Transportation Security Officer

Transportation Security Officer

Transportation Security Officers are responsible for providing security and protection of travelers across all transportation sectors in a courteous and professional manner. Their duties may also extend to securing high-profile events, important figures and / or anything that includes or impacts our transportation systems.

Responsibilities include operating various screening equipment and technology to identify dangerous objects in baggage, cargo and on passengers, and preventing those objects from being transported onto aircraft. They also perform searches and screening, which may include physical interaction with passengers (e.g., pat-downs, search of property, etc.), conducting bag searches and lifting / carrying bags, bins, and property weighing up to 50lbs. Officers control terminal entry and exit points, interact with the public, give directions and respond to inquiries. They maintain focus and awareness while working in a stressful environment which includes noise from alarms, machinery and people, crowd distractions, time pressure, and disruptive and angry passengers, in order to preserve the professional ability to identify and locate potentially life threatening or mass destruction devices, and to make effective decisions in both crisis and routine situations.

Officers engage in continuous development of critical thinking skills, necessary to mitigate actual and potential security threats, by identifying, evaluating, and applying appropriate situational options and approaches. They retain and implement knowledge of all applicable Standard Operating Procedures, demonstrating responsible and dependable behavior, and are open to change and adapt to new information or unexpected obstacles.

Requirements include U.S. Citizenship or being a U.S. National, and reaching the minimum age (18) at the time of application. Selective Service registration is required, and candidates must pass a structured interview, drug screening, medical evaluation, and background investigation. They must be available to work various shifts and overtime, as needed, and proficient in English (e.g., reading, writing, speaking, comprehending). Exposure to potentially lethal devices and dangerous chemicals is inherent in this position.

Physical demands include maintaining physical agility to ensure ability to squat and bend, repeatedly lifting and manipulating baggage, containers, weighing approximately 50 pounds and other objects subject to security processing, walking up to three (3) miles during a shift, and standing for prolonged periods (up to 4 hours) of time.

To qualify for the SV-D pay band, candidates must meet one of the qualification requirements (A OR B) outlined below :

• Experience : At least one year of full-time work experience in the security industry, aviation screening, or as an X-ray technician.
• Education : Have a high school diploma, General Educational Development (GED), High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), or Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) high school equivalency certificate.

Occasional travel is required for training and may occur away from the employee's airport of record. Employees will be paid for compensable hours and reimbursed for authorized travel expenses per TSA Travel Policy.