SUMMARY

This position is located in a VISN 4 facility Police Department. The position initiates and accomplishes a variety of complex communications and security related duties such as: answering emergency phone lines, dispatching police to emergencies, operating the facility overhead paging system during medical emergencies, monitoring panic alarm system, monitoring intrusion alarm system, monitoring closed circuit camera system, issuing visitor badges, and granting PIV card access to employees.

QUALIFICATIONS

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/15/2025.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

• Specialized Experience: One (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 level in the Federal service that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of a Security Assistant, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. Specialized experience includes: the use of various computer, automation systems; computer skills in terms of data entry, compiling information, preparing and submitting reports, and database maintenance and management; maintaining confidentiality of information, both electronic and print; and communication and interpersonal relation skills sufficient to appropriately and courteously relate to internal and external customers both verbally and in writing. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

OR,

• Education: Have successfully completed (4) years of education above the high school level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week forapproximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial or technical NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation

TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED IF YOU ARE USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY

OR,

• Combination: Possess equivalent combinations of successfully completed post high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e. beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required.

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Security - Knowledge of laws, regulations, and guidelines related to securing personnel, facilities, and information, including the requirements for handling, transporting, and protecting classified information and proper reporting of security incidents.
• Technology Application - Uses machines, tools, or equipment effectively; uses computers and computer applications to analyze and communicate information in the appropriate format.
• Communications - Effectively expresses information to multiple audiences through clear, convincing oral and written communications; demonstrates logical thinking when describing facts and concepts, and shapes communications to meet the needs of a specific audience; actively listens to others and demonstrates understanding of their comments and/or questions.
• Manages and Organizes Information - Identifies a need; gathers, organizes, and maintains information; determines its importance and accuracy, and communicates it by a variety of method.
• Computer Skills - Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.

APPLICANTS FOR THIS POSITION MUST BE ABLE TO PASS CERTAIN BACKGROUND REQUIREMENTS AS OUTLINED BELOW

Security Assistants need to be eligible to gain access to, and maintain access to, the Pennsylvania Justice Network and connected systems (CLEAN/NCIC). Users of these system may not have Significant Convictions, which are defined as:

• Conviction or under indictment for any felony
• Conviction for any misdemeanor 1 (M1) or equivalently graded crimes code classification
• Conviction and incarceration for any misdemeanors within last ten years
• Conviction for any two misdemeanors within the last ten years
• Conviction for any computer related crime, tampering with public records, or unlawful access to stored communications

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; religions; 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: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Physical Requirements: The work is typically sedentary in nature. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as papers, books, small parts; etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. Working on off-tours, rotating shifts or regular overtime may be required.
Work Environment: The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management’s website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

EDUCATION

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
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; religions; 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.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

DUTIES

Physical Security Support (35%)

• Monitors and responds to alarms.
• Traces access patterns, programming, assigns or removes user permissions, and remotely opens and secures doors during routine and emergency operations.
• Determines when to dispatch law enforcement or other personnel to investigate.
• Maintains radio/alarm activity records/logs to include dates, times, and results of communications and activities; prepares completed report.
• Issues and retrieves government issued keys and/or identification cards.
• Maintains accountability of Police Officer badges issued and all associated logs.

Communications (35%)

• Monitors and receives routine and emergency calls from a variety of sources that need police, fire, medical or other emergency services.
• Maintains contact with law enforcement units.
• Monitors and directs responses to security and life safety communications, radio dispatches, telephone calls, and other emergency communication circuits.
• Monitors and directs responses to security and life safety communications, radio dispatches, telephone calls, and other emergency communication circuits.
• Coordinates with various federal, state and local law enforcement officials for coordination of emergency situations;
• Operates a variety of communications equipment, telephones and computer systems to support both routine and emergency operations..

Operations Support (30%)

• Performs system checks on a variety of equipment used in the dispatch center.
• Troubleshoots systems when problems arise and resolves issues whenever possible.
• Conducts equipment inventories and completes records and other logs.
• Enters, updates and retrieves information from a variety of computer systems/databases.
• Uses state and the National Crime Information Computer (NCIC) to access sensitive law enforcement information to support field operations and investigations.
• Compiles and prepares reports related to events occurring in the operation of the police control center.
• Enters or updates regional and national records.
• Coordinates health and welfare checks with outside law enforcement agencies.
• Completes vehicle registration tasks and issues decals and permit.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: This position utilizes 12-hour shifts, from either 6am - 6pm, or 6pm - 6am. It consists of a schedule of two days on, two days off, followed by three days on, and three days off per 2-week pay period (Rotating Shifts, day or night, may be required).
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Security Assistant/PD99858S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

• Communications
• Computer Skills
• Manages and Organizes Information
• Security
• Technology Applicatio