Police Officer (Supervisory)
What you'd do
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, & VCA) facilities nationwide.
Major duties
Major Duties include but not limited to: Supervisory and Personnel Management (35%) Provides leadership and guidance to subordinate supervisors and managers in implementing policies, procedures, and directives of senior management. Oversees and evaluates supervisory practices to ensure consistency, equity, and compliance across the organization. Reviews and approves recommendations for selections, promotions, details, and reassignments, ensuring alignment with mission requirements and workforce planning objectives. Establishes and interprets performance standards for organizational units and ensures subordinate supervisors effectively communicate expectations and provide feedback to their teams. Evaluates the performance of subordinate supervisors and ensures fair and consistent application of rating techniques throughout the division. Approves or recommends awards and pay actions within delegated authority. Addresses complex employee relations issues elevated by subordinate supervisors and refers unresolved matters to higher management when necessary. Provides direction on corrective actions for performance or conduct issues and reviews proposed disciplinary measures for appropriateness and compliance. Identifies organizational training needs and ensures supervisors facilitate employee development opportunities to maintain and enhance workforce capabilities. Approves leave policies and schedules at the organizational level to ensure adequate coverage during peak workloads and holiday periods. Enforcement and Investigations (25%) Performs a wide variety of duties encompassing the enforcement and compliance of laws relating to the protection of life, property, and federal assets. Enforces all federal, state, and local laws pertaining to violations on government property and federally controlled assets. Preserves the peace, prevents crimes, arrests offenders, and provides police assistance during emergency and/or life-threatening situations. Pursues and apprehends persons fleeing a crime scene or attempting to resist arrest. Engages in the hot pursuit of a fleeing felon and may leave jurisdictional boundaries to conduct investigations. Crisis Intervention/Suicide Prevention (15%) Serves as a member of a Crisis Intervention Team, responding to and recognizing Veterans experiencing mental health crisis, utilizing advanced de-escalation strategies and knowledge of VA resources to ensure the best possible outcome for our nation's Veterans. Liaisons with other federal, state, and local public safety agencies to conduct training and communication networks to increase the effectiveness of Veteran Centric Policing models. Inspections (20%) Conducts inspections of federal VA facilities and worksites for compliance with VA physical security requirements. Performs inspections of physical security countermeasures to include electronic access control systems, CCTV Systems, Intrusion Alarms, Duress Alarms, and other systems. Assists with Vulnerability Assessments, as well as Physical Security Surveys. Any discrepancies noted in the site inspection will be forwarded to the respective COTR or COR for appropriate action and/or to the higher-grade VA Police Physical Security Specialist assigned responsibility for the facility. Work Schedule: Shift work to include weekends and holidays. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Police Officer (Supervisory)/PD00246A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Approved
What you need to qualify
Additional Conditions of Employment: Firearms: VA Police Officers are required to carry agency-approved firearms while on duty on VA property and must achieve and maintain qualifications/certification with the agency-approved firearms as condition of gaining and continuing employment as a Police Officer. Applicants must be able to possess firearms under the terms of the Gun Control Act of 1968, as amended (18 U.S.C. 922 (g) (9). Applicants Must qualify to be issued a firearm and semi-annually with assigned firearm, annually with an expandable Straight Baton (MEB), maintain a valid State or Commonwealth Driver's License and pass annual physical and psychosocial assessments. Medical Exam: A medical exam is required. VA Police Officers encounter people experiencing extreme poverty and personal hardship, such as separation from family who are difficult, hostile or distressed. Investigators also may witness drowning, vehicle accidents, and other tragedies. VA Police Officers are occasionally exposed to people who carry infectious diseases. Applicants/employees must have the capacity to perform the essential functions of the position without risk to themselves or others. They must possess emotional and mental stability. A psychological examination is required. In most instances, a specific medical condition or impairment will not automatically disqualify an applicant/employee. A medical condition or impairment is disqualifying only if the condition, for good medical reason, precludes assignment to or warrants restriction from the duties of the position. For some positions, the loss or impairment of a specific function may be compensated by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid. Reasonable accommodation shall also be considered in determining an applicant's ability to perform the duties of a position. VA Police Officers may be expected to continue irregular duty hours either at the Medical Center, local police offices, or at court especially during investigations of serious criminal incidents. This type of working schedule may negatively affect or burden family responsibilities. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/27/2026. 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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-8. 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 as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-8 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Experience that provided knowledge of a body of basic laws and regulations, law enforcement operations, practices, and techniques and involved responsibility for maintaining order and protecting life and property. Creditable specialized experience may have been gained in work on a police force; through service as a military police officer; in work providing visitor protection and law enforcement in parks, forests, or other natural resource or recreational environments; in performing criminal investigative duties; or in other work that provided the required knowledge and skills. GS-09 Policer Officer Supervisory: Specialized Experience: Reviews and approves work plans, priorities, and resource allocations proposed by subordinate supervisors; provides guidance on adjustments as necessary to meet organizational objectives. Establishes performance expectations for subordinate supervisors and evaluates their effectiveness in managing staff and achieving results. Approves recommendations for appointments, promotions, reassignments, and other personnel actions, ensuring alignment with organizational needs. Addresses complex complaints and employee relations issues elevated by subordinate supervisors and recommends appropriate actions in severe cases. Reviews and approves disciplinary actions proposed by subordinate supervisors for compliance and appropriateness. Identifies systemic training and development needs and ensures subordinate supervisors implement programs to build workforce capability. Provides input on budget and staffing requirements for the organization to ensure mission objectives are met. Promotes and enforces compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and affirmative action plans across all subordinate units. Maintains a positive organizational climate by monitoring workplace conditions and taking proactive steps to resolve systemic issues and foster employee engagement. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Criminal Law Decision Making Leadership Managing Human Resources Teaching Others Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Much of the work involves on-site work requiring prolonged walking over flat and even surfaces, working in confined spaces, crouching, bending, crawling, standing, and climbing. The work requires outside exposure to all temperatures. Also requires moderate to arduous physical exertion and possible exposure to personal danger. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Some work is performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office. The position requires exposure to varying climate and environmental conditions, including cold and warm weather conditions and/or exposure to high noise levels and dangerous substances. Appropriate safety practices will always be utilized. TRAVEL: The position may require 10% or more travel away from the office. FIREARMS REQUIREMENT: The incumbent will be required to carry a firearm while performing the duties of this position. Maintaining firearm proficiency is also mandatory. MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION: The incumbent must possess a valid automobile driver's license at the time of appointment and be available for frequent travel 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/.
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