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Supervisory Physical Security Specialist (Commander) (GS-09/10)

National Gallery of Art

Washington, DC · $71k–$101k a year · Posted October 23, 2026

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About the job

Summary

We are the nation's art museum, home to a renowned collection of over 160,000 works of art from antiquity to today. Millions of people come through our doors each year—with even more online—making us one of the most visited art museums in the world. Located on the National Mall, admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.

Duties

This position is located within the Operations Section (AOP-OPS), Office of Protection Services (AOP), Administrator's Office, National Gallery of Art. The incumbent works under the general supervision of and reports to the Captain, who provides administrative direction and guidance on security, operations, policy and procedures; and takes direction from the Chief and Assistant Chief of Protection Services, who are also in the direct line of the position's chain of command. Duties for this position include; Supervises security operations for an assigned shift, ensuring compliance with policies and the protection of Gallery personnel, visitors, facilities, collections, and assets. Evaluates security procedures, staffing, deployments, and physical security measures; conducts inspections, assessments, and incident-trend analyses; and recommends operational improvements. Develops and monitors post instructions, emergency procedures, continuity measures, and security plans for special events and high-profile activities. Coordinates with internal and external stakeholders. Reviews operational documentation and conducts or assists with administrative investigations to ensure effective, consistent, and policy-compliant security operations. Evaluates employee performance, provide constructive feedback, and implementing corrective action plans in accordance with organizational policies.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience Statement GS-09: Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in responsibility to the GS-08 level in the Federal service or private sector; assisting with security operations, applying policies, monitoring effectiveness, identifying vulnerabilities, recommending improvements, and supervising staff performance in Federal or private settings. Specialized Experience Statement GS-10: Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in responsibility to the GS-09 level in the Federal service or private sector; coordinating security operations, implementing policies, monitoring effectiveness, identifying vulnerabilities, recommending improvements, and supervising staff performance in Federal or private settings. OPM Qualifications Standard: Security Administration Series 0080 Associated Group standard: Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions Other Relevant Eligibility Criteria: Requires the carrying of a firearm. Must be able to obtain and maintain current qualification for use of a firearm. This is a drug testing designated position. Must have or be able to obtain and maintain CPR/AED/First Aid certification. Must have or be able to obtain the following DHS NIMS certifications: ICS 700, 100, 200, 300, and 400 courses Must have and maintain a valid drivers' license. Must be able to work rotating shift schedule to include weekends and holidays, with either an 8 hours/5 days or 10 hours/4 days' work schedule as assigned. Must be available for frequent overtime hours. Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. Must be able to wear personal protective equipment This is an Emergency Employee position, required to report/remain on duty during emergency situations and hazardous weather conditions Lautenberg Amendment: This position is covered by the 1996 Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968. A person convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence is not eligible for the position Merit promotion applicants must meet the time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 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; religious; 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: Applicants who are referred to the hiring office for selection consideration may be required to submit writing and/or work samples as part of the interview/selection process. If the hiring office decides to request a writing and/or work sample as part of its selection process, the vacancy contact will reach out to you by email to: (1) inform you of this requirement; and (2) provide further instructions.

Requirements

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on OPM Website. It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit appropriate documentation prior to the closing date. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant experience as it relates to this job announcement. Be clear and specific when describing your work history since human resources cannot make assumptions regarding your experience. 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; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Your resume must include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week.

Key requirements

You must be a United States Citizen. May be required to complete a supervisory probationary period Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service See "Other Information" section regarding Selective Service requirements. Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation May be required to successfully complete a probationary period Able to obtain and maintain current qualification for use of firearm Must have or be able to obtain and maintain CPR/AED/First Aid certification Must have or be able to obtain DHS NIMS certifications Must have and maintain a valid drivers license

Education

This position does not have an education requirement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses to the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Knowledge of employee development strategies and the ability to mentor staff, set clear performance goals, and foster a collaborative team environment. Knowledge and understanding of DHS National Incident Management System (NIMS) to coordinate the appropriate responses to alarms and emergency situations. Knowledge of access control procedures, visitor management practices, event security requirements, and protective measures used to safeguard public facilities and cultural property. Skill in coordinating security assignments, communicating with staff and partner organizations, and implementing security procedures to support operations and special events. Ability to coordinate multiple security activities simultaneously, recognize potential security concerns, and adapt security operations to changing conditions while maintaining a professional level of customer service. All qualified non-competitive applicants and all qualified Merit applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. The National Gallery of Art uses an application tracking system to evaluate the responses you provide in the applicant assessment questionnaire to determine if you meet the minimum qualification requirements of this position. Then, the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to determine if your qualifications meet the criteria for referral to the selecting official. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The application process is as follows: Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page. You must have a USAJOBS account and be logged in. You must have a completed resume. (You may use the Resume Builder in USAJOBS) You must respond to all applicant assessment questions, carefully following all instructions provided. You will be able to upload additional supporting documentation, which may include, but not limited to transcripts, notification of personnel actions (SF-50), certifications and verification of veterans status (SF-15, DD-214) The complete application package, including any additional supporting documents required for this position is due in the National Gallery of Art Personnel Office on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. NOTE: Applicants who cannot apply on-line must request a hard copy application packet from the Agency Contact listed in the vacancy announcement via email. Resumes and/or supporting documentation alone will not be considered without the inclusion of a hard copy application packet. The complete package is due no later than 5:30 PM Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement. The National Gallery of Art receives many applications for each job. Each application is reviewed carefully which may take a few weeks. You may also check your application status by logging into www.usajobs.gov and selecting the tab "My USAJOBS". You may check your application status by logging into www.usajobs.gov and selecting the tab "My USAJOBS".

Other information

The National Gallery of Art fosters a fair workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The EEO policy is found at: https://www.nga.gov/employment-opportunities/equal-employment-opportunity More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement. This position is not included in the bargaining unit. Relocation expenses will not be paid. Some positions may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. EEO Policy: USAJOBS Help Center - Equal employment opportunity policy Reasonable Accommodation Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/reasonable-accommodation Veterans Information: https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/ Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements visit the following websites: Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses Other Special Appointment Authorities Reasonable Accommodation Requests: To learn more, please consult the following resources: Disability Employment - Reasonable Accommodations (OPM) How to contact an agency