About the Agency
TSA may apply a gender-specific (male or female) hiring preference to fill TSO positions in order to meet security mission and same gender pat-down job-related requirements. At airport locations where it is necessary to apply the hiring preference, candidates of the needed gender will be provided preference in the scheduling of the computer based aptitude test, airport assessments, processing and selection.
Do you desire to protect American interests and secure our Nation while building a meaningful and rewarding career? If so, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling. DHS components work collectively to prevent terrorism, secure borders, enforce and administer immigration laws, safeguard cyberspace and ensure resilience to disasters. The vitality and magnitude of this mission is achieved by a diverse workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS.
Securing Travel, Protecting People -At the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), you will serve in a high-stakes environment to safeguard the American way of life. Across the nation, you will be on the front line of the Department of Homeland Security’s TSA team as they secure airports, seaports, railroads, highways, and public transit systems, thus protecting our transportation infrastructure and ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce.
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.
Salary Information: The salary range listed includes locality pay of 14.16% and COLA pay of 13.84% , and reflects the salary range for a full-time position. However, salaries for part-time positions will be pro-rated based upon the actual number of hours worked. The current hourly rate for this position is $17.02. In addition, TSA has also approved the payment of a biweekly retention incentive at this location in order to recruit and retain highly qualified employees. The retention incentive is based on 10% of basic pay; and indefinite continuation of the payment is contingent upon approved funding.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
- Be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National at time of application submission
- Be at least 18 years of age at time of application submission
- Pass a Drug Screening and Medical Evaluation
- Pass a background investigation including a credit and criminal check
- No default on $7,500 or more in delinquent debt (but for some bankruptcies)
- Selective Service registration required
DUTIES:
This position is located at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in Christiansted, Virgin Islands.
Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) provide security and protection of air travelers, airports and aircraft in a courteous and professional manner. This includes:
- Operating screening equipment to identify dangerous objects in baggage, cargo and on passengers, and preventing those objects from being transported onto aircraft
- Performing searches, to include hand-wand and pat-down searches
- 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
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Applicants must meet these qualifications in order to be further evaluated in the TSO hiring process:
- Have a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) credential OR at least one year of full-time work experience in the security industry, aviation screening, or as an X-ray technician
- Be proficient in the English language (i.e., able to read, write, speak, and listen)
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 qualification requirements listed above must be met at the time of application submission.
Veterans’ Preference: TSA will provide employment preference to eligible veterans by applying veterans’ preference as defined in the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (PL 107-71) and to those eligible under the provisions of Title 5, United States Code (USC), Section 2108. For more information, please Click Here.
Selective Service Registration Requirement: TSA policy requires verification of Selective Service registration for male applicants born after 12/31/59. To find out if you initially meet the Selective Service registration requirement for TSA employment, please Click Here.
Reasonable Accommodation: Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the TSA HRAccess Help Desk at 1-877-872-7990 or TTY 1-877-872-7992.
Credit: Applicants must not have delinquent Federal or State taxes, past due child support payments, and must not have defaulted on $7,500 or more in delinquent debt (except for some bankruptcies).
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
If you meet the minimum qualifications, you may be invited to take a Computer Based Test (CBT) to confirm English language proficiency and evaluate x-ray interpretation aptitude. Upon passing the CBT, you will be eligible to be scheduled for additional assessments, which include: (1) a color vision test; (2) a structured interview to determine, among other qualities, your decision making skill and your ability to work with teams and the general public; (3) a drug screening; and (4) a job related medical evaluation that includes a vision exam, hearing exam, and adequate joint mobility exam (in part to determine the physical potential to repeatedly lift and/or carry up to 70 pounds, to stand between one to four hours without a break, and to walk up to two 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 one of the following categories:
Best Qualified: Applicants demonstrating a superior level of all evaluation criteria.
Highly Qualified: Applicants demonstrating a more than satisfactory level of the evaluation criteria.
Qualified: Applicants demonstrating minimal or basic satisfactory qualifications, with general knowledge, skills, and abilities.
For more information on TSO eligibility standards and background requirements, please Click Here.
For more information on TSO medical requirements, please Click Here.
BENEFITS:
You can review our benefits at:
http://www.dhs.gov/employee-benefits
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: uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; transportation subsidies; and tuition reimbursement. 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 “Employee Benefits.”
TSA also provides part-time TSOs the opportunity to take advantage of receiving Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) while only paying the same low cost as full-time employees.
TSA is an excepted service agency. Employment with TSA does not confer the “Competitive Status” that generally results from selection and service in Competitive Service agencies. However, permanent employees who have at least one year of continuous service with TSA will be eligible to apply for positions in other Federal agencies under the OPM-DHS Interchange Agreement.
Starting a career with TSA as a TSO may lead to promotion possibilities within DHS.
OTHER INFORMATION: 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.
Bargaining Unit Status: This position is in the bargaining unit for which the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the exclusive representative.
Reemployed Annuitants: Since the TSO position is permanent, it does not meet the eligibility requirement for a salary offset waiver under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2010. Therefore, former Federal or Postal Service employees who are receiving a civilian retirement annuity may have their salary reduced by the amount of their pension, which could result in a biweekly net pay as low as zero dollars ($0.00) or a debt owed to the Federal Government.
Initial Training Requirement: Initial training may require two weeks of full time attendance and may potentially require travel to a training location that will require overnight stays away from the new employee’s address of record. Employees will be paid for any compensable hours and reimbursed for any authorized travel expenses associated with the initial training requirement.
TSO Dress and Appearance Responsibilities: TSOs are required to adhere to the Personal Appearance Standard that requires a neat, clean and professional appearance while on duty or while wearing a uniform. This includes adherence to policies on accessories and grooming. For example, with the exception of 1/4 inch stud-type earrings, body and/or tongue piercing may not be visible to the public. In addition, tattoos must be covered at all times and not visible to the public (visible tattoos are defined as those present on the body anywhere outside of the standard long-sleeved TSO uniform). Each airport’s Federal Security Director has the discretion whether to permit exceptions and allow visible tattoos to be covered by an acceptable band or skin-colored make-up that does not detract from the TSO uniform.
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
E-Verify: 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.
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