Security Assistant Dispatcher

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Veterans Health Administration in Charleston is seeking a Security Assistant Dispatcher within Police Service. The role leads a team of Security Assistants responsible for monitoring physical security equipment, directing officer response to emergencies, and handling communications and life-safety systems.

The position requires Time-In-Grade eligibility and adherence to GS-5 qualifications; education may substitute for experience per OPM guidelines.

Qualifications

• Time-In-Grade requirements apply to current Federal employees.
• Specialized experience includes security administration and law enforcement knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Security Assistants monitoring security systems.
• Direct police response to emergencies and non-emergency incidents.
• Coordinate communications, radio dispatching, and life-safety duties.
• Maintain documentation and support operations for Police Services.

Education

Four years of education above high school

Job description

This position serves as the Security Assistant Dispatcher for Police Service in Charleston within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) with a primary purpose to lead a team of Security Assistants responsible for monitoring physical security equipment, directing police officer response to emergency and non-emergency criminal activity, security and life safety matters, communications, radio dispatching, telephone, fire and security computer system and systems. 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-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: general administrative and/or clerical skills, practical knowledge of specific security or law enforcement objectives, programs, methods, and procedures, and skills in carrying out support tasks related to law enforcement and security administration. The position has practical knowledge of the mission and objectives of Police Services, physical security systems, and procedures to support operations and the work of other staff. 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. 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 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.

Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i. e. beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement.

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/.