Law Enforcement Specialist - Infrastructure Protection Program Management

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Security and Preparedness (OSP), Field Operations Division, VA Police Service. The mission of the VA Police Service is to provide law enforcement, protective services, and investigative services to the VA Community, which includes Veterans, federal employees, affiliates, contractors, visitors, and others who receive services, work, or visit VA (VHA, VBA, & NCA) facilities nationwide.

Major duties

Coordinates the physical security program across the Health Care System's catchment area (VA-owned and leased properties) by coordinating efforts or functions that impact multiple Medical Centers and sites of care. Participates and leads in the Community of Practice (COP) across Medical Centers. Develops and leads the implementation of initiatives on behalf of the Police Services and OSP Leadership. Acts on behalf of Police Services leadership to coordinate and manage a multi-Medical Center physical security program. As required, conduct audits and provide oversight of Physical Security functions conducted by Law Enforcement Specialists for the department. Serves as a physical security Subject Matter Expert (SME) to Medical Center Leadership and Police Services as needed. Serves as the Infrastructure Protection Program Manager (IPPM) managing all aspects of the Security Program for the Medical Center/Health Care System, which ensures that individuals requiring access have been vetted. Provides physical security support for Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, and National Cemetery Administration (VHA/VBA/NCA). Assist in evaluating risk and developing procedures and physical security measures designed to safeguard personnel, property, and operations from unauthorized access, espionage, terrorism, sabotage, damage, and theft. Performs a wide variety of duties encompassing the enforcement and compliance of laws relating to the protection of life, property, and federal assets. Enforces all federal, state, and local laws pertaining to violations on government property and federally controlled assets. Preserves the peace, prevents crimes, arrests offenders, and provides police assistance during emergency and/or life-threatening situations. Pursues and apprehends persons fleeing a crime scene or attempting to resist arrest. Engages in the hot pursuit of a fleeing felon and may leave jurisdictional boundaries to conduct investigations. Apprehends wanted persons who are accused of crimes in other jurisdictions; stops, questions, and detains such persons and notifies the appropriate law enforcement or judicial agencies. Conducts investigations; requires and receives information relating to criminal offenses; serves and executes search and arrest warrants; serves subpoenas and summonses; administers oaths; makes arrests without warrant; takes actions to preserve the peace while protecting the federal government facilities and personnel; bears firearms and performs other activities in accordance with Title 38, United States Code, Sections 901 and 902. Serves as a member of a Crisis Intervention Team, responding to and recognizing Veterans experiencing mental health crisis, utilizing advanced de-escalation strategies and knowledge of VA resources to ensure the best possible outcome for our nation's Veterans. Liaisons with other federal, state, and local public safety agencies to conduct training and communication networks to increase the effectiveness of Veteran Centric Policing models. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Law Enforcement Specialist - Infrastructure Protection Program Management / PD00217A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/15/2026. 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. 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 and/or education as described below: GS-11 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include Subject Matter Expert in terms of Physical Security programs. Mastery knowledge of the criteria, equipment, and techniques of security administration and programs to resolve well-defined questions and conditions that uniquely arise during program activities. Knowledge of the interrelationship of personnel, information, industrial, automation, counterterrorism, and VIP visit security programs. Detailed knowledge of State and Federal laws and the ability to apply them both without needing to reference written sources. Knowledge of building construction blueprints and contracts to provide physical security input on all planned projects concerning security engineering and electronic security systems. Knowledge of time management skills to add, monitor, track, and complete daily tasks and assignments. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (Transcript Required) OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond a master's degree. (Transcript Required) CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYEMENT Drug Test Requirement: Applicant selected for movement into positions covered by the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Control and must pass urinalysis testing as required before the appointment and periodically after that. The position is subject to random drug testing. Training: Incumbent must meet the established experience, basic training, and inservice 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) and required Physical Security and Infrastructure training. 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. Essential Personnel: This position may be designated as essential personnel. Essential personnel must be able to serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of liberal leave or government closures due to weather, protests, acts of terrorism, or lack of funding. Law Enforcement: This position will possess law enforcement authority under Title 38 of the United States Code, Sections 901 & 902, exercising such authority to provide investigative and law enforcement services to Veterans, Federal employees, and members of the general public located and/or conducting business in government owned or leased properties. Pre-Employment Medical Requirement: Prior to appointment, the person selected for this position must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties, which may include protecting citizens, taking suspects into custody using reasonable physical force in the face of physical resistance, and responding to situations requiring physical agility and quick and legally sufficient decision making. Also successfully pass a pre-employment medical examination (which includes, but is not limited to, vision, hearing, cardiovascular, physical, psychological exam, and mobility of extremities) given by an authorized government physician. This position may be subject to periodic incumbent examinations in the future. Lautenberg Amendment: This position is covered by the 1996 Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968. Persons convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence are not eligible for this position. 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. 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. If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Requirements

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. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online 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 Valid driver's license 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) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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 period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.