Supervisory Transportation Security Specialist - Explosives

Transportation Security Administration•Newark, NJ

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) within the Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security. The incumbent serves as an explosives subject matter expert for the Federal Security Director, applying advanced explosives knowledge to assess threats to the traveling public, educate screening personnel, and support explosive vulnerability assessments across transportation modes. The position also serves as a first-line supervisor, leading staff and managing operational work and resources. It is designated Emergency Essential, requiring the employee to remain in duty status during emergencies.

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 required.
Pass pre-employment drug screening and be subject to post-employment random drug and alcohol testing.
Meet and maintain medical requirements in the TSA Medical Guidelines for Transportation Security Specialist - Explosives.
Availability to work various shifts and overtime as needed.
Willingness to undertake extensive travel, including overnight travel, as required.
Satisfactorily complete a one-year supervisory trial period unless previously completed.
Complete formal accredited IED/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 must include responding to alarms involving possible explosives, IED components, or actual IEDs; assessing relationships among initiators, power supplies, switches, and chemicals to identify improvised, commercial, or homemade explosives; and bomb-program management, such as serving as a lead bomb-squad team member, ensuring program requirements are followed, and recommending procedures or implementing processes.
Applicants must meet qualification requirements by the vacancy announcement closing date.

Nice To Haves

Specialized experience acquired within the five years immediately preceding application is a Quality Ranking Factor and receives additional credit in candidate evaluation.

Responsibilities

Coordinate and collaborate with TSS-E staff, the screening workforce, and other Threat Assessment Programs, including the National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program and Specialized Screening Operations.
Mentor and train lower-banded TSS-Es, help resolve issues, support their professional growth, and assist them in assessing and resolving alarms.
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 to evaluate training effectiveness, recommend individuals for remediation, and identify potential security vulnerabilities.
Train front-line screening personnel to improve operational knowledge of explosives and IED components.
Facilitate IED training-aid drills to disseminate threat information.
Provide training through classroom instruction, covert and overt drills, opportunity-based training, and technical briefings to improve threat detection by screening personnel nationwide.
Build familiarity and cooperation between local bomb squads, military EOD units, and the transportation environment.
Develop and maintain relationships and training products for multimodal partners and internal and external stakeholders.
Serve as a first-line supervisor by assigning work, setting priorities, and reviewing and evaluating employee work and performance.
Approve leave, coach and develop employees, and recommend corrective or disciplinary actions.
Assist with budget planning and projecting short-term needs, and manage projects within assigned resources.
Resolve routine problems affecting organizational objectives and coordinate with customers outside the immediate organization when required.
Remain in duty status during emergencies as required by the Emergency Essential designation.