The Police Department at Birmingham VA Medical Center is seeking 4 full-time Security Assistants to function as Dispatchers.

Duties

The Security Assistant will serve as Dispatcher for the Police Department of the Birmingham VA Medical Center. The primary purpose of the position is to monitor physical security equipment and systems. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Performs alarm and access monitoring, tracing access patterns, programming, assigning or removing user permissions, updating databases, remotely opening and securing doors during routine and emergency operations and generating a variety of reports as needed. Maintains radio/alarm activity records/logs to include dates, times, and results of communications and activities and prepares completed reports. Receives and processes emergency calls, maintains contact with law enforcement units on assignment, maintains status and location of Police Officers and coordinates communication between agencies as needed. Monitors and directs responses to security and life safety communications, radio dispatches, telephone calls, and other emergency communication circuits. Responsible for the orderly flow of communications between the police dispatch center, agency leadership and the work force. 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. Performs monthly alarm checks, submits reports documenting the operational status of each circuit tested. Initiates work orders for malfunctioning circuits and equipment. Enters, updates and retrieves information from a variety of computer systems and sensitive databases. Completes vehicle registration tasks and issues decals and permits as authorized by policy. Work Schedule: Rotating 8 hour shifts; between 6am-6pm or 6pm-6am (weekends/holidays sometimes required due to rotation) Compressed/Flexible: Not available. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Security Assistant/PD99858-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. NOTIFICATIONS: This position is an AFGE bargaining unit position. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. Interchange Agreements with Other Merit System: Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 4701(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104 (1) and (3)] must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System. Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/29/2023. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-4) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: access control duties; responding to alarms; operating a variety of communications and security equipment (such as computers, multi-line telephones, and multi-frequency radios); maintaining contact with individuals on assignment; accessing information from a variety of computer systems; performing system checks on equipment; experience as a dispatcher in a public safety organization. (IMPORTANT NOTE: Examples of specialized experience must be noted in your resume in order to refer you for consideration based on experience). OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have four (4) years of education beyond high school (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond high school (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED). 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. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Birmingham VA Medical Center 700 South 19th Street Birmingham, AL 35233 US
• Name: June Borsari
• Phone: 508-944-6804
• Email: [email protected]