Training Instructor - SV-1712- G/H - Transportation Security Administration - San Antonio, Texas - EXPIRED

This Training Instructor position is located in the Canine Training and Evaluation Branch (CTEB), Law Enforcement and Industry Training Division (LEITD), within the Office of Training and Workforce Engagement (OTWE), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If selected for this position, you will serve as a Training Instructor and Evaluator for the Canine Training and Evaluation Branch of TSA. Approximately 80% of your time will be spent in the training of canine handlers and/or canines and the remainder of time will be spent conducting assessments and evaluations of the performance of handlers and canine teams in the detection of explosives in various modes of transportation. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Training, distributing, and evaluating TSA explosives detection canines in support of the CTEB.
• Working with a team of instructors to train canine handlers in the detection of explosives and in the handling of explosives detection trained canines.
• Working with explosives in the training and support of canine detection teams
• Performing inventory of hazardous materials used in explosives detection training.
• Evaluating canine handler teams for the CTEB.
• Conducting the evaluation of handlers and canines of participating local, state and Federal law enforcement agencies.
• Establishing procedures and policies and providing guidance for most of the training assignments, allowing some discretion in selecting the most appropriate approach. Presenting material in accordance with approved lesson plans and course control documents.
• Identifying processes for training and evaluating explosives detection canines from initial through advanced levels of explosives detection training.
• Reviewing all canine training problem solving procedures.
• Leading in development of technical training presentation and evaluating methodologies and materials including instructor guides, student handouts, audio/visual aids, and other training criteria.
• Reviewing training practices and developing best practices for incorporation into curriculum.
• Assessing onsite conditions to create realistic training scenarios.

To qualify for the SV-G Pay Band (equivalent to GS-11), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-F or GS-9 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to be filled. Such experience includes: assisting senior instructors in developing, instructing, and evaluating canine training programs (e.g. canine patrolling, canine explosives detection, and canine/handler performance).

OR Education: Completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in education or a field in or related to law enforcement.

OR three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree.

OR Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed higher level graduate education (beyond the second year) and experience may be used to meet the total qualification requirements for this position, and may be computed by first determining your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the band level; then determining your education as a percentage of the education required for the band level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for the position.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: Education at the graduate level in an accredited college or university in the amounts indicated above meets the requirements for this position. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the one year of full-time study requirement.

Note: Applicants who meet the qualifications listed above based on education or a combination of education and experience MUST provide proof of education such as a list of completed college courses or the date and school of degree including the number of semester or quarter hours or a transcript from an accredited college or university. The information must be provided as an attachment to the application by the closing date of the announcement. If selected, the applicant must supply a transcript or certification of degree.

To qualify for the SV-H Pay Band (equivalent to GS-12), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-G or GS-11 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to be filled. Such experience includes: developing, instructing, and evaluating canine training programs (e.g. canine patrolling, canine explosives detection, and canine/handler performance); collaborating with program management to establish and develop training objectives for individuals or programs; and analyzing and reporting training results to management.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

NOTE: Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime.

You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• You will be required to work with various hazardous chemicals including explosives.
• Physical Demands: You must be physically able to work outdoors, often under adverse weather conditions. May have to lift canines (up to 80 lbs.) or supplies. Work requires walking, bending, and standing.
• Work Environment: The work environment involves high risks with regular and recurring exposure to weather extremes and to potentially dangerous situations with aggressive dogs. For example, works closely with potentially dangerous animals, where safety precautions cannot eliminate the danger. Incumbent is subject to scratches, bites, unpleasant odors, and loud barking noises.
• Hazardous duty pay may apply to this position under limited circumstances and in accordance with policy provisions.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

You will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality and extent of the experience and/or related education as reflected in your resume and supporting documentation. You are encouraged to ensure work experiences clearly show possession of the competencies required for this position. We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire. If, after reviewing your resume and any supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your category placement may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.

When completing the assessment questionnaire for this position, you will be prompted to elect if you wish for your application to be considered as External (where Veterans’ Preference applies), as Status (current or former Federal Employees), and/or Internal to TSA as a current permanent or competitive temporary employee. At that time, please select the answer(s) that apply to you and your application to this position.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Grouping procedures. Under Category Grouping, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;

Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceed the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job; and

Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
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