Supervisory Law Enforcement Specialist

Summary This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Security and Preparedness (OSP), Field Operations Division, VA Police Service. Serves as the Deputy Field Chief for VA Police Service, providing executive leadership and strategic oversight of law enforcement operations, physical security, crisis intervention programs, and compliance activities across a multi-facility catchment area. Responsibilities THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION MAJOR DUTIES: Directs subordinate managers and supervisors, overseeing armed law enforcement personnel, physical security specialists, and administrative staff to safeguard VA facilities, personnel, Veterans, and visitors. Serves as the alter ego and second-in-command for the Field Chief and fully shares the authorities and responsibilities of the Field Chief. Provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for multiple organizational units within the service line, ensuring alignment with enterprise objectives and directives from senior leadership. Evaluates management practices across the service line to ensure consistency, equity, and compliance with regulatory and organizational requirements. Reviews and approves recommendations for staffing actions-including selections, promotions, details, and reassignments-ensuring decisions support workforce planning and succession strategies. Oversees performance management processes for subordinate managers, ensuring fair and consistent application of rating methodologies across the service line. Approves or recommends awards, pay actions, and recognition programs within delegated authority to reinforce high performance and employee engagement. Serves as the escalation point for complex employee relations issues, providing guidance on corrective actions and reviewing proposed disciplinary measures for compliance and appropriateness. Directs the research of new and innovative security devices to comply with national security directives and policies, ultimately enhancing the security posture of VA assets. Collaborate across Administrations to identify law enforcement and security equipment and service requirements. Serves as a key VA official during emergencies for effective protective and recovery operations with local, state, and other Federal agencies. Manages operations during emergencies, due to natural or man-made causes, for facilities affected, and oversee plans and actions required to ensure law enforcement and security operations are maintained. Provides executive oversight and strategic direction for law enforcement and compliance operations within the service line, ensuring adherence to federal, state, and local laws governing the protection of life, property, and government assets. Interprets and implements policies, regulations, and directives to maintain security and enforce applicable statutes across all organizational jurisdictions. Oversees investigative and enforcement activities, ensuring subordinate managers and supervisors execute responsibilities related to crime prevention, emergency response, and apprehension of offenders. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. This position requires the application, assessment, and questionnaire to be fully completed. The assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Required Documents" below for details. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience managing armed law enforcement personnel to include duties such as assigning and monitoring work and reviewing reports and incident documentation. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position: Conflict Management Influencing/Negotiating Manages Resources Partnering Planning and Evaluating TRAINING: Incumbent must meet the established experience, basic training, and in-service training requirements established for the enforcement of police powers. Incumbent must successfully complete the designated, required training, which includes the basic VA Police Officer Standardized Training (POST). Additionally, the selectee must successfully complete the Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP) conducted at the selectee's assigned duty location or a different geographic area, and other in-service requirements and weapons qualifications for the enforcement of arrest authority as conferred under 902 authority. FIREARMS REQUIREMENT: The incumbent will be required to carry a firearm or firearms while performing the duties of this position. Maintaining firearm proficiency is also mandatory. MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION: The incumbent must possess and maintain a valid automobile driver's license and be available for frequent travel. Supervisory Situational Judgment Test. Applicants will be required to complete a Supervisory Situational Judgment Test (SSJT) as part of the assessment process for this position. The SSJT evaluates judgment and decision-making skills that align with relevant competencies, organizational values, and best practices. Assessment results may be used as part of the evaluation, ranking and referral process. This is not a timed test, however, the assessment is expected to take approximately 45 minutes or less to complete. The assessment for this application does not include a cut score for a minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. However, you must answer each item in the assessment. IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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. Physical Requirements: Much of the work involves on-site work requiring prolonged walking over flat and even surfaces, working in confined spaces, crouching, bending, crawling, standing, and climbing. The work requires outside exposure to all temperatures. Also requires moderate to arduous physical exertion and possible exposure to personal danger. 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. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.