Supervisory Transportation Security Specialist - Canine

To qualify for the SV-I Pay Band (equivalent to GS-13), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-H or GS-11/12 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Specialized experience is defined as: Identifying, guiding, training, and directing canines for purposes of explosives detection during passenger screening, cargo screening, or other explosives detection activities; Managing the oversight, cost management, and accountability of assets in support of a canine program; Identifying, developing, and implementing canine behavior training activities to ensure maximum capability of canine assets. 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. You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

This Supervisory Transportation Security Specialist - Canine position is located at Denver International Airport (DEN), Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If selected for this position, you will manage TSA's canine program at a specific airport. In this position, you will be responsible for supervising TSA canine handlers and ensuring that the program is carried out in an effective and efficient manner consistent with regulations, policies, and procedures.

Duties include, but are not limited to: Applying experience with TSA explosives detection canine operations, principles of canine team training, transportation security policies, directives, and regulations, and Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and industry regulations associated with explosives safety, transportation, storage and handling to guide and direct canine handlers.

Performing technical reviews of teams and making recommendations concerning the ability of canine teams to remain proficient in the detection of trained explosives odor and advancing training to counter emerging threats; ensuring the development and implementation of canine training plans based on training objectives, as well as any identified deficiencies for each canine team.

Supervising subordinates and regularly participating in the safe handling, transport, and accountability of explosives training aids in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). Overseeing the health, safety and well-being of canine assets, to include ensuring routine veterinary visits and maintenance of proper canine health documentation. Managing the issuance and inspection of TSA issued equipment (i.e., vehicles, explosive storage magazines), and kennel facilities (i.e., home and commercial).

Ensuring compliance with all program requirements and new initiatives that are pertinent to canine assets. Ensuring availability of canine teams for all formal evaluations and assessments; providing logistics support as needed and conducting progress reviews to ensure actions are taken to address noted deficiencies. Conducting risk-based analysis when implementing the deployment of canine assets. Supervisory/Managerial duties includes serving as a first line supervisor for the organization.

This includes but is not limited to: assigning work, setting priorities, and reviewing and evaluating work and performance of subordinates; approving leave; coaching and developing employees; recommending corrective or disciplinary actions; assisting in budget planning and projecting short-term needs; managing projects within assigned resources; resolving routine problems that typically impact the objectives of the organizational unit; and when required, coordinating with customers outside the immediate organization.

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.