Supervisory Transportation Security Specialist - Canine

Transportation Security Administration

Tampa (FL)

On-site

USD 106,000 - 138,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Thrift Savings Plan

Flexible Spending Account

Paid federal holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Uniform allowance

Job summary

Transportation Security Administration at Tampa International Airport seeks a Supervisory Transportation Security Specialist - Canine to lead the canine program and supervise handlers, ensuring compliance with regulations and safety standards.

This emergency essential role manages training, health records, equipment, and logistics, conducts risk-based deployment of canine assets, and coordinates with DHS policies while preparing for formal evaluations.

Qualifications

Knowledge of canine training principles and TSA explosives detection dog operations.
Experience supervising canine teams and securing compliance with safety protocols.
Familiarity with transportation security policies and regulations.

Responsibilities

Supervise TSA canine handlers at Tampa International Airport and manage canine program operations.
Develop and review canine training plans; oversee proficiency assessments and training objectives.
Oversee canine health records, veterinary visits, and equipment (vehicles, kennels, storage).
Coordinate deployments, logistics, and performance reviews; ensure regulatory adherence.

Job description

Supervisory Transportation Security Specialist - Canine

Hiring Agency: Transportation Security Administration
Department: Department of Homeland Security

Securing Travel, Protecting People - At the Transportation Security Administration, you will serve in a high-stakes environment to safeguard the American way of life. In cities across the country, you would secure airports, seaports, railroads, highways, and/or public transit systems, thus protecting America's transportation infrastructure and ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce.

Key Responsibilities

This Supervisory Transportation Security Specialist - Canine position is located at Tampa International Airport (TPA), Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If selected for this position, you will manage TSA's canine program at a specific airport.

In this position, you will be responsible for supervising TSA canine handlers and ensuring that the program is carried out in an effective and efficient manner consistent with regulations, policies, and procedures.

Duties include, but are not limited to: Applying experience with TSA explosives detection canine operations, principles of canine team training, transportation security policies, directives, and regulations, and Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and industry regulations associated with explosives safety, transportation, storage and handling to guide and direct canine handlers.

Performing technical reviews of teams and making recommendations concerning the ability of canine teams to remain proficient in the detection of trained explosives odor and advancing training to counter emerging threats; ensuring the development and implementation of canine training plans based on training objectives, as well as any identified deficiencies for each canine team.

Supervising subordinates and regularly participating in the safe handling, transport, and accountability of explosives training aids in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). Overseeing the health, safety and well-being of canine assets, to include ensuring routine veterinary visits and maintenance of proper canine health documentation.

Managing the issuance and inspection of TSA issued equipment (i.e., vehicles, explosive storage magazines), and kennel facilities (i.e., home and commercial). Ensuring compliance with all program requirements and new initiatives that are pertinent to canine assets. Ensuring availability of canine teams for all formal evaluations and assessments; providing logistics support as needed and conducting progress reviews to ensure actions are taken to address noted deficiencies.

Conducting risk-based analysis when implementing the deployment of canine assets. Supervisory/Managerial duties includes serving as a first line supervisor for the organization.

This includes but is not limited to: assigning work, setting priorities, and reviewing and evaluating work and performance of subordinates; approving leave; coaching and developing employees; recommending corrective or disciplinary actions; assisting in budget planning and projecting short-term needs; managing projects within assigned resources; resolving routine problems that typically impact the objectives of the organizational unit; and when required, coordinating with customers outside the immediate organization.

Emergency Essential Position: This position is designated as an Emergency Essential (EE) position. This designation requires the employee to remain in a duty status if an emergency arises.

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays.

Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; situational telework may be permitted in accordance with departmental policy telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities.

For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

Employees who transfer to TSA from an agency that allows employees to maintain an annual leave balance higher than the maximum accumulation for the appointed position will have their leave ceiling set to the maximum accumulation for the appointed position (e.g., United States duty location - 240 hours, foreign duty location - 360 hours, or TSES position - 720 hours). TSA will not make a monetary payment for any leave forfeited under these circumstances.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $106437 – $138370/yr.

What security clearance is required?

This position requires a Secret security clearance.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-09-24.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Internal Search' hiring path.