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Position Title
Transportation Security Specialist - Explosives
Agency
Transportation Security Administration
Announcement Number
MCO-24-605019-01-12480123-S Opens in new window
Open Period
Tuesday, July 16, 2024 to Tuesday, July 30, 2024
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2. Are you an Individual with a Disability? You are eligible for this appointing authority if you are an individual:
  • with an intellectual disability; OR
  • a severe physical disability; OR
  • a psychiatric impairment; AND
  • you have acceptable proof of the disability.
Supporting Documentation: You are required to submit acceptable documentation of your appointment eligibility (e.g., records, statements, or other appropriate information) issued by:
  • a licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional duly certified by a State, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory, to practice medicine); or,
  • a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (State or private); or,
  • a Federal agency, State agency, or an agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits.
For more information please go to OPM's website on Federal Employment of People with Disabilities.
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3. Were you formerly, but not currently, employed as a permanent (non-temporary) civilian employee in a Federal agency other than the Agency hiring for this position?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent status.
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4. Are you currently employed as a permanent (non-temporary) civilian employee in a Federal agency other than the Agency hiring for this position?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent (non-temporary) status.
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5. Are you a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Displaced Employee?  To be eligible you must meet one or more of the following:
  • A current (OR former) employee of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) who will be (OR has been) separated through TSA involuntary workforce reduction (IWR) procedures AND I am eligible to be considered for TSA positions for all areas of consideration, for up to one year after the effective date of my involuntary separation; 
  • A former TSA Transportation Security Officer (TSO) eligible for rehiring priority under the Priority Employment Program (PEP);
  • An applicant for a Transportation Security Officer (TSO) position who has had my enter-on-duty (EOD) date delayed or offer rescinded due to a workforce reduction or anticipated reduction eligible for priority consideration under the Priority Employment Program (PEP).
If you indicate eligibility for priority consideration and exemption from Area of Consideration restrictions, you must submit a copy of the official notification that supports the eligibility at the time of application.
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6. Are you currently employed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)?

As a current TSA employee, you are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your most recent non-Award Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) reflecting your status.

TSA employees who do not submit the SF-50 with their application must document their current TSA position in their resume and may be required to provide the SF-50 document during the selection process.  TSA employees may obtain a copy of their most recent non-Award SF-50 at https://eopf.opm.gov/dhs/.
 
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7. Are you a former Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employee?

To verify your eligibility as a current or former TSA civilian employee, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent status.
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8. Are you eligible for appointment as a veterans preference eligible?

This category includes veterans whose discharge was under honorable conditions AND:
  • who served 3 or more years of continuous active duty service in the military or
  • who have preference eligibility; or
  • who have derived preference.
"Preference eligible" includes those family members entitled to derived preference. For additional information, go to FedsHireVets

Supporting documentation:

 You are required to submit acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility. Acceptable documentation is:
  • DD Form 214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," showing dates of service, as well as character of service (Honorable, General, etc.). The member 4 copy of your DD Form 214 is preferable (Note: If you have more than one DD Form 214 for multiple periods of active duty service, you should submit a copy for each period of service.); OR
  • Future Military Retirees*: You are required to submit a copy of your retirement DD Form 214 OR a copy of your approved retirement letter AND a copy of your terminal leave letter OR certification document**. You will be required to provide your DD Form 214 prior to appointment; OR
  • Future Military Separatees*: You are required to submit a copy of your most recent DD Form 214 OR certification document** OR a copy of your most recent active duty orders AND a copy of your terminal leave request (if applicable). You will be required to provide your DD Form 214 prior to appointment.
  • Disabled Veterans: You are required to submit a copy of one of the separation documents identified above AND documentation of your overall service connected disability identified on the SF-15, page 2, section B or Section C.
*Active duty military members who are selected may not be appointed unless on terminal leave before the effective date of employment.

 ** The "certification" is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the certification is submitted for consideration in the hiring process. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. Prior to appointment, the service member's character of service and qualifying discharge or release must be verified through a DD form 214 or equivalent documentation.
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9. Are you eligible for Veterans' Preference under the provisions of Title 5 United States Code Section 2108?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation to validate your claim, such as:
  • 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.
You can determine your eligibility for veterans' preference by using the Department of Labor's Veterans' Preference Advisor.

NOTE: If you are claiming Veteran's Preference based upon period of service, a compensable disability, a widow or spouse entitlement, or as a Purple Heart recipient, please submit a copy of the following documents, as applicable: DD Form 214, FEB 2022 Certificate of Uniformed Service copies for either the Service, Veteran Administration, or Department of Labor which provide the Special Additional Information citing the Character of Service; or prior year versions of the DD Form 214 Certification of Release or Discharge from Active Duty copies Service-2, or Member-4 which provide Special Additional Information citing the Character of Service), Form SF-15 - Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, and any documentation that supports your claim (e.g., Department of Veterans Affairs letter dated 1991 or later.  Please refer to the SF-15 form to determine what documentation is required.  To access this form, please Click Here.)
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Preferences
1. Referred applicants may be shared with other locations within TSA. Do you authorize the sharing of your name and application materials with other locations? If you respond "No", your name and application materials may only be shared for the position and locations on this announcement. (limit characters)
How did you hear about this opportunity?
1. Please let us know how you heard about this opportunity. (limit characters)
Suitability and Conditions of Employment
1. Please indicate whether or not you have been convicted* of any of the offenses listed within the past 10 years. (Note: By responding "Yes" to any of these, you will be removed from consideration for this position.)

*You have a conviction if you plead no contest (nolo contendere), plead guilty, were found guilty, or found not guilty by reason of insanity, to any of the listed disqualifying offenses. The only exceptions are if your guilty plea or conviction has been reversed on appeal, your conviction has been expunged, or you have been pardoned.
  1. Forgery of certificates, false marking of aircraft, and other aircraft registration violations.
  2. Interference with air navigation.
  3. Improper transportation of hazardous material.
  4. Aircraft piracy.
  5. Interference with flight crew members or flight attendants.
  6. Commission of certain crimes aboard aircraft in flight.
  7. Carrying a weapon or explosive aboard aircraft.
  8. Conveying false information and threats.
  9. Aircraft piracy outside the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.
  10. Lighting violation involving transporting controlled substances. Essentially, this means that if you have been convicted of transporting illegal drugs in a plane without activating the navigation or anti-collision lights you are disqualified.
  11. Unlawful entry into an aircraft area that serves air carriers or foreign air carriers contrary to established security requirements.
  12. Destruction of an aircraft or either a domestic or international aircraft facility. It is a federal crime to use any device, substance or weapon, to intentionally perform an act of violence against any person at an airport or to destroy or seriously damage the facilities of such an airport.
  13. Murder.
  14. Assault with intent to murder.
  15. Espionage.
  16. Sedition (inciting insurrection against lawful authority).
  17. Kidnapping or hostage taking.
  18. Treason.
  19. Rape or aggravated sexual abuse.
  20. Unlawful possession, use, sale, distribution, or manufacture of an explosive or weapon.
  21. Extortion.
  22. Armed or felony armed robbery.
  23. Distribution of, or intent to distribute a controlled substance.
  24. Felony arson.
  25. Felony involving a threat.
  26. Felony involving willful destruction of property.
  27. Felony involving importation or manufacture of a controlled substance.
  28. Felony involving burglary.
  29. Felony involving theft.
  30. Felony involving dishonesty, fraud, or misrepresentation.
  31. Felony involving possession or distribution of stolen property.
  32. Felony involving aggravated assault.
  33. Felony involving bribery.
  34. Felony involving illegal possession of a controlled substance punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of more than 1 year, or any other crime classified as a felony that the Under Secretary determines indicates a propensity for placing contraband aboard an aircraft in return for money.
  35. Violence at international airports.
  36. Conspiracy or attempt to commit any of the criminal acts listed above.
  37. Interference with security screening personnel.
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All the information you provide may be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application form, by checking references and through other means, such as the interview process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. (limit characters)
2. Does the TSA employ any of your relatives? (limit characters)
Please respond whether or not you have been separated (e.g., terminated, removed, or resigned while a proposed termination or removal was pending) from TSA for any of the following reasons within the last three years.

Note: By responding "Yes" to any of these, you will be removed from consideration for this position
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3. Were you separated due to unacceptable performance? (limit characters)
4. Were you separated due to misconduct? (limit characters)
5. Were you separated due to receiving a negative suitability determination from the Personnel Security Division? (limit characters)
6. Did you resign after receiving a proposed removal letter? (limit characters)
Resume Requirements
1.

I understand that my Resume must include the following or I may be found ineligible for consideration:

  1. Narrative description of duties with start and end dates (including month and year) for work experience
  2. 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
  3. Performance level for federal civilian positions (i.e. band or grade)
Utilizing the USAJOBS Resume Builder and completing all available fields is strongly encouraged.
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Assessment 1
We will evaluate your resume and responses to this questionnaire to determine if you are among the best qualified for this position. Your responses to these statements will be scored and the score you receive will be used as a measure of the degree to which your background matches the qualifications and competencies required for this job. In responding to these questions, you should carefully consider each of these statements and choose the response that best matches your experience level. Your resume must support your self-ratings.

PLEASE NOTE: Your self-ratings will be reviewed. 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.
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1. I meet the basic qualification requirement for this position as I am a graduate from an accredited IED/bomb disposal course coupled with field experience as a military or civilian Bomb Appraisal Officer, EOD Technician, Bomb Technician, or similar position.
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2. From the descriptions below, please select the one response that best describes how you meet the minimum qualifications for this SV-H position.
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3. Quality Ranking Factor: Do you have experience with improvised explosive devices and homemade explosives within the last five years immediately preceding application for this position? (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
4. Applying knowledge of the methods and techniques employed by terrorists and criminal elements to use commercial explosives, homemade explosives, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and/or Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) weapons to minimize threats against aviation AND/OR transportation systems.
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5. Applying knowledge of principles and practices of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) to provide technical guidance to management officials on explosives security issues.
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6. Responding to calls to assess possible explosives, IED components or actual IEDs.
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7. Analyzing the interrelationships between initiators, power supplies and chemicals to evaluate explosive types and threat levels.
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8. Evaluating explosive and weapon detection checkpoints to recommend changes to emergency safety and security procedures.
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9. Conducting searches of individuals, packages, vehicles, buildings, baggage and/or property to resolve Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) calls.
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10. Teaching students/employees about the methods used by criminal and terrorist elements to use explosives and other weapons of mass destruction.
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11. Delivering technical training in the detection of explosive devices, chemicals, power supplies and/or initiators.
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12. Revising or developing technical training in the detection of explosive devices, chemicals, power supplies and/or initiators.
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13. Using available information and prior experience to assess the severity of a threat to security or operations.
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14. Responding to situations that threaten the safety and security of people and significant assets.
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15. Coordinating incident response procedures with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and private organizations.
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Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
16. I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, ALL of the information provided on this application is true, accurate, and complete, and that this application for employment with the TSA is made in good faith. I understand that a false statement on any part of this application may be grounds for not hiring me or for firing me after I begin work. I also understand that I may be punished by fine or imprisonment for falsification of my employment application (18 USC 1001). I understand that information I give may be investigated as allowed by law or Executive order.
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