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Posted: January 6, 2026 (8 days ago)

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Supervisory Security Specialist

Department of State - Agency Wide

Department of State

Recent

Location

Salary

$131,385 - $170,806

per year

Closes

January 13, 2026More State jobs →

GS-13 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $88,520 - $115,079

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-12. Expert-level knowledge in field.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves leading a team to plan, improve, and oversee weapons training programs for diplomats and security personnel at a State Department facility in Virginia.

You'll advise leaders on new initiatives, evaluate training effectiveness, and handle day-to-day operations like scheduling and problem-solving.

It's a great fit for experienced supervisors with a strong background in firearms training and strategic planning who thrive in high-pressure, mission-critical environments.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience at the GS-13 level or equivalent, including strategic planning for weapons initiatives and operations improvements
  • Experience conducting or overseeing firearms and less-than-lethal weapons training and assessments
  • Experience evaluating weapons training courses for effectiveness, compliance, and accreditation standards
  • Ability to assign, review, and supervise the work of others
  • Demonstrated objectivity, fairness, adaptability to change and stress, openness to new ideas, and commitment to completing tasks
  • Meet time-in-grade requirements: 52 weeks at the next lower grade for federal applicants

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Weapons Unit, Functional Training Operations Division (FTO), Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC), Directorate of Training (T), Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS), Department of State (DoS), Blackstone, Virginia.

You will be responsible for providing expert advisement to senior leadership and officials and perform strategic planning and analysis for implementing new Weapons initiatives and improved operations.

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement.

NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement.

Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F.

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: -Experience developing strategic planning and analysis for the implementation of weapons initiatives and improved operations.

-Experience conducting or overseeing firearms and less-than-lethal weapons training and assessments.

-Experience evaluating established weapons training courses to assess effectiveness and compliance with mission needs and accreditation standards.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-14 position.

In addition, applicant's experience must also demonstrate that the candidate possesses the following qualities: Ability to assign, review, and supervise the work of others; Objectivity and fairness in judging people on their ability, and situations on the facts and circumstances; Ability to adjust to change, work pressures, or difficult situations without undue stress; Willingness to consider new ideas or divergent points of view; and Capacity to "see the job through." Major Duties:

  • Oversees improvements to training practices and procedures; creates and maintains guidance and standard operating procedures; and resolves operations problems, including IT and resource issues.
  • Reviews and approves training plans and coordinates the scheduling and assignment of training courses to qualified instructors.
  • Provides advice, counsel, or instructions to employees on both work and administrative matters; provides technical requirements and descriptions of the work to be accomplished.
  • Leads comprehensive reviews of current training courses in accordance with established SOPs. Conducts/oversees analyses and evaluations of lesson plans, training materials, and instructional methods.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/6/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/7/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: DS-2026-0019