Security Assistant ( Dispatcher)

Veterans Health Administration•Columbia, SC

8d•Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as a Security Assistant for Police Service at the William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center within the Veterans Health Administration. The primary purpose is to work as part of a team responsible for monitoring physical security equipment and systems. The Security Assistant monitors alarms and access systems, handles user permissions and security databases, remotely controls doors, and produces reports. The role assesses on-scene behavior and determines when to dispatch law enforcement or other personnel. It also monitors and responds to security and life-safety communications, including alarms and emergency calls, and notifies staff of emergency codes through a digital paging system. The position operates vehicle registration, visitor management, parking registration, and photo-identification processes; issues and retrieves government keys and identification cards; manages key inventory and accountability records; and maintains records of parking and traffic violations. It coordinates warrant confirmations, transports, and health and welfare checks with outside agencies, and directs appropriate responses to incidents. The work schedule follows a Panama schedule with 12-hour shifts, rotating between 6:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m. The shift rotates every two months, and weekend work is required. The position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
For current or former federal employees subject to the time-in-grade requirement: 52 weeks at GS-4 for a GS-5 position.
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-4, such as general administrative or clerical skills, practical knowledge of security or law-enforcement objectives, programs, methods, and procedures, and support-task skills related to law-enforcement and security administration; alternatively, qualifying education or a combination of education and experience may be used.
If qualifying through education, successful completion of four years of education above the high-school level at an accredited business, secretarial, or technical school, junior college, college, or university for which high-school graduation or equivalent is a normal prerequisite.
If using education to qualify, submit transcripts; education credit requires documentation and qualifying accreditation.
Complete the application, questionnaire, required online assessment, and other required steps in the hiring process.
Register with Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
Successfully complete a background/security investigation and the online onboarding process; provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel employee.
Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
Work rotating 12-hour shifts on the Panama schedule, with shift rotation every two months, and be willing to work weekends.

Responsibilities

Monitor alarms and access systems; trace access patterns; program, assign, or remove user permissions; update databases; remotely open and secure doors; and generate reports.
Assess on-scene behavior and determine when to dispatch law enforcement or other personnel to investigate.
Monitor fire, access, intrusion, duress/panic, medical-emergency, and medical-assist-team alarms, and dispatch officers to relevant locations, including psychiatric emergencies when needed.
Notify staff of emergency codes through the emergency digital paging system.
Operate vehicle registration, visitor management, parking registration, and photo-identification equipment and programs.
Issue and retrieve government-issued keys and identification cards; review requests for and issue passes and identification documents; and maintain an accurate key inventory and accountability database.
Coordinate warrant confirmations and transports with outside agencies.
Coordinate health and welfare checks with outside law enforcement agencies.
Complete vehicle registration tasks and issue decals and permits as authorized by policy.
Track parking and traffic violators, report habitual offenders to the supervisor for additional action, and maintain physical files of violators.
Monitor and direct responses to security and life-safety communications, radio dispatches, telephone calls, and other emergency communication circuits.
Receive and compile information from sources related to police and emergency incidents, take appropriate action regarding intrusion, duress, and hold-up alarms, and direct or modify personnel responses based on the incident or request.