Supervisory Chemical Security Inspector Openings

Last week the DHS National Protection and Programs Directorate (hmm, I thought that there had been a recent name change here to include something about cybersecurity) published a jobs opening on USAJobs.gov for a Supervisory Chemical Security Inspector in three US cities (Lakewood, CO; Hammond, IN; and Memphis, TN). The government is accepting applications through June 11^th.

According to the notice major duties include:

• Review and evaluate facility data security plans, countermeasures against Risk Based

• Performance Standards (RBPS), and data from the on-site chemical storage, manufacturing, processing, shipping and receiving of ammonium nitrate, prior to inspections and prepare comprehensive field reports of inspection findings and after-action reports. These reports may serve as the basis for initiating administrative and/or regulatory enforcement actions, as required.

• Provide technical and compliance assistance to facility operators/owners with respect to compliance with regulations.

• May serve as an action officer on a variety of liaison activities with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces, ATF Inspectors, State Homeland Security Advisors, State, regional, local intelligence fusion centers, local emergency planning committees, other relevant task forces, working groups, committees and private stakeholders.

The experience requirements for these positions include:

• 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.

There are a couple of entries in the position description that I don’t recall seeing before. First it notes that the position of Supervisory Chemical Security Inspector may be designated as an ‘essential personnel’ position. It goes on to explain that:

“Essential personnel must be able to serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of liberal leave or government closures due to weather, protests, acts of terrorism, or lack of funding [emphasis added].”

This ‘lack of funding’ caveat is a tad bit odd given the fact that during the federal funding fiasco last year, the CFATS inspectors all stayed home. Oh well, maybe the Department is just keeping their options open.

The other interesting requirement deals with hazmat response activities. The notice includes the statement that:

“During responses to emergencies there is the potential for exposure to toxic, biological, radiological or physical hazards that require the use of specialized protective equipment.”

During the stand-up of what is now known as the Infrastructure Security Compliance Division (ISCD) there had been some discussion about inspectors responding to actual attacks on covered chemical facilities. This lead to some expenditures on chemical safety equipment that were later questioned by the GAO and Congress when that ‘emergency response’ type activity was removed from the description of ISCD responsibility. I would be surprised and severely disappointed if responding to chemical emergencies (actually in the hot zone) were ever to be made part of the Chemical Security Inspector duties.

Personnel wishing to submit applications for these positions should log onto the USAJobs.gov website.