Security Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Augusta (GA); On-site; USD 38,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

The Security Assistant position is part of Police Services and supports the mission of delivering comprehensive law enforcement, protective services, and investigative support across the Department of Veterans Affairs. The role involves monitoring alarms, controlling access, dispatch coordination, and maintaining security records across VA facilities.

Applicants should meet specialized experience or education requirements, with time-in-grade rules for current federal employees.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience: one year equivalent to GS-04 level or education substitution per VA standards.
• Education: four years of education above high school in business/secretarial/technical fields may qualify.
• Time-in-grade provisions apply for current federal employees.

Responsibilities

• Monitor alarms and access control systems and manage user permissions.
• Assist with dispatch, response coordination, and incident reporting.
• Maintain security logs, incident reports, and key inventories.
• Assist with emergency communications, weather alerts, and system checks.
• Support routine security operations and compliance with VA policies.

Job description

Summary

The Security Assistant position is part of Police Services and supports the mission of delivering comprehensive law enforcement - protective services - and investigative support across the Department of Veterans Affairs. Security Assistants help safeguard the VA Community - which includes Veterans - federal employees - contractors - affiliates - visitors - and others who work in - receive services from - or visit VA facilities across VHA - VBA - and NCA nationwide.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 09/30/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: : A police dispatcher is responsible for receiving and prioritizing emergency and non-emergency calls - quickly determining the nature of each situation - and dispatching appropriate police units to the scene. They must remain calm under pressure - communicate clearly with callers and officers - and accurately record information. Additionally - police dispatchers are required to monitor radio traffic - coordinate responses among multiple agencies when necessary - and update officers with new information as situations develop. Strong multitasking skills - attention to detail - and the ability to handle stressful situations are essential for this role. NOTE: 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.: . OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed (4) years of education above the high school level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business - secretarial or technical school - junior college - college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours - 45 quarter hours - or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business - secretarial or technical NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e. beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify - a copy of your transcript is required.. 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-5 position - you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-4. 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. 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/. 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/

Duties

• Major duties and responsibilities include: Monitor alarms and access control systems Trace and analyze access patterns.- Program - assign - and remove user access permissions Update security and access control databases Remotely open and secure doors during routine and emergency operations
• Generate required security and operational reports Assess on-scene behavior and determine when to dispatch law enforcement or other personnel
• Respond to fire - access - intrusion - duress/panic - medical - psychiatric - and other emergency alarms
• Respond to emergency digital paging system alerts
• Monitor emergency weather alerts and transmit system-wide warnings when appropriate
• Maintain radio and alarm activity logs - including dates - times - communications - and outcomes
• Prepare and file completed reports based on activity records .Perform and document emergency callback procedures as required .Track critical information and report findings to the supervisor
• Implement policies - procedures - and methods to protect information - personnel - property - facilities - operations - and materials Operate vehicle registration and visitor management programs Operate parking registration and photo identification equipment Issue and retrieve government keys and identification cards Review requests for and issue passes and identification documents Maintain accurate key inventory and accountability databases Maintain accountability records and logs for Police Officer badges issued
• Conduct administrative (non-criminal) investigations into lost keys - passes - and PIV cards to assess compromised access and terminate permissions
• Monitor and receive routine and emergency calls requiring police - fire - medical - or other emergency services Determine the nature and location of emergencies and prioritize events appropriately Commit police resources based on event type and make necessary notifications Coordinate follow-up communications for ongoing incidents Receive and process emergency calls while maintaining contact with law enforcement units on assignment Track and maintain the status and location of Police Officers Coordinate communications between agencies when necessary
• Answer non-emergency calls for assistance Monitor and direct responses to security and life-safety communications - radio dispatches - telephone calls - and emergency circuits Receive and compile information from various sources related to police and emergency incidents Take action on intrusion - duress - and holdup alarms and direct or modify the responding personnel accordingly Coordinate with federal - state - and local law enforcement officials during emergencies Maintain orderly communication flow between the police dispatch center - agency leadership - and the workforce Operate communications and security equipment - including computers - multi-frequency radios - and multi-line telephone systems Support routine and emergency operations using a variety of communications and computer systems Perform system checks on dispatch center equipment and troubleshoot issues as they arise
• Conduct equipment inventories and complete required records and logs Perform monthly alarm tests and submit operational status reports
• Initiate work orders for malfunctioning circuits or equipment Enter - update - and retrieve information from various computer systems and sensitive databases Use state and National Crime Information Computer (NCIC) systems to access sensitive law enforcement data Query criminal histories - arrest warrants - driver's records - stolen property - vehicle registrations - firearms - and related information
• Enter or update regional and national records/messages to assist with recovering stolen property or locating missing/endangered persons Gather and relay relevant information to law enforcement personnel in the field Use VA Police Software to research information - complete reports - logs - and vehicle registrations Compile and prepare reports on events occurring in the police control center
• Generate police reports for routine - non-criminal incidents such as lost property or missing patients Process Courtesy Violations Notices (CVN) and U.S. District Court Violation Notices (USDCVN) per established policies
• Complete special projects as assigned - including developing program statistics - reports - and related materials
• Work Schedule: 12HR shifts- 6:00 am - 6:00pm and 6:00pm -6:00am (on a rotating schedule ) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Security Assistant/PD00220A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved