Security Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Plains Area, National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, KS. In this position, you will ensure the protection of sensitive or classified information, personnel, facilities installations, or other sensitive materials, resources or processes to ensure they are adequately protected against criminal, terrorist, or hostile intelligence activities.

Duties

• Participates in the overall implementation of electronic security system operation, and the monitoring of security policy and procedures intended to safeguard personnel at the NBAF location.
• Works with the SOC Senior Controller and provides support in reviewing and implementing security management security countermeasures.
• Troubleshoots and resolves problems with access, security hardware, closed circuit video, interrupted communications, and other issues by making required system adjustments to ensure an operational system.
• Communicates with and dispatches security guard staff to respond to all alarms with different levels of response, based on the priority of the alarm.
• Safeguards property from damage and theft, conducts intrusion and security risk assessment surveys, and inspects security systems to ensure functionality.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-07 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-05 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience implementing and operating an electronic security system including access control systems, intrusion detection system, closed circuit television and video management or data storage. OR Successful completion of one full year of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related. Related degrees may include: Criminal Justice, Security Administration, or Security Design. OR Completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.): Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. S.A.A. is based on: (1) Class Standing - applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class, based on completed courses; or (2) Grade-Point Average - applicants must have a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (3) Election to membership in a National Honor Society - membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. OR Successful combination of specialized experience and education as described above. 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Physical Demands: The work requires using monitoring screens and equipment and long-term visual usage. Work may require long periods of sitting, standing, reaching, and similar activities. No heavy lifting or physical exertion is required. The incumbent must maintain alertness for 12-hour shifts in the SOC, both day and night. The incumbent may need to be available to fill in for absent SOC Controllers or provide extra station operational capacity during incidents, emergencies or high-threat environments. Due to the 24/7 nature of the facility, SOC Controllers are required to staff the Lenel system at all times. The incumbent may be required to provide support during non-duty hours. Work Environment: The work is performed in an office settings, infectious diseases laboratories, and as required, indoor animal holding facilities, and building mechanical spaces involved with inspections. Temperature extremes may occur as well as exposure to disagreeable odors, working around frightened, unpredictable, and ill-natured animals, and exposure to the risks and hazards of harmful biological, chemical, and physical agents. Immunizations with vaccines may be required to enter facilities conducting work with human diseases. The work requires special safety precautions and PPE. Use of protective e…

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.