The Chief of Police & Security Service is responsible for the overall planning, direction, and management of a complex law enforcement, crime prevention and physical security program under diverse operational conditions in a dynamic health care environment. The primary focus of the Police Service is to provide law enforcement and security services on Departmental property operated by Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Duties

Duties include but not limited to: Observe, evaluate and prepare reports on the performance of department personnel, develop programs to alter the behavior of employees whose work performance is below acceptable standards. Plan, assign and explain work requirements to subordinate supervisors for new or changed programs and the functions, goals, processes, skills, and needs Develop solutions to continuing problems in the quality of work and operating effectiveness and takes or recommends necessary corrective actions Resolve technical work problems not covered by precedents or established policies Hear grievances and serious employee complaints to resolve or recommend solutions Review serious disciplinary cases involving Police Service employees and recommends appropriate actions to higher level management Approve, modify, or reject career development plans, training requests, employee utilization proposals, and similar matters Deal with union officials and others on matters involving collective bargaining members. Develop local policies and implement corrective procedures to alleviate identified physical security problems, taking into consideration all internal, as well as external factors when making decisions or recommendations concerning law enforcement and physical security to the VHA. Responsible for the development of the physical security plans and objectives and for producing Medical Center policies which address the full scope of the facility's law enforcement and security program. Interpret complex security policies and procedures and is the primary source to provide guidance to senior facility leadership, other service chiefs, program managers, VBA, and within the Medical Center's catchment area to include Community-Based Outpatient Clinics. Keep senior facility leadership informed regarding program successes and vulnerabilities and collaborates with leaders to address concerns, resolve program issues and/or address resource needs. Serve as management's designated liaison, subject matter expert and consultant with federal law enforcement agencies such as the VA, Office of the Inspector General-Criminal Investigation Division (OIG-CID), F.B.I., D.E.A., A.T.F., Secret Service, State Police and local law enforcement agencies. Establish Memorandum's of Understanding (MOUs) with law enforcement agency executives responsible for the jurisdictions in which VA has facilities. Represent the Department and Facility at meetings, conferences, events and with outside agencies. Execute complex regulations, laws, VA Directives and Handbooks and to independently develop local directives, policies and instructions, based on OS&LE policies, to meet the unique needs of the catchment area, protect patients, visitors, employees and equipment while on VA- controlled property. Manage the modernization efforts and plans, the integration of new initiatives, advancements in technology, policies, etc. that are transforming the law enforcement/security program into 21st century policing model. Assist in the development and modification of new Veteran-specific policies and procedures to accommodate the unique needs of Veterans with mental illness (PTSD, TBI, etc.). Improve relationships between Veterans and Police by engaging in non-confrontational encounters to decrease the possibility of violent incidents. Increase transparency and organizational accountability to gain the trust and confidence of Veterans and continue to enhance the public image of Police Service. Manage procurement and accountability of equipment used by and assigned to police service. Provide the Firearms Program at the facility level, ensuring that critical elements of the program are met, i.e., weapons training certification, inventory control of weapons and ammunition and supporting supplies. Communicate critical information in a timely manner to senior leadership, such as the reporting/notification of operational issues, events, and concerns, to deliver rapid response and consistent results. **NOTE** Position is considered essential personnel and will be responsible for remaining at or reporting to work site in emergency situations and inclement weather. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Security Officer (Chief of Police) / PD99956A Relocation Recruitment Incentive: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• 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
• You will be required to take a physical
• 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 Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
• VA Police Officers must be able to achieve and maintain mandatory firearm and intermediate weapons qualifications/certifications.
• Selected applicants must possess and maintain a valid, unrestricted State driver's license, have a safe driving record, and demonstrate that he or she is medically qualified to operate the appropriate motor vehicle safely.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/26/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: managing personnel security and suitability policies; issuing background investigation requirements; providing authoritative input on adverse suitability and security determinations; evaluating the sensitivity level of positions; managing the security clearance and suitability/fitness process; conducting national security and suitability adjudicative reviews; and representing an organization in personnel security matters. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Education and TrainingManaging Human ResourcesPhysical SecuritySecurity 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: Physical security surveys are a part of the responsibility of the incumbent. Conducting such surveys requires regular and recurring physical exertion. Responsibilities require climbing several flights of stairs during fire alarms while carrying heavy equipment or patients during evacuation. The position may require physical demands as the incumbent exercises arrest authority and is required to meet physical and psychological standards. Incumbent may be called upon to defend members of the staff, patients and public against physical attack. The position must successfully complete the VA Police Officer Standards & Training (POST) Academy course and other mandatory training requirements set-forth by VA. The position is expected to continue irregular duty hours as necessary and must respond to serious incidents regardless of the time of day, i.e, responding to phone calls and physically responding to the facility during emergent situations i.e. officer involved shootings, severe weather situations etc. LAUTENBERG AMENDEMENT: This position authorizes the incumbent to carry a firearm. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (Title 18, U.S.C., Section 922(g)(91)). Candidates who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are not qualified for this position. Candidates under consideration will be required to certify whether they have ever been convicted of such an offense. False or fraudulent information provided by candidates is criminally punishable by fine or imprisonment (Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1001). 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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address Birmingham VA Medical Center 700 South 19th Street Birmingham, AL 35233 US
• Name: Edmund Crawford
• Email: [email protected]