Security Assistant Dispatcher

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; South Carolina; On-site; USD 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Charleston is seeking a Security Assistant Dispatcher to lead a team of Security Assistants, monitor security equipment, direct police response to emergencies, and coordinate communications across radio, telephone, and computer systems.

The role requires handling routine reports, NCIC operations, and collaboration with military and civilian agencies under established protocols. Rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays, are required.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-4 in police/security support roles.
• Time-in-Grade requirements for current federal employees and how to document eligibility.
• Combination of education and experience can qualify; transcripts required.

Responsibilities

• Receiving and evaluating calls from the public concerning crimes, fires, and medical emergencies.
• Evaluating calls for proper action and entering data into a computer as it is being received.
• Initiating Police and/or Fire and Medical response by obtaining information required for dispatching field units.
• Maintaining routine reports and emergency calls for assistance from citizens and public safety personnel.
• Operates a National Crime Information Center (NCIC) terminal for research and verification tasks.
• Operates radios and computers with dispatch software and security systems.
• Coordinates with military and civilian agencies for mutual aid per protocols.
• Communicates via radio to pass hazards and obtain additional assets as needed.
• Provides post-dispatch instructions and maintains knowledge of response resources.

Skills

General administrative skills

Clerical skills

Security knowledge

Law enforcement support tasks

Education

4 years education above high school level

Job description

Summary

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.

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-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/.

Duties

• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Receiving and evaluating calls from the public concerning crimes - fires - and medical emergencies
• Evaluating calls for proper action and entering data into a computer as it is being received
• Initiating Police and/or Fire and Medical response by obtaining information required for dispatching field units
• Maintaining routine reports - referral information - and emergency calls for assistance from citizens and public safety personnel
• Operates a National Crime Information Center (NCIC) terminal for researching vehicle ownership - license plate and operator's license verification - wants and warrants on persons - etc
• Operates a variety of communications equipment such as radios and computers with general and specialized software common to the dispatching occupation
• Coordinates with military and civilian agencies in response to mutual aid requests - in accordance with locally established protocols
• Communicates via radio with responding personnel to pass pertinent information regarding hazards that may be present at the emergency scene and obtain additional assets if requested by the Incident Commander
• Provides appropriate post-dispatch and pre-arrival instructions and maintains knowledge of all response resources available - sometimes in a widely-dispersed environment
• Dispatches patrols for routine assignments ensuring patrols are completed within established guidelines and properly documented in official records
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Rotating shifts including nights - weekends and holidays
• Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Security Assistant Dispatcher/PD99858A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized