Sample KSA’s for Captain

This is from a Highway Patrol job description for Captain.

 CAPTAIN,  HIGHWAY PATROL

 DEFINITION

Under direction, to have charge of the work of the Highway Patrol in an assigned field area office; or in a headquarters or division office, to have charge of a major staff function; and to do other related work.

Instructions for worksheet: Write in your personal expertise, experience, etc., in handling EACH of the separate KSA’s to “Match” your KSA’s to THE JOB DESCRIPTION) Be concise; use “bullets” as “talking points” only. This is NOT a written report! (For example, I’ve demonstrated these skills by the following experience – Tell your “story!” …) 

Here is what job description looks like with a self-rating component:

  1. Effective deployment of personnel; Monitors deployment of personnel
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows: I’ve had many occasions where I demonstrated my management abilities in the following examples:

Managing Personnel in a wide variety of events including: Major disasters, Tactical, Event Planning, including VIP protection. 

(Note also that most of the KSA’s below and more, are inherent in the management of personnel. Talking points could include inserting your management experiences in:

  • Organizational
  • Planning
  • Personnel issues
  • Staffing
  • Scheduling
  • Writing Contingency plans
  • Budgets
  • Incident Manager

2. Guides and counsels immediate subordinates;

1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:

 

  1. Personally contacts local heads of allied agencies and public leaders within the jurisdiction of the command to promote a positive image for the Department;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Keeps informed of relevant news items that may have an effect on the command;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Reviews departmental written communications and disseminates information within the command;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Reviews completed personnel complaint investigation packages to ensure completeness;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Prepares employee evaluations and acts as reviewing officer for those prepared by subordinates;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Sets an example for the command in terms of physical appearance, personal honesty and integrity, enthusiasm, and commitment;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Manages the operation of the command to meet departmental goals;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Provides information about command operations to superiors;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Interprets and coordinates the application of departmental policies and procedures within the command;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Ensures compliance with injury, illness, and hazardous exposure reporting procedures;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Actively monitors injury and illness case management;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Conducts meetings with subordinate supervisors to resolve problems and establish priorities;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Discusses informal complaints with employees;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Assigns, directs, and coordinates punitive action investigations within the command and takes appropriate action;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Responds to formal grievances; coordinates ongoing command operations with allied agencies and other State agencies; reviews compilations of area field reports in order to evaluate officer activity within the area command;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Attends community service and law enforcement association functions as a representative of the Department;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Provides information to the news media on area enforcement policy, public services, and special activities by appearing on local media programs or responding to questions from reporters;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Plans, coordinates, and directs the implementation of specialized departmental studies, projects, and programs;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Makes presentations to various civic, safety, and law enforcement groups regarding departmental policy and programs;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Monitors ongoing special duty programs within the command; monitors command equipment needs;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Develops and submits a proposed annual budget for the command; may take enforcement action and perform public service activities.
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of: 

  1. Management theories, techniques, and applications;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Supervisory techniques;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Departmental policies;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. The principles of grammar and sentence construction; departmental manuals, guides, publications, and General Orders;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
 

 

  1. Headquarters and field organization and operations;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:

 

  1. Departmental trends;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. The resources available to assist in meeting goals and objectives;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Current laws and proposed legislation as they affect the command’s operations;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Current events in terms of their possible effect on the area command’s operations;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. The geographical and socioeconomic makeup of the command;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Available training programs, resources, and methods;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. The local community structure and its formal and informal leaders;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. The jurisdictions encompassed by various government agencies;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. the costs involved in the operation of a command;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Operations and policies of allied agencies;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Facility maintenance requirements; and Equal Employment Opportunity regulations.
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:

Ability to:  

  1. Use common sense when making decisions;
  2. Take prompt and appropriate disciplinary action;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Establish effective relationships with superiors, peers, and subordinates;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Accomplish goals through others; accept departmental directives contrary to personal beliefs or opinions and generate support for these directives among the entire command;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Communicate effectively with a variety of individuals;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Gain the confidence, cooperation, and respect of the entire command;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Adapt quickly to a variety of situations and personalities;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Identify and apply management principles and techniques;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Encourage a high level of morale within the command;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Recognize and resolve problems; make sound judgments regarding which items to delegate, which to take action on, and which to refer to superiors;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Objectively identify all facts and implications related to a situation before drawing conclusions;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Guide and counsel subordinates on problems that affect their job performance; recognize and set priorities for self and staff;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Be flexible in adapting to changes in priorities and responding to interruptions;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Objectively identify strengths, weaknesses, and potential in subordinates;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Interpret and direct the enforcement of complex laws and programs within the command;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Physically conduct an arrest; aid victims or motorists;
  2. Speak effectively in public before a variety of audiences;
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:
  1. Analyze statistical data, charts, and graphs.
1=Low; 5=High 1 2 3 4 5
Self-ranking
I have demonstrated these KSA’s as follows:

 SPECIAL PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

  • Honesty
  • Integrity
  • Impartiality
  • Fairness
  • Leadership
  • Enthusiasm
  • Commitment
  • Diplomacy
  • Professional demeanor
  • Appearance commensurate with departmental policy