What are the responsibilities and job description for the Physical Security Specialist position at VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION?
Summary
This Physical Security Specialist is located within the Police Service at the VA Providence Healthcare System. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week.
This job is open to
- The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Current federal employees of this agency.
Clarification from the agency
ALL US CITIZENS.
DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY : This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.
Videos
Duties
This position is located within the Police Service of the VA Medical Center in Providence, Rhode Island. The mission of the Police Service is to serve and protect Veterans, patients, employees, contractors, volunteers, affiliates, visitors, and others who frequent VA facilities. This is accomplished through crime prevention activities, typical law enforcement actions, emergency response capabilities, special training and tactics, weapons, and equipment and systems utilization.
Duties include, but are not limited to :
Work Schedule : Full-time. Tour of Duty to be determined based on the need of the facility.
Position Description Title / PD# : Physical Security Specialist / PD99798-S
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
The Physical Security Course (PSEC) has been revised once again into an 80-hour / two-week course that is mandated by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for all new VA PSEC Officers within one year of assuming the position. The updated and revised curriculum is based on specific physical security findings identified in the 2019 VA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report titled "Inadequate Governance of the VA Police Program at Medical Facilities." Intense training provides students with multiple opportunities to apply learned skillsets necessary to provide reliable physical protection of the personnel and property found in a healthcare setting and other customer service-oriented environments. This course incorporates cutting-edge technology using Performance Logic (PL) to document Physical Security Surveys (PSS) and the Federal Protective Service's (FPS) Modified Infrastructure Survey Tool (MIST) to safeguard against 33 undesirable events identified by the Interagency Security Committee (ISC) standards. State-of-the-art blended learning includes classroom lectures, Student-Centered Learning Activities, two practice laboratory exercises, and one final Performance Evaluation using the MIST tool. Through it all students learn about various security technologies, crime prevention, risk analysis, predictive analysis, mitigation strategies, waivers, a review of key physical security documents such as the Physical Security and Resiliency Design Manual, governing policies, the physical security inspection process, and effective verbal / written communication. To graduate, each student must actively participate independently in a group setting and conduct a PSS using PL, a Threat Assessment using MIST, and ultimately present their final projects to the class.
Conditions of Employment :
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
GS-11 Grade Level :
Successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree,
Physical Demands and Work Environment : The work requires full use of extremities, normal hearing, and vision to conduct on-site security surveys, inspections, and assessments. The duties require prolonged standing, walking, crouching, bending, lifting, reaching, pushing, stooping, and climbing stairs and ladders both indoors and outdoors. On-site surveys, inspections, and assessments require exposure to a wide variety of working elements, both indoors and outside, and in general and specialized office space. Clothing is subject to being soiled when checking basements, crawl space, attics and other similar areas. Wearing of safety clothing and equipment when in construction or industrial areas is required.
Education
Note : Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here : http : / / ope.ed.gov / accreditation / .
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration / Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA / OSP), va.gov / EMPLOYEE / docs / The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.
Additional information
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration / Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA / OSP), va.gov / EMPLOYEE / docs / The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.
he following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions : All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https : / / www.opm.gov / .
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave : Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
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.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.
Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order :
Resume Reminder :
Your resume must include the following information each job listed :
Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail
Recommended : Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.
An incomplete application will receive a rating of IFFM (ineligible due to missing forms). Requests for reconsideration will not be considered for applicants who fail to submit a complete application package. We cannot be held responsible for incompatible software or fax transmissions.
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.
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.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
NOTE : It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
YOU WILL NOT BE CONTACTED FOR CLARIFICATION OR MISSING DOCUMENTATION.
Applicants are encouraged to contact the Agency Contact listed on this Job Opportunity Announcement to confirm required documents are appropriately uploaded prior to the closing date.
Documents Accepted : Cover Letter
Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application. Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP / CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.
SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (for Eligibility and / or Time-in-Grade) :
If you are a current federal employee, you must attach your most recent, non-award SF-50. This SF-50 should not be more than a year old and must show your current position, grade and step. Award SF-50's typically do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted if they do not include Grade and Step.
In order to clearly demonstrate you possess the time-in-grade as required by the announcement, additional SF-50s should be attached which clearly demonstrate the minimum time-in-grade requirement.
Examples of appropriate SF-50's include :
Veterans' Preference : Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.
Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements :
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and / or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11 : 59 PM (EST) on 02 / 28 / 2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https : / / apply.usastaffing.gov / ViewQuestionnaire / 12693858.
1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and / or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE : It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https : / / my.usajobs.gov / Account / Login, select the Application Status link and then select the M ore Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application , log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and / or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Agency contact information
Hannah Farrar
Phone
401-273-7100 X13489
401-457-3391
hannah.farrar@va.gov
Address
VA Providence Healthcare System
830 Chalkstone Avenue
Providence, RI 02908
Next steps
After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries
Required Documents
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
NOTE : It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
YOU WILL NOT BE CONTACTED FOR CLARIFICATION OR MISSING DOCUMENTATION.
Applicants are encouraged to contact the Agency Contact listed on this Job Opportunity Announcement to confirm required documents are appropriately uploaded prior to the closing date.
Documents Accepted : Cover Letter
Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application. Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP / CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.
SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (for Eligibility and / or Time-in-Grade) :
If you are a current federal employee, you must attach your most recent, non-award SF-50. This SF-50 should not be more than a year old and must show your current position, grade and step. Award SF-50's typically do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted if they do not include Grade and Step.
In order to clearly demonstrate you possess the time-in-grade as required by the announcement, additional SF-50s should be attached which clearly demonstrate the minimum time-in-grade requirement.
Examples of appropriate SF-50's include :
Veterans' Preference : Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.
Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements :
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and / or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11 : 59 PM (EST) on 02 / 28 / 2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https : / / apply.usastaffing.gov / ViewQuestionnaire / 12693858.
1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and / or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE : It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https : / / my.usajobs.gov / Account / Login, select the Application Status link and then select the M ore Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application , log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and / or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Agency contact information
Hannah Farrar
Phone
401-273-7100 X13489
401-457-3391
hannah.farrar@va.gov
Address
VA Providence Healthcare System
830 Chalkstone Avenue
Providence, RI 02908
Next steps
After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.
Fair & Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
