Summary This position is located in a VISN 4 facility Police Department. The position initiates and accomplishes a variety of complex communications and security related duties such as: answering emergency phone lines, dispatching police to emergencies, operating the facility overhead paging system during medical emergencies, monitoring panic alarm system, monitoring intrusion alarm system, monitoring closed circuit camera system, issuing visitor badges, and granting PIV card access to employees. Responsibilities Physical Security Support (35%) Performs alarm and access monitoring, tracing access patterns, programming, assigning or removing user permissions, updating databases, remotely opening and securing doors during routine and emergency operations and generating a variety of reports as needed. Implements policies, procedures, and methods for identifying and protecting information, personnel, property, facilities, operations, or material. Operates an established vehicle registration and visitor management program and parking registration and/or photo identification equipment. Issues and retrieves government issued keys and/or identification cards. Reviews requests for and issues passes and identification documents. Maintains accurate key inventory and accountability database. Maintains accountability of Police Officer badges issued and all associated logs. Performs administrative (non-criminal) investigations of lost keys, passes, and PIV cards for rapid assessment and documentation of any compromised access to VA property and termination of off access permissions. Communications (35%) Monitors and receives routine and emergency calls from a variety of sources that need police, fire, medical or other emergency services. Determines the nature and location of the emergency; prioritizes events and commits police resources appropriately. Maintains contact with law enforcement units on assignment. Maintains status and location of Police Officers and coordinates communication between agencies as needed. Answers nonemergency calls for assistance. Monitors and directs responses to security and life safety communications, radio dispatches, telephone calls, and other emergency communication circuits. Receives and compiles information from various sources related to police and emergency incidents. Operates a variety of communications and security equipment. Operations Support (30%) Performs system checks on a variety of equipment used in the dispatch center. Conducts equipment inventories and completes records and other logs. Performs monthly alarm checks, submits reports documenting the operational status of each circuit tested. Enters, updates and retrieves information from a variety of computer systems and sensitive databases. Uses state and the National Crime Information Computer (NCIC) to access sensitive law enforcement information to support field operations and investigations. Coordinates health and welfare checks with outside law enforcement agencies. Completes vehicle registration tasks and issues decals and permits as authorized by policy. Performing other work as necessary Work Schedule: Rotating 8 and/or 12 Hour Shifts to include Weekends and Holidays. Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Position Description/PD#: Security Assistant/PD99858S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Requirements Conditions of Employment Attendance in the 40 hour Dispatcher Course offered by the Law Enforcement Training Center (LETC) is required You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/01/2025. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: training, leading, coordinating or supervising others in related duties such as: receiving and compiling information from various sources relating to police and emergency incidents; taking appropriate action regarding fire alarms, intrusion, duress and hold-up alarms; operating a variety of communications equipment, such as computers, alarm processors, radio consoles, SSTV system, remote controllers, card access, time lapse video tape recorders and related peripherals; compiling and preparing reports relating to events occurring in the operation of a police operations office; monitoring security surveillance cameras and detects criminal activity in progress, suspicious behavior patterns, observes suspects, and known offenders; serving as a pseudo information desk, as visitors, patients, and employees frequently stop by the highly visible office to ask general questions about the facility. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed 4 years of education above high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. (This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school.) TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED IF YOU ARE USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education such as: education that is less than described above, and specialized experience that is less than described above. (For GS-5 level positions, only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED IF YOU ARE USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY Applicants for This Position Must be Able to Pass Certain Background Requirements as Outlined Below Security Assistants need to be eligible to gain access to, and maintain access to, the Pennsylvania Justice Network and connected systems (CLEAN/NCIC). Users of these system may not have Significant Convictions, which are defined as: Conviction or under indictment for any felony Conviction for any misdemeanor 1 (M1) or equivalently graded crimes code classification Conviction and incarceration for any misdemeanors within last ten years Conviction for any two misdemeanors within the last ten years Conviction for any computer related crime, tampering with public records, or unlawful access to stored communications You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communications Computer Skills Manages and Organizes Information Security Technology Application 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary in nature in an office environment. Most duties can be accomplished from a sitting position. The mental stress is much more demanding than the physical stress because of the split decisions that must be made as a police or fire alarm activates, telephones ringing, and radio communication requesting instructions or information. Must have a keen sense of hearing in responding to numerous audible/visual signals of wire communication receivers, and occasionally weak radio transmissions or signals. Must be able to multi-task in a stressful environment. Work Environment: Performs duties in a temperature and humidity-controlled environment at a radio/telephone console with associated equipment. Systems and equipment are electronic in nature, emitting signals, and tones of varying degrees of intensity. The area is confining, with a normal noise level. The room is subject to being cooler than normal because of glass exterior walls, and fans to cool the SSTV Systems. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act (or the Act) prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from requesting applicant criminal history record information before extending a conditional or tentative offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S.C § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged non-compliance to VA at vacofairchanceact@va.gov. Applicant written complaints should include the following: Administration name: Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office name, employee name and contact information or contractor who made contact (if known). Date of contact. Details regarding the job opportunity announcement applied to, and copies of any documents or other evidence related to the complaint. Visit Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) for more information.
