Security Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Tuskegee (AL); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Security Assistant for the VA Police Service in the Field Operations Division.

The role supports alarm monitoring, access control, and protective services across VA facilities, with duties spanning logs, reports, and enforcement coordination. The position requires time-in-grade eligibility and experience with security systems, access control, and emergency response.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience or education as described for GS-5 level.
• Ability to monitor alarms, trace access patterns, and update databases.

Responsibilities

• Performs alarm and access monitoring
• Traces access patterns and reviews reports
• Manages user permissions and updates databases
• Remotely opens and secures doors during routine and emergency operations
• Assesses on-scene behavior and determines when to dispatch personnel
• Maintains required records and prepares reports
• Operates vehicle registration and visitor management programs
• Issues and tracks identification documents and keys
• Performs administrative investigations of security incidents

Skills

Alarm monitoring

Access control

Report generation

Job description

Summary 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.

Qualifications To qualify for this position – applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement – 10/16/2026. 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-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. 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-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include – but are not limited to: Performs alarm and access monitoring; traces access patterns; programs; assigns or removes user permissions; updates databases; remotely opens and secures doors during routine and emergency operations; and generates a variety of reports as needed. Assesses on-scene behavior and determines when it is appropriate to dispatch law enforcement or other personnel to investigate. Responsible for responding to alarm systems monitoring fire – access – intrusion – duress/panic – medical emergencies – psychiatric emergencies – medical assist teams – etc. – and the emergency digital paging system. Monitors emergency weather alerts and transmits warnings system-wide when appropriate. Maintains radio/alarm activity records/logs to include dates – times – and results of communications and activities – and prepares completed reports. Performs and documents emergency callbacks when necessary. Tracks critical information and reports findings to the supervisor. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed education above the high school level in any field. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business – secretarial or technical school – junior college – college or university. One year of full-time academic 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 school – 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 above the high school level. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify – a copy of your transcript is required. Physical Requirements: The work is typically sedentary in nature. However – there may be some walking – standing – bending – and carrying of light items such as papers – books – small parts; etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. 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

• Performs alarm and access monitoring
• traces access patterns
• programs
• assigns or removes user permissions
• updates databases
• remotely opens and secures doors during routine and emergency operations
• and generates a variety of reports as needed
• Assesses on-scene behavior and determines when it is appropriate to dispatch law enforcement or other personnel to investigate
• Responsible for responding to alarm systems monitoring fire – access – intrusion – duress/panic – medical emergencies – psychiatric emergencies – medical assist teams – etc. – and the emergency digital paging system
• Monitors emergency weather alerts and transmits warnings system-wide when appropriate
• Maintains radio/alarm activity records/logs to include dates – times – and results of communications and activities – and prepares completed reports
• Performs and documents emergency callbacks when necessary
• Tracks critical information and reports findings to the supervisor
• Implements policies – procedures – and methods for identifying and protecting information – personnel – property – facilities – operations – or material
• Operates an established vehicle registration and visitor management program and parking registration and/or photo identification equipment
• Issues and retrieves government-issued keys and/or identification cards
• Reviews requests for and issues passes and identification documents
• Maintains accurate key inventory and accountability database
• Maintains accountability of Police Officer badges issued and all associated logs
• Performs administrative (non-criminal) investigations of lost keys – passes – and PIV cards to rapidly assess and document compromised access to VA property and terminate off-access permissions
• Work Schedule: Compressed 12-hour Panama schedule that rotates Monday – Sunday each 2-week pay period
• Candidates must be willing to work dayshift – nightshift – weekends – irregular work hours and extended hours if determined by the needs of Police Service
• Compressed/Flexible: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Security Assistant/PD00220A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized