Supervisory Transportation Security Inspector-Surface

Transportation Security AdministrationBoston, Massachusetts, Queens, New Yorkusajobspublished 09/22/2026
Must-have:SecurityLeadPrincipal

Securing Travel, Protecting People - At the Transportation Security Administration, you will serve in a high-stakes environment to safeguard the American way of life. In cities across the country, you would secure airports, seaports, railroads, highways, and/or public transit systems, thus protecting America's transportation infrastructure and ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce.

Major duties

This Supervisory Transportation Security Inspector - Surface position is located at Security Operations, Surface Operations, General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport (BOS), Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Duties include but are not limited to: Works independently with responsibility for ensuring regulatory compliance of persons and transportation systems and entities regulated under Title 49 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Part 1500 series. Leads in the administration of critical and complex compliance and enforcement programs designed to protect the nation's public transportation systems. Performs the full range of regulatory compliance activities in inspections, structured oversight, and other compliance activities in Surface Operations. Serves as a technical specialist and primary point of contact to the Regional Security Director (RSD), Regional Operations Director (ROD), regional and local field staff, and industry stakeholders on surface-related transportation security regulations demonstrating substantial knowledge and understanding of one or more modal specialties, sufficient to provide specialized support. Provides guidance to lower-level technical staff on how to solve difficult issues and serving as a team leader in assigning, overseeing, guiding and reviewing the work of other TSIs on selected inspections and non-inspections activities, when required. Supervising and mentoring a team of Transportation Security Inspectors (TSIs) in Surface Operations. Conducts regulatory inspections and investigations, and supports criminal investigations related to alleged or suspected security violations. Responds to and coordinates security incidents, threats, violations or potential violations. Coordinates, participates, and provides overt and covert presence, including high visibility activities, to detect and reduce identified security threats and vulnerabilities. Coordinating and participating in covert and overt tests/audits, vulnerability assessments. Plans and assigns work, setting priorities, developing performance standards, reviewing and evaluating work and performance of subordinates; approving leave, coaching and identifying developmental and training needs for employees. Manages studies and analyses that provide operating direction on feasibility of implementing security programs and support for surface operations. Reviewing and approving data pertinent to investigations, inspections, and incidents entered into the Performance and Results Information System (PARIS) and security assessments captured into Surface Data Management System (SDMS) for subordinate TSIs. Partners with key stakeholders to address complex issues related to security operations. Provides for and arranging necessary skills development and specialization training; recommends corrective or disciplinary actions; and recommends promotions, and reassignments. Resolves routine problems that typically impact the objectives of the organizational unit. Provides advice, counsel and instructions to employees on work and administrative matters. Provides input to budget requests or other resource requirements. Maintains frequent contact with the other work units and activities throughout the field activity to provide or receive services and exchange information about work operations. Performs other duties as assigned by the Regional Security Director (RSD) and/or Regional Operations Director (ROD). Supervisory/Managerial duties include serving as a first line supervisor for the organization. This includes but is not limited to: assigning work, setting priorities, and reviewing and evaluating work and performance of subordinates; approving leave; coaching and developing employees; recommending corrective or disciplinary actions; assisting in budget planning and projecting short-term needs; managing projects within assigned resources; resolving routine problems that typically impact the objectives of the organizational unit; and when required, coordinating with customers outside the immediate organization. This position is designated as an Emergency Essential (EE) position. This designation requires the employee to remain in a duty status if an emergency arises.

Qualifications

To qualify for the SV-I Pay Band (equivalent to GS-13), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-H or GS-12 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as: Serving as a team lead in conducting surface transportation security inspections and investigations; Engaging in security assessments on surface transportation systems; Determining when enforcement action should be taken; Documenting the results to monitor compliance with policies, regulations, security directives, and agreements to standards; and Identifying potential problem areas. Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Requirements

You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National. You must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret level security clearance. You must pass pre-employment drug screening AND you will be subject to post-employment random drug and alcohol testing. Selective Service registration is required. You must hold and maintain a valid driver's license. Must be able to obtain and maintain a government travel card. Successfully complete the Basic Transportation Security Inspections and Surface courses. You must be available for "on call" work and be available for duty within the U.S. and possibly worldwide to protect U.S. transportation interests. You must be available to work various shifts, including frequently changing and uncommon tours of duty. Undertaking extensive travel, at times overnight, as required. You must, on an annual basis, or as directed, complete the OGE-450 Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, to include an annual ethics training course. You must be able to walk on uneven surfaces such as railroad ballast and/or crushed rocks, etc. for an extended period of time. Supervisory/Managerial Trial Period Requirements: Unless previously completed, you must satisfactorily complete a one-year supervisory trial period to continue in this supervisory/managerial position. If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for TSA to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions. Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.