or a graduate of an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) and your ECQs have been previously certified by OPM's Qualifications Review Board, you are not required to address the ECQs. However, you MUST address all PTQs in your resume.

Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs):

1. Knowledge of surface transportation security standards, regulations and transportation grant program sufficient to manage a national program.

2. Knowledge of the relationships between Department of Homeland Security components and programs and private sector organizations and/or other governmental departments, bureaus, and equivalent organizations in monitoring, networking, and managing surface transportation security.

3. Knowledge of government crisis management plans contingency measures/conditions, and risk/vulnerability assessment methodologies.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs):

ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE. This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE. This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

ECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN. This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.

ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN. This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS. This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

FAILURE TO MEET OR FULLY ADDRESS EACH EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATION AND PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION IN THE RESUME WILL ELIMINATE A CANDIDATE FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION.

CURRENT OR FORMER POLITICAL APPOINTEES: 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.

Note: 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. 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.

This position is part of TSA's Leadership Succession Planning and Development Program.

Conditions of employment:

• MOBILITY: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created in the wake of 9/11 to strengthen the security of the nation's transportation systems while ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce. TSA employs a risk-based strategy to secure U.S. transportation systems, with nearly 50,000 Transportation Security Officers, each day at approximately 450 airports nationwide. The agency continuously sets the standard for excellence in transportation security through its people, processes, technologies and use of intelligence to drive operations.
• As a member of the TSES, you may be subject to frequent changes in posts of duty and positions. Mobility is a condition of employment.Applicants and current TSA employees who are selected for a Senior Leadership position must sign and submit a mobility agreement upon acceptance of a job offer. Executing this agreement is required as a condition of employment for an individual selected for a vacant mobility position.
• You will be required to serve a probationary period of one year unless you previously completed the probationary period in a SES/TSES position.
• DRUG TESTING: You must pass a pre-employment drug test. In addition, you may be subject to random drug testing during employment.
• SECURITY CLEARANCE: This position requires a TS/SCI (Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information) clearance that must be completed prior to appointment. You will be subject to a 5- year periodic investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance.

Additional information

• The Regional Security Director position has a Tour of Duty. The length of a tour of duty assignment is generally up to 5 years. The initial tour is normally 36 months, and with agency approval a second tour of duty up to 24 months. Any subsequent tour of duty extension beyond the second tour will be based on the Agency's needs.
• During your assignment, an employee from Human Capital will work with you to complete a career assessment and to identify future position interests. It is TSA's policy to provide a consistent and timely way of placing employees upon expiration of their tour of duty. Placement is based on the employee meeting the priority placement eligibility requirements and qualification requirements for an appropriate vacant position, as well as any applicable career development assessment and agency needs.
• The TSA, an excepted service agency, was established by Public Law 107-71, ATSA, on November 19, 2001. ATSA provides TSA with the authority to modify and develop its own human capital program, provided such modifications are consistent with 49 USC 40122.
• This is an excepted service position. However, there is an interchange agreement with the OPM and TSA that enables Career TSES members who have been approved by the Qualifications Review Board at OPM to qualify for Senior Executive Service (SES) positions without additional competition.
• You will be required to serve a probationary period of one year unless you previously completed the probationary period in a SES/TSES position.
• Certificates will be issued on an as needed basis, as vacancies occur.
• The applicant pool will be honored for a period of 4 months.
• If you applied to previous Regional Security Director vacancies, you must reapply.
• When you enter on duty, you will be required to complete a Public Financial Disclosure Report, OGE Form 278. You will need to provide this information annually.
• Veteran's Preference does NOT apply to SES/TSES positions.

• 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 on the quality and extent to which your resume shows that you possess the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs) and Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) outlined in the "Qualifications" section of the Job Opportunity Announcement. Your resume may be evaluated by an SES/TSES rating and ranking panel, and afterwards, best qualified candidates may undergo an interview and a reference check. The TSA Executive Resources Council (ERC) will review results and make recommendations on final selections to the appointing authority. Only the selectee will be required to write ECQ narratives.

Unless you have already been certified by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Review Board (QRB) in the past, your ECQs must be certified by the QRB before appointment can occur.

• 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.
  
  Required Documents:
  
  1. Your Resume, which incorporates both Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs) responses. Resumes must include the following:
     
     • Contact information.
     • Narrative description of duties with start and end dates (including the month and year) for work experience.
     • 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.
     • Performance level (i.e., band or grade).
  2. Associated Questionnaire.
  3. Current SES/TSES members: You must provide a copy of the specific SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which documents conversion or appointment, without time limitation, to the SES/TSES (except current TSA employees).
  4. Reinstatement Eligible SES/TSES members: You must provide a copy of the specific SF-50 which documents conversion or appointment, without time limitation, to your formal SES/TSES position as well as any Federal agency document which confirms your successful completion of an SES/TSES probationary period. (Note: a second SF-50 dated more than a year after SES/TSES conversion or appointment, which documents continued unlimited assignment to the same SES/TSES position, will suffice to document completion of the SES/TSES probationary period).
  5. Graduates of an OPM approved Candidate Development Program (CDP) which resulted in certification by the OPM QRB: You must provide a copy of a QRB endorsed program graduation certificate.
  6. If you are a current or reinstatement eligible Career SES/TSES member or a graduate of an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) and your ECQs have been previously certified by OPM's Qualifications Review Board, you are not required to address the ECQs.
  7. Non-SES/TSES members: You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (except current TSA employees). The SF-50 must demonstrate a tenure code of "1" or "2" in block 24, if it does not then your application may not receive consideration.
  
  NOTE: An award SF-50 (i.e. cash or time off award) does not indicate grade, pay band or level and will not be accepted.
  
  
  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
  
  To begin your online application, click "Apply Online" to create a USAJOBS account and follow the prompts or log in to your existing account. Your application packet must include a completed assessment questionnaire, a resume, and any applicable and or required supporting documentation. Please see the "Required Documents" section above for additional information. All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English. 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. Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.
  
  Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. The address below is for inquiries only. You may apply more than once, but the most recent application is the only one that will be used. You must submit your resume, your online questionnaire, and any supporting documents by 11:59 PM eastern standard time on September 30, 2024.
  
  It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application.
  
  Agency contact information
  
  Executive Resources
  
  Email
  
  ExecutiveResources@tsa.dhs.gov
  
  Address
  
  Executive Resources
  
  DO NOT MAIL
  
  Springfield, VA 22150
  
  US
  
  Next steps
  
  Once your complete application is received we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 90 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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.
  
  
  • Criminal history inquiries
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Financial suitability
  • New employee probationary period
  • Privacy Act
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Selective Service
  • Signature and false statements
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

Required Documents:

1. Your Resume, which incorporates both Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs) responses. Resumes must include the following:
   
   • Contact information.
   • Narrative description of duties with start and end dates (including the month and year) for work experience.
   • 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.
   • Performance level (i.e., band or grade).
2. Associated Questionnaire.
3. Current SES/TSES members: You must provide a copy of the specific SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which documents conversion or appointment, without time limitation, to the SES/TSES (except current TSA employees).
4. Reinstatement Eligible SES/TSES members: You must provide a copy of the specific SF-50 which documents conversion or appointment, without time limitation, to your formal SES/TSES position as well as any Federal agency document which confirms your successful completion of an SES/TSES probationary period. (Note: a second SF-50 dated more than a year after SES/TSES conversion or appointment, which documents continued unlimited assignment to the same SES/TSES position, will suffice to document completion of the SES/TSES probationary period).
5. Graduates of an OPM approved Candidate Development Program (CDP) which resulted in certification by the OPM QRB: You must provide a copy of a QRB endorsed program graduation certificate.
6. If you are a current or reinstatement eligible Career SES/TSES member or a graduate of an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) and your ECQs have been previously certified by OPM's Qualifications Review Board, you are not required to address the ECQs.
7. Non-SES/TSES members: You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (except current TSA employees). The SF-50 must demonstrate a tenure code of "1" or "2" in block 24, if it does not then your application may not receive consideration.

NOTE: An award SF-50 (i.e. cash or time off award) does not indicate grade, pay band or level and will not be accepted.


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

To begin your online application, click "Apply Online" to create a USAJOBS account and follow the prompts or log in to your existing account. Your application packet must include a completed assessment questionnaire, a resume, and any applicable and or required supporting documentation. Please see the "Required Documents" section above for additional information. All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English. 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. Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.

Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. The address below is for inquiries only. You may apply more than once, but the most recent application is the only one that will be used. You must submit your resume, your online questionnaire, and any supporting documents by 11:59 PM eastern standard time on September 30, 2024.

It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application.

Agency contact information

Executive Resources

Email

ExecutiveResources@tsa.dhs.gov

Address

Executive Resources

DO NOT MAIL

Springfield, VA 22150

US

Next steps

Once your complete application is received we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 90 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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.

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