Transportation Security Officer

Position Overview

Transportation Security Officer (TSO) at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provides security and protection of air travelers, airports and aircraft in a courteous and professional manner.

• Operating screening equipment technology to identify dangerous objects in baggage, cargo, and on passengers and 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 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.
• 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 based on 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.

• U.S. Citizenship or U.S. National.
• Minimum age 18 at the time of application.
• Select Service registration required.
• Successful completion of a structured interview, drug screening, medical evaluation, and background investigation.
• Subject to post-employment random drug and/or alcohol testing.
• Availability to work various shifts and overtime, as needed.
• Proficiency 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 in this position.

• Maintain physical agility to ensure ability to squat and bend.
• Ability to repeatedly lift and manipulate baggage, containers, weighing approximately 50 pounds and other objects subject to security processing.
• Ability to walk up to three (3) miles during a shift and stand for prolonged periods (up to 4 hours) of time.

A minimum of three (3) weeks of travel in a full-time duty status may be required to complete TSA's New Hire training. New Hire training and travel requirements vary by duty location and may require up to six (6) weeks of full-time duty status travel. This training will 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.

TSOs must adhere to the current Master Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Examples of permissible appearance include, but are not limited to, half-inch diameter stud-style earrings, non-protruding ear gauges or spacers that match your skin and do not exceed one half-inch diameter, innocuous nose or tongue piercings that match your skin or tongue. Tattoos that are indecent, commonly associated with gangs, extremists, supremacist organizations or that advocate sexual, racial or religious discrimination must be covered at all times.

• Full-time positions require 40 hours per week; shift-work on any day from Sunday through Saturday, including irregular hours, nights, holidays, overtime, extended shifts and weekend shifts.
• Part-time positions generally range from 16–32 hours per week with similar shift-work patterns.

DHS offers a competitive salary and an attractive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life and long-term care insurance; retirement plan;
Thrift Savings Plan; flexible spending account; employee assistance program;…