Transportation Security Specialist - Explosives

Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Summary

The Transportation Security Specialist - Explosives (TSS-E) serves as a subject matter expert with advanced knowledge on all issues involving threats to the traveling public from explosives and Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) for the Federal Security Director (FSD) at designated airport(s).

Major duties

• This Transportation Security Specialist - Explosives position is located at Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR), Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Duties include but are not limited to: Serving as a key component of a multi-layered security approach. Applying experience and technical knowledge of explosives to assess threats. Educating the screening workforce in the detection of threats. Supporting explosive vulnerability assessments in all modes of transportation. Coordinating and collaborating with other TSS-E staff, the screening workforce, and other Threat Assessment Programs such as the National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program, Specialized Screening Operations, and the Standards and Effectiveness Branch. Acting as a mentor and trainer to lower banded TSS-Es to resolve any issues, support their professional growth, and to support their success in assessing and resolving alarms. Responding to and assessing all unresolved checkpoint and checked baggage alarms involving possible explosives, IED components or actual IEDs, rendering a final decision on alarm resolution. Assessing the interrelationships between initiators, power supplies, and chemicals. Determining if devices are improvised explosives, commercial explosives, or mixed explosives (fuel mixtures). Deploying in support of risk mitigation efforts to deter, detect, and prevent the introduction of IEDs, IED components or other deadly or dangerous items into the airport environment. Participating with evaluation teams in conducting covert drills to determine effectiveness of the training programs, recommending individuals for remediation, and identifying potential security vulnerabilities. Mentoring and training the front line screening workforce to increase their operational knowledge of explosives and IED components. Facilitating IED training aid drills to act as a force multiplier for dissemination of threat information. Spearheading efforts to integrate and familiarize local Bomb Squads and military EOD units to the transportation environment. Emergency Essential Position: This position is designated as an Emergency Essential (EE) position. This designation requires the employee to remain in a duty status if an emergency arises.

Requirements

You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National. You must have reached the minimum entry age of 18 years at the time of application. You must complete a favorable Background Investigation (BI). You must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret level security clearance. Selective Service registration is required. You must pass pre-employment Drug Screening AND you will be subject to post-employment random drug and alcohol testing. You must meet and maintain medical requirements as stated in the TSA Medical Guidelines for Transportation Security Specialist - Explosives (for more information, click here). You must be available to work various shifts and overtime, as needed. You must be willing to undertake extensive travel, at times overnight, as required. If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for TSA to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions. Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

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 specialized experience required for this position. Additionally, a structured interview process will be utilized to evaluate candidates' technical and professional expertise as it pertains to the specific requirements outlined in this announcement. This interview measures the specialized knowledge and skills that are critical for successful performance in 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 and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies as determined by the job analysis. Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies as determined by the job analysis. Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies as determined by the job analysis. If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. You may preview the questions for this vacancy here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13083306

How to apply

All of the following must be received in our office by 11:59 PM EST (Eastern Standard time) on the closing date of this announcement. If we do not receive all required information by the closing date, your application may not be considered. To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. Your application must include: Resume Applicable supporting documents (see Required Documents Section) To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete. It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan. Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. Veterans and Persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the documentation that is required, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

What to expect next

If needed, applicants may request a religious accommodation as part of the hiring process from the designated contact noted in the vacancy announcement (for contact information please see 'Agency Contact Information' listed within the 'How to Apply' section of this job announcement). To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Source: USAJOBS (U.S. Office of Personnel Management) — https://www.usajobs.gov:443/job/888176300

Cite this job as: JOBnaru™ — https://jobnaru.com/en/jobs/transportation-security-specialist-explosives-transportation-security-administra · Posted 2026-10-08 · Original posting: www.usajobs.gov:443