Transportation Security Officer

Summary

Transportation Security Officers provide security and protection of travelers across all transportation sectors in a courteous and professional manner. Their duties also extend to securing high‑profile events, important figures and any activities that impact our transportation systems.

Salary range for Lewiston,  (LWS – Lewiston – Nez Perce County Airport) is $40,736 to $56,844, or $19.52 to $27.24 per hour, including a 17.06% locality pay.

The Transportation Security Officer is located in TSA, DHS. Main duties include operating screening equipment, performing searches, controlling terminal entry/exit, interacting with the public, maintaining focus in stressful environments, engaging in critical thinking, and implementing SOPs.

• Operating various screening equipment and technology to identify dangerous objects in baggage, cargo and on passengers, preventing those objects from being transported onto aircraft.
• Performing 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 50 lbs.
• Controlling terminal entry and exit points.
• Interacting with the public, giving directions and responding to inquiries.
• Maintaining focus and awareness while working in a stressful environment that includes alarms, machinery, crowd distractions, time pressure, and disruptive or angry passengers.
• Engaging 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. This may include application of risk‑based security screening protocols that vary by program requirements.
• Retaining and implementing knowledge of all applicable Standard Operating Procedures, demonstrating responsible and dependable behavior, and being open to change and adapting to new information or unexpected obstacles.

The Realistic Job Preview provides an objective portrait of working as a TSO, including employee testimonies. Video is available for viewing.

• U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status.
• Minimum age of 18 at the time of application.
• Selective Service registration required.
• Must pass a structured interview, drug screening, medical evaluation, and background investigation.
• Subject to post‑employment random drug and/or alcohol testing.
• Must be available to work various shifts and overtime as needed.
• Must be proficient in English (reading, writing, speaking, comprehending).
• Mandatory travel for training and occasional travel may be required.
• Exposure to potentially lethal devices and dangerous chemicals is inherent.

• Maintain physical agility to ensure ability to squat and bend.
• Ability to repeatedly lift and manipulate baggage, containers, weighing approximately 50 lbs.
• Ability to walk up to three miles during a shift and stand for prolonged periods up to four hours.

To qualify for the SV‑D pay band (GS‑5/6) you must meet one of the following:

• Experience: At least one year of full‑time work experience in the security industry, aviation screening, or as an X‑ray technician.
• Education: High school diploma, GED, HiSET, or TASC. Credit for experience is given based on a 40‑hour workweek. Voluntary national service experience (e.g., Peace Corps, Ameri Corps) counts toward experience.

• Occasional travel may be required, up to 6 weeks of full‑time duty status for new‑hire training.
• Selective Service registration requirement applies to male applicants born after 12/31/59.
• Applicants must not have delinquent federal or state taxes or past‑due child support payments.
• Residency requirement: have resided in the U.S. for 3 of the last 5 years, or qualify for an exception.

Full‑time positions require 40 hrs per week. Work consists of shift work any day, may include irregular hours, nights, holidays, overtime, extended shifts and weekend shifts.

Part‑time work generally ranges from 16‑32 hrs per week. Shift work is similar to full‑time, with same irregularities.