Transportation Security Officer

Job Summary

As a Transportation Security Officer with the Transportation Security Administration, you will play a critical role in providing security and protection of travelers across all transportation sectors in a courteous and professional manner. Your duties may also extend to securing high-profile events, important figures, and/or anything that impacts our transportation systems. Learn more about the Transportation Security Officer (TSO) role on the TSA Careers Website.

This Job is Open to

The public, U.S. Citizens, Nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the Agency

Open to All U.S. Citizens and U.S. Nationals

Videos

Duties

Click the airport name below for more information.

Salary Information: The salary range for Medford, OR (MFR - Rogue Valley International Airport-Medford) is $41,316 to $55,231 or $19.80 to $26.46 per hour and includes locality pay of 16.82%.

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.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

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. Selective Service registration is required.
4. Must pass a structured interview, drug screening, medical evaluation, and background investigation.
5. Subject to post-employment random drug and/or alcohol testing.
6. Must be available to work various shifts and overtime, as needed.
7. Must be proficient in English (e.g., reading, writing, speaking, comprehending).
8. Mandatory travel for training and occasional travel may be required.
9. 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for the SV-D pay band (equivalent to the GS-5/6), you must meet one of the qualification requirements (A OR B) outlined below:

A. Experience: At least one year of full-time work experience in the security industry, aviation screening, or as an X-ray technician.

OR

B. Education: Have a high school diploma, General Educational Development (GED), High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), or Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) high school equivalency certificate.

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.

Occasional Travel Required: A minimum of three (3) weeks of travel in a full-time duty status may be required to complete TSA's New Hire training. New Hire training and travel requirements vary by duty location and may require up to six (6) weeks of full-time duty status travel. This training will occur away from the employee's airport of record. Employees will be paid for compensable hours and reimbursed for authorized travel expenses per TSA Travel Policy. While employed with TSA, other occasional travel may be required.

Additional Requirements:

Work Schedules for Full-time Positions: Specific work shifts and schedules will be determined by the airport.

• Full-time positions require 40 hours per week;
• Full-time work consists of shift-work on any day from Sunday through Saturday, which may include irregular hours, nights, holidays, overtime, extended shifts, and weekend shifts, changing shifts, and split shifts.
• A 'split-shift' consists of any two work shifts, each lasting at least two (2) hours in one 24-hour period, with at least two (2) hours between work shifts.

Work Schedules for Part-time Positions: Specific work shifts and schedules will be determined by the airport.

• Part-time shifts generally range from 16-32 hours per week;
• Part-time work consists of shift-work on any day from Sunday through Saturday, which may include irregular hours, nights, holidays, overtime, extended shifts, and weekend shifts, changing shifts, and split shifts;
• A 'split-shift' consists of any two work shifts, each lasting at least two (2) hours in one 24-hour period, with at least two (2) hours between work shifts;

Maintaining Employment: All TSOs must maintain the standard level of certification and fitness for duty, to include:

• Completing classroom training, on-the-job training, and all initial certification testing;
• Recurrent and specialized training and recertification tests on a periodic basis;
• Passing background investigations, including a criminal check and credit check, and all randomly administered drug and alcohol screening tests.

No moving, relocation, or pre-employment travel expenses will be paid for this position, or while in application for this position. This position is not a law enforcement position and therefore, is not covered by Law Enforcement Availability Pay or Law Enforcement Retirement. Per the President's 2014 Fair Employment memo, TSA policy is to not adversely consider a candidate based on unemployment or financial difficulty through no fault of their own. For more information on the Fair Employment policy, see 'Additional Resources' here.

Education: This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional Information: 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:

TSA employees who are absent for the purpose of performing military duty may apply for any vacancies announced in their absence. More than one position may be filled from this announcement. DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select 'Benefits.' Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more. Employees who transfer to TSA from an agency that allows employees to maintain an annual leave balance higher than the maximum accumulation for the appointed position will have their leave ceiling set to the maximum accumulation for the appointed position (e.g., United States duty location - 240 hours, foreign duty location - 360 hours, or TSES position - 720 hours). TSA will not make a monetary payment for any leave forfeited under these circumstances.

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. 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.

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. (This position is not considered scientific/professional.) Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on Veterans' Preference. 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: 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: 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 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 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 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. 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.

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 to schedule a proctored examination at a test center near you. 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. 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.
6. 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-

To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account ). 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 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: 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. Veterans and Persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the documentation that is required, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Agency Contact Information: HC ServeU Customer Care Email HC-

Next Steps: Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to schedule a proctored examination at a testing center near you. You must schedule and complete this proctored examination at a TSA Testing Center within 21 days of successfully completing the online assessment. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Passing assessment results will be kept on record for two years and failed assessment results will be kept on record for six months. These results will be used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments during the specified timeframe. To be considered for the position, you must meet all qualifications, including meeting or exceeding the cut score on the required assessments. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account ), 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:

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

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