Transportation Security Officer

Summary

Transportation Security Officers are responsible for providing security and protection of travelers across all transportation sectors in a courteous and professional manner. Their duties may also extend to securing high-profile events, important figures and/or anything that includes or impacts our transportation systems.

Duties

• Salary Information: The salary range for Indianapolis, IN (IND – Indianapolis International Airport) is $46,535 to $57,374 or $22.30 to $27.49 per hour and includes locality pay of 18.15%.
• This Transportation Security Officer position is located in Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
• As a Transportation Security Officer (TSOs) within Security Operations (SO), you will provide security and protection of air travelers, airports and aircraft in a courteous and professional manner.
• Duties may include but are not limited to: Operating various screening equipment and technology to identify dangerous objects in baggage, cargo and on passengers, and preventing those objects from being transported onto aircraft.
• Performing searches and screening, which may include physical interaction with passengers (e.g., pat-downs, search of property, etc.), conducting bag searches and lifting/carrying bags, bins, and property weighing up to 50lbs.
• Controlling terminal entry and exit points.
• Interacting with the public, giving directions and responding to inquiries.
• Maintaining focus and awareness while working in a stressful environment which includes noise from alarms, machinery and people, crowd distractions, time pressure, and disruptive and angry passengers, in order to preserve the professional ability to identify and locate potentially life threatening or mass destruction devices, and to make effective decisions in both crisis and routine situations.
• Engaging in continuous development of critical thinking skills, necessary to mitigate actual and potential security threats, by identifying, evaluating, and applying appropriate situational options and approaches.
• This may include application of risk-based security screening protocols that vary based on program requirements.
• Retaining and implementing knowledge of all applicable Standard Operating Procedures, demonstrating responsible and dependable behavior, and is open to change and adapts to new information or unexpected obstacles.
• Realistic Job Preview: The Realistic Job Preview gives you an honest, objective and vivid portrait of what it means to work as a Transportation Security Officer (TSO) and provides employee testimonies about both the good and the challenging aspects of being a TSO.
• To view the video, please Click Here.
• If a sufficient number of applications are received, the announcement may close before the published closing date.
• NOTE: Employees occupying frontline positions, i.e., individuals occupying positions that involve contact with the traveling public on a regular and recurring basis, may be required to wear TSA approved and issued personal protective equipment (PPE).
• PPE includes TSA issued surgical masks, face shields, and nitrile gloves.
• At TSA, the health and safety of our employees is a top priority.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National. You must have reached the minimum age (18) at the time of application.

Selective Service registration is required. Must pass an image search demonstration test, structured interview, drug screening, medical evaluation, and background investigation Subject to post-employment random drug and/or alcohol testing Must be available to work various shifts and overtime, as needed. Must be proficient in English (e.g., reading, writing, speaking, comprehending). Mandatory travel for training and occasional travel may be required Exposure to potentially lethal devices and dangerous chemicals is inherent in this position.

Physical Demands: Must meet and maintain physical requirements (including an assessment of physical abilities) including, but not limited to, the following: Maintain physical agility to ensure ability to squat and bend. Ability to repeatedly lift and manipulate baggage, containers, weighing approximately 50 pounds and other objects subject to security processing. Ability to walk up to three (3) miles during a shift and stand for prolonged periods (up to 4 hours) of time. The requirements above must be met at the time of application submission.

Additional requirements can be found in the Qualifications section. 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. 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. 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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you may be invited to take the Image Search Demonstration (ISD) (i.e., a computer based test) to evaluate x-ray interpretation aptitude. Upon passing the ISD you will be eligible to be scheduled for additional assessments, which include: (1) a structured interview to determine, among other qualities, your decision making skill and your ability to work with teams and the general public; (2) a drug screening; and, (3) a job related medical evaluation that includes a color vision test, vision exam, hearing exam, and adequate joint mobility exam (in part to determine the physical potential to repeatedly lift and/or carry up to 50 pounds, to stand for prolonged periods (e.g. 3-4 hours) of time without a break, and to walk up to three miles during a shift). Upon passing these assessments, you will be subject to a pre-hire background investigation. Based upon passing the pre-hire background investigation and a qualitative evaluation of the criteria above, you will be placed in a Ready for Final Job Offer Status.

Background Investigation- If you are selected, you will be required to pass an Enter-On-Duty (EOD) Suitability Determination. A final suitability determination will be made after you enter-on-duty and have undergone a full background investigation. You may be removed from your position with TSA if you do not complete the full background investigation or you are found unsuitable for continued employment with TSA after the background investigation is completed. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies that are relevant to the duties of this position: Attention to Detail Conscientiousness Critical Thinking Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Oral Communication Teamwork Visual Observation For more information on TSO medical requirements, please Click Here.

For more information on TSO eligibility standards and background requirements, please Click Here. You may preview the questions for this vacancy here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12983836 The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

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

Required Documents

• Limit your resume to no more than two pages.
• The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.
• In addition to a resume (limited to two (2) pages) and the assessment questions, you must submit copies of any of the following documents if you are applying based on current or former Federal Government Status, Veterans' Preference or eligible Veterans' Service (a veteran who was honorably discharged from the armed forces after completing at least three (3) years of continuous active duty service), or education or a combination of education and experience: DD-214 – If you are claiming Veterans' Preference or eligible Veterans' Service, provide a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4), Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other appropriate documentation to prove your entitlement and to provide verification of an Honorable Discharge.
• SF-15 and VA Letter – If you are claiming Veterans' Preference based upon a Compensable Disability, Widow or Spouse Entitlement, or as a Purple Heart recipient, you must submit your DD-214 or other proof of entitlement; an SF-15, and the required proof of disability, i.e., Department of Veterans Affairs letter dated 1991 or later.
• If you receive a Tentative 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.
• 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.