LIHUE, Hawaii - Officials with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are encouraging local residents of the Island of Kauai to apply to the agency to work as security screening officers at Lihue Airport (LIH). TSA is currently hiring full- and part-time Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) and is offering a $2,000 hiring incentive for all new employees.
Entry-level TSOs who work full-time will be paid more than $60,000 annually and receive full federal employee benefits. The hiring incentive would be paid in two installments: the first payment made when starting with the agency and the second installment after one year of service.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen or national to apply. TSA does not require previous experience working in security or law enforcement fields to be considered for the position of TSO.
“We are laser focused on hiring TSOs at LIH. We want to add to our current team of security professionals and we have never been more motivated than we are right now to hire local residents,” said TSA Federal Security Director for Hawaii Nanea Vasta. “If you enjoy working as part of a larger team and want to use your skills to support Hawaii’s number one industry with steady employment, please consider joining our local TSA team. This job opportunity is a great way for anyone to begin or continue their federal career right here on the Island of Kauai.”
TSA is hosting two in-person hiring events for local residents who are interested in applying to work at TSA. The events will be held Wednesday, July 31, 2024, and Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at the TSA administrative offices located at 4280 Rice Street, Lihue. Free on-site parking is available.
Applicants should plan to be at the hiring event for about three hours. They need to bring two forms of identification: one to establish their identity and another to establish they are a U.S. citizen or U.S. national. Any questions about acceptable identification should be directed to the individual named at the end of the press release. Applicants should also bring a smart device so they can access their personal email.
During the hiring process, interested applicants will learn about the duties and responsibilities of a TSO, take a computer-based test and participate in a structured interview session. TSA also requires a medical evaluation, federal drug screening and pre-hire background investigation for all applicants.
All TSOs receive full federal benefits including paid training, annual and sick leave, choice of federal health care plans, a pension and a generous 401k retirement plan. Veteran’s preference is not required to join the agency.
TSOs are eligible for shift differential pay for early morning and evening shifts as well as on Sundays and federal holidays. Overtime opportunities, which are paid at time and a half, may be made available.
TSOs at LIH screen thousands of airline travelers and their belongings weekly, ensuring that the travelers arrive at their destinations safely and securely. TSOs will utilize multiple security technologies to perform their screening duties in both the security checkpoint and checked baggage operations.
Newly-hired TSOs will attend paid, two-week standardized training with other recently hired TSOs from around the country and will continue to receive ongoing on-the-job training during their tenure at TSA.
For more information on the duties of a TSA officer and to learn a little more about TSA’s mission, a video titled “Day in the Life of a TSO” is available. To view the application to work for TSA at LIH, visit https://www.usajobs.gov/job/782976000.
For more information on this job opportunity, please contact Tisha Rapozo-Soares via email at tisha.rapozo-soares@tsa.dhs.gov or by phone at (808) 241-4511.