Physical Security Specialist (Unarmed)

Full Job Description

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Police Service.

The incumbent serves as a civilian Senior Physical Security Specialist ensuring a safe and secure environment across VHA within various settings, including a variety of jurisdictional environments, such as WHA VISNs, Medical Centers and facilities, inpatient clinics, outpatient clinics and domiciliary throughout the United States.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/12/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.

An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement.

In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Preferred Experience: Physical Security experience preferred.

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-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: responding to reports of crimes in progress and/or calls for police assistance by pursuing, apprehending, and arresting offenders as necessary; securing crime scenes and/or accident sites; conducting searches to collect and secure evidence and contraband; questioning and taking statements from victims, witnesses, and complainants; monitoring security safeguards, cameras, panic and intrusion alarms; developing physical security-related documents, spreadsheets, graphs, and presentations using various automated systems and software packages; recommending appropriate courses of action to correct physical and industrial security issues to higher level staff within Police service; and interacting with the general public in a courteous and professional manner.

NOTE: 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.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M.

in a field related to this position that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application.

Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have an combination of specialized experience and education.

Possess equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (in excess of the first two years or 36 semester hours) and specialized experience to meet total experience requirements.

NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Major Duties:

Duties include but not limited to: VISN Level Responsibilities Coordinates physical security program across the VISN by coordinating efforts or functions that impact multiple Medical Centers and sites of care.

Participates and leads in community of practice (COP) across Medical Centers and VISNs with VHA Police Services.

Develops and leads implementation of VISN-wide initiatives and projects on behalf of VHA Police Services and VISN Leadership.

Facility Level Responsibilities Participates with GS-09 Physical Security Specialist and provides suggestions to the Chief of Police regarding matters pertaining to security systems and security of other VA/VHA/NCA/VARO assets.

Serves on focused groups regarding physical security policy, doctrine, utility and implementation.

Ensures security requirements, including appropriate safeguards, cameras, panic and intrusion alarms are implemented.

Provides input during assigned phases of the design and construction of planned VHA projects concerning security engineering and electronic security systems.

Collects information and prepares reports on the facilities compliance with VA operations, regulations Physical Security and Physical Access Control Systems (PACs).

Identify conflicts between VHA and OIT Security requirements/regulations during security surveys. Establishes, develops, and maintains effective working relationships with other staff offices.

Perform other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00am to 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Physical Security Specialist (Unarmed)/PD99798S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized