Program Specialist - Transportation Security Administration - Arlington, Virginia - EXPIRED

This Program Specialist position is located in the Eastern Branch, in the Deployment and Logistics Division, within the Office of Security Capabilities (OSC), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If selected for this position, you will serve as a Checked Baggage Deployment Coordinator. You will oversee the process of scheduling and deploying checked baggage technology systems at the airports. This includes defining and developing a projects scope (e.g., plans, cost, schedule, performance, and risk). You will work with the airport authorities and local TSA offices to obtain the necessary permits for installing the equipment, overseeing the installation and powering up of the equipment and acceptance testing. Additionally, you will represent the TSA as a technical point of contact on security technology deployment projects, programs and other work activities. Typical duties include but are not limited to:

• Presenting briefings to internal and external audiences to secure an understanding or obtain consensus/approval of the deployment strategy; providing virtual and on-site support for airports receiving new technology or capabilities. Reviewing existing and proposed legislation, rules, and regulations to assess impact to existing plans and programs and providing recommendations on changes or mitigation strategies.
• Performing technical oversight duties for Systems Integrator contract performance. Serving as a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) in reviewing project invoices from a technical perspective and making recommendations to the Contracting Officer on allowable and allocable costs. Supporting the Contracting Officer in negotiations of contract modifications; contributing to the development of standards of work (SOW) and technical requirements.
• Participating in evaluating the overall technology deployment program and providing analyses and recommendations. Serving as a lead team member for planning, coordinating and conducting projects and studies related to equipment performance over the life cycle. Developing, managing, and conducting field data collection activities to establish baseline operational performance for aviation technologies and capabilities. Analyzing and evaluating security technology requirements, test results, and operational metrics to determine overall program performance and providing assessments for staffing and scheduling impacts. Tracking regional deployment efforts to report out on progress and risks. Developing, integrating, and implementing solutions to highly complex and challenging integration activities.
• Participating in design reviews for potential operational impacts of equipment placement.
• Developing, integrating and implementing solutions to highly complex and challenging deployment activities.
• Conducting qualitative and quantitative analysis of OSC correspondence for reports to OSC and TSA Senior Leadership.
• Preparing OSC responses to DHS Taskers, reports to Congress, and Questions for the Record (QFR); participating in optimization efforts and providing guidance and mentoring to less experienced analysts.

To qualify for the SV-J Pay Band (equivalent to the GS-14/15), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-I or GS-13 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience includes applying laws, rules, and regulations impacting security technology deployment programs; applying knowledge of evaluation methodology (e.g., metrics, fact-finding, investigative techniques) to evaluate project/program effectiveness; and experience developing, scheduling, or coordinating projects and resources (e.g., monitoring and inspecting costs, and work and contractor performance).

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.

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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