Supervisory Transportation Security Specialist - Explosives (STSS-E)

Transportation Security Administration•Honolulu, HI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) with the Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security. The incumbent serves as an explosives subject matter expert for the Federal Security Director, applying advanced knowledge of explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to assess threats to the traveling public, educate screening personnel, and support explosive vulnerability assessments across transportation modes. The role coordinates with TSA screening and threat-assessment programs, provides technical training and mentorship, responds to unresolved alarms, and works with local bomb squads, military explosive ordnance disposal units, and other transportation partners. The position also serves as a first-line supervisor, assigning and reviewing work, setting priorities, evaluating performance, approving leave, developing employees, recommending corrective or disciplinary actions, and managing projects and resources. It is designated Emergency Essential, requiring the employee to remain in duty status during an emergency.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status.
Favorable background investigation and ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
Selective Service registration, if applicable.
Pass pre-employment drug screening and submit to post-employment random drug and alcohol testing.
Meet and maintain the medical requirements in the TSA Medical Guidelines for Transportation Security Specialist - Explosives.
Availability to work various shifts and overtime as needed.
Unless previously completed, satisfactorily complete a one-year supervisory trial period.
Complete formal accredited IED or bomb-disposal coursework resulting in a graduation certificate from NAVSCOLEOD or the FBI Hazardous Devices School.
At least one year of specialized experience at the SV-H or GS-12 level in Federal service, or equivalent private-sector experience.
Specialized experience responding to alarms involving possible explosives, IED components, or actual IEDs.
Specialized experience assessing relationships among initiators, power supplies, switches, and chemicals to determine whether a device is an improvised, commercial, or homemade explosive.
Specialized experience with bomb-program management, such as serving as a lead bomb-squad team member, ensuring program requirements are followed, recommending procedures, or implementing processes.
Meet the qualification requirements by the vacancy announcement closing date.

Nice To Haves

Specialized experience acquired within the five years immediately preceding application; this is a quality ranking factor and receives additional credit in candidate evaluation.

Responsibilities

Coordinate and collaborate with other TSS-Es, the screening workforce, and Threat Assessment Programs, including the National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program and Specialized Screening Operations.
Mentor and train lower-banded TSS-Es, helping them resolve issues, develop professionally, and assess and resolve alarms successfully.
Direct checkpoint closures, openings, and evaluation distances, and contact law enforcement or bomb squads as required.
Respond to and assess unresolved checkpoint and checked-baggage alarms involving possible explosives, IED components, or actual IEDs, and make final alarm-resolution decisions in coordination with Airport Screening Operations.
Assess relationships among initiators, power supplies, and chemicals, and determine whether devices involve improvised, commercial, or mixed explosives.
Participate in covert drills with evaluation teams to assess training effectiveness, recommend individuals for remediation, and identify security vulnerabilities.
Mentor and train front-line screening personnel to improve operational knowledge of explosives and IED components.
Facilitate IED training-aid drills and disseminate threat information.
Provide training through classroom instruction, covert and overt drills, opportunity-based training, and technical briefings to improve threat detection by the screening force nationwide.
Integrate and familiarize local bomb squads and military EOD units with the transportation environment.
Develop and maintain relationships and training products for multimodal partners and internal and external stakeholders.
Assign work, set priorities, and review and evaluate subordinate employees’ work and performance.
Approve leave, coach and develop employees, and recommend corrective or disciplinary actions.
Assist with budget planning, project short-term needs, manage projects within assigned resources, resolve routine organizational problems, and coordinate with external customers when required.
Remain in duty status if an emergency arises, as required by the Emergency Essential designation.