Supervisory Chemical Security Inspector Opening

Last week the Infrastructure Security Compliance Division of DHS/NPPD posted a job opening on USAJobs.gov for a Supervisory Chemical Security Inspector. The application period for this GS-15 job position will be open until November 13^th, 2012. The person selected for this position in Arlington, VA will serve as the Branch Chief of the Inspections & Enforcement (I&E) Branch for the CFATS program (and probably the Ammonium Nitrate Security Program if/when that is actually started).

Duties

According to USAJobs.gov the duties of this position include:

• Collaborate and maintain working relationships with other Infrastructure Security Compliance Division branches to inform, educate, and direct security issues to appropriate existing channels for review and resolution.

• Monitor the performance of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program and relate activities on a continuing basis, taking appropriate steps to improve its effectiveness.

• Provide policy analysis, oversight, and technical expertise on legislation and regulations to the national CFATS program by assessing, interpreting, and implementing regulatory requirements.

• Develop networks and build alliances, engage in cross-functional activities; collaborate across boundaries and find common ground with a wide range of stakeholders. Utilize contacts to build and strengthen internal support bases.

• Responsible for the direct management and supervision of subordinates and oversight of all staff members in the Inspection and Enforcement Branch to include several remote locations.

• Responsible for hiring, performance evaluation, disciplinary action, and leave approval.

Qualifications

The USAJobs.gov site divides qualifications into two categories; Key Requirements and Qualifications Required.

The Key Requirements are:

• U. S. Citizenship is required.

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance.

• Relocation Expenses MAY be authorized.

• Overnight travel of 6-10 nights per month may be required.

• Selectee will be required to submit a financial disclosure form (OGE-450).

• Must be able to obtain a state driver's license.

For the Qualifications Required at the grade GS-15, applicants must have at least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-14 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience must include activities such as

• Evaluating subordinate chemical inspector preparation, performance, and reporting on chemical facility inspections;

• Reporting on chemical facilities by utilizing the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS); and

• Supervising the work performance of other chemical facility inspectors.

Commentary

 

It would seem to me that the ‘Qualifications Required’ kind of limit the scope of eligibility for this position to Regional Commanders (the heads of the regional chemical facility inspector teams) in the CFATS program. I don’t see any real problem with this as it would certainly limit the amount of additional training required for someone moving into this position.  It could be argued, however, that limiting this to in-house promotions would not allow for the kind of new thinking that is obviously required to get this program moving forward with the inspection process in a timelier manner.