Supervisory Transportation Security Specialist - Explosives

Transportation Security Administration

Chicago (IL)

On-site

USD 119,000 - 155,000

Full time

9 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Flexible Spending Account

Paid federal holidays

Job summary

Transportation Security Administration seeks a Supervisory Transportation Security Specialist - Explosives at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD). You will be the subject matter expert on threats from explosives/IEDs, mentor front-line staff, and coordinate with TSA teams, law enforcement, and industry partners to safeguard passengers and routes.

The role emphasizes supervision, threat assessment, and high-stakes decision making to ensure secure screening operations across multiple

Qualifications

Expert knowledge on threats to travelers from explosives and IEDs.
Experience in threat assessment and training of staff.
Emergency Essential position designation and DHS requirements.

Responsibilities

Coordinate with TSS-E staff, screening workforce, and threat programs.
Mentor and train lower-banded staff for issue resolution and growth.
Directly manage checkpoint operations, alarm resolutions, and escalation with law enforcement.
Develop relationships with multi-modal partners and internal/external stakeholders.
Lead supervisory duties: assign work, set priorities, review performance, and approve leave.

Skills

Explosives threat knowledge

Threat assessment

Mentoring/trainings

Job description

Supervisory Transportation Security Specialist - Explosives

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 - Explosives position is located at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

If selected for this position, you will serve as a subject matter expert with advanced knowledge on all issues involving threats to the traveling public from explosives and Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) for the Federal Security Director (FSD) at designated airport(s).

You will also apply experience and technical knowledge of explosives to assess threats, educate the screening workforce in the detection of threats, and support explosive vulnerability assessments in all modes of transportation.

Duties include, but are not limited to: Coordinating and collaborating with other TSS-E staff, the screening workforce, and other Threat Assessment Programs, such as the National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program and Specialized Screening Operations. Acting as a mentor and trainer to lower banded TSS-Es to resolve any issues they may have, to support their professional growth, and to support their success in assessing and resolving alarms.

Directing the closure of the checkpoint, openings and evaluation distances, and contacting appropriate law enforcement or bomb squad, as required. In coordination with, and in support of Airport Screening Operations, responding to and assessing all unresolved checkpoint and checked baggage alarms involving possible explosives, IED components or actual IEDs, rendering a final decision on alarm resolution.

Assessing the interrelationships between initiators, power supplies, and chemicals. Determining if devices are improvised explosives, commercial explosives, or mixed explosives (fuel mixtures). Participating with evaluation teams in conducting covert drills to determine effectiveness of the training programs, recommending individuals for remediation, and identifying potential security vulnerabilities.

Mentoring and training the front-line screening workforce to increase their operational knowledge of explosives and IED components. Facilitating IED training aid drills to act as a force multiplier for dissemination of threat information. Providing effective and consistent training that improves the detection of threats by the screening force nationwide through classroom training, covert drills, opportunity based training, overt drills, and technical briefings.

Spearheading efforts to integrate and familiarize local Bomb Squads and military EOD units to the transportation environment. Developing and maintaining relationships and training products with and for multi-modal partners, as well as internal and external stakeholders. 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 $118984 – $154682/yr.

What security clearance is required?

This position requires a Secret security clearance.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-09-28.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Competitive' hiring path.