Transportation Security Officer

Summary

Transportation Security Officers are responsible for providing security and protection of travelers across all transportation sectors in a courteous and professional manner. Their duties may also extend to securing high‑profile events, important figures and/or anything that includes or impacts our transportation systems.

• Operating various screening equipment and 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 adapts to new information or unexpected obstacles.

Salary range: $66,728 to $82,753 (or $31.97 to $39.65 per hour) for Yakutat, AK (YAK – Yakutat Airport), including locality pay of 32.36% and COLA pay of 3%, and a retention incentive of 25% of adjusted pay that is unique to this duty location. The continuation of the incentive portion of this hourly rate is contingent upon annual approval and funding.

Sign‑on bonus: The Transportation Security Administration offers a sign‑on bonus of up to $15,000 for this location, paid out in two installments during the first 12 months of service. The amount of the airport's sign‑on bonus is subject to change or elimination based on operational needs, however, any applicable sign‑on bonus amount will be communicated and agreed upon during the final job offer process.

This airport is only seeking qualified female candidates to meet mission‑related staffing needs. The applications of male candidates will be accepted but not considered until staffing needs change.

Sex‑specific hiring preference may apply to fill TSO positions in order to meet security mission and same‑sex pat‑down job‑related requirements. Candidates of the needed sex will be provided preference in the scheduling of the computer‑based aptitude test, airport assessments, processing and selection.

The Realistic Job Preview gives you an honest, objective and vivid portrait of what it means to work as a Transportation Security Officer (TSO) and provides employee testimonies about both the good and the challenging aspects of being a TSO.

• You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National.
• You must have reached the minimum age (18) at the time of application.
• Selective Service registration is 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 in this position.

• Maintain physical agility to ensure ability to squat and bend.
• Ability to repeatedly lift and manipulate baggage,…