Special Agent

About the role

Joining the Secret Service as a Special Agent will allow you to perform critical protective and investigative assignments. The Special Agent position starts at a base salary of $48,854.00 (GL-07, step 1), with promotion potential to $118,204.00 (GS-13, step 10).

This position is covered by Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) which is an additional compensation of 25% of the basic rate of pay. Recruitment incentives up to $40,000. For more information click here.

What you will do

• Joining the United States Secret Service (USSS) as a Special Agent offers a unique and rewarding career dedicated to serving the nation through our dual mission of criminal investigations and protection.
• Special Agents play a critical role in safeguarding the financial integrity of the United States and protecting its highest leaders, including the President, Vice President, and other designated individuals.
• Throughout their careers, Special Agents have the opportunity to work on diverse assignments across the country and around the globe, gaining unparalleled experience in both investigative and protective operations.
• Responsibilities include: Conducting complex criminal investigations into financial crimes, including counterfeiting, cyber fraud, and other threats to the financial infrastructure of the United States.
• Providing physical protection for the President, Vice President, their families, visiting foreign dignitaries, and other protectees, ensuring their safety in every environment.
• Designing, planning, and implementing advanced security measures for National Special Security Events (NSSEs), such as presidential inaugurations, international summits, and other high-profile events.
• As a Special Agent, you will be part of an elite team committed to excellence, integrity, and service, with opportunities to serve at multiple duty stations both domestically and internationally.
• This dynamic and impactful career challenges you to rise to your fullest potential while making a difference for the nation.
• For more information about the Special Agent position, click here.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required. U.S. citizens are legally authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship and are entitled to all rights and protections under U.S. law.
• Possess a current valid driver's license.
• Must be REAL ID compliant.
• Use your official name on your application as it appears on your valid government identification (i.e., REAL ID Driver's License, State ID, Passport).
• Must be at least 21 years old at the time of application.
• Applicants may be referred up to their 40th birthday.
• Referral is defined as the point at which minimum qualification determinations are completed.
• Exceptions may apply for those with current or prior service in federal law enforcement positions covered by special retirement provisions.
• The Secret Service has determined that age is essential to the performance of this position.
• Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
• Disclose any prior drug use, attempted use, and/or experimentation.
• Obtain a Top-Secret Clearance and retain it during your career.
• This position requires an automatic credit check after initial qualifications are met.
• Maintaining firearm proficiency is mandatory.
• You will be ineligible to occupy this position if at any time you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, unless you received a pardon, or your conviction was expunged or set aside.
• Candidates are required to complete an intensive 13-week training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA, followed by specialized 18-week training at the James J.
• Rowley Training Center in Laurel, MD.
• Failure to pass the training program may result in separation from the Secret Service.
• Sign a mobility agreement stating your willingness to accept assignments anywhere within the United States and overseas.
• Certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so, if you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959.
• Must have uncorrected vision of at least 20/100, correctable to 20/20 in each eye.
• LASIK, ALK, RK, and PRK surgeries are acceptable if required post-surgery visual tests are passed: Lasik (3 months), PRK (6 months), ALK/RK (1 year) waiting periods apply.
• Hearing loss, as measured by an audiometer, must not exceed 25 decibels (A.S.A. or equivalent I.S.O.) in either ear in the 500,1000 and 2000Hz ranges.

How you will be evaluated

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will receive a conditional job offer.

The competencies needed to perform this job are: Investigative methods Protective methods Law enforcement techniques Exercising initiative Attention to detail Judgment and Problem Solving Ability to analyze and evaluate data or evidence Ability to partner with or lead others Interviews are required for this position.

Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

Your on-line application will be rated on the extent, quality, and relevance of the following: your experience, education and training, and competencies.

All applicants are evaluated on competencies related to law enforcement methods and techniques, protective methods and techniques, investigative methods and techniques, initiative, attention to detail, learning, problem solving, partnering, planning and organizing, and leadership. All answers in the online process must be substantiated by your resume.

Upon review your resume and transcripts need to support your answer choices. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or on the application questionnaire may result in your removal for consideration.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Personnel Management guidance and U.S. Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Click here to learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Documents you must provide

• Resume - Limit your resume to no more than two pages.
• The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.
• In order to receive credit for experience contained in an uploaded resume, your employment history should show relevant work experience in detail and in month/year format (MM/YYYY), reflecting starting date and ending date, and include the number of hours worked per week.
• To learn how to format and submit a two-page resume, please visit the USAJOBS Help Center.
• If you are qualifying based on education, or you are qualifying based on a combination of education and experience, or are claiming Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) to qualify at the GL-07 level (as explained in the Qualifications section), you must submit a copy of your college/university transcript (unofficial is acceptable) which must show school name, student's name, credit earned, degree, and date awarded.
• Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States.
• For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university.
• It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application.
• See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.
• Those with Foreign education, click here.
• Submit Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) or Statement of Service.
• If a DD-214 is not available, submit your Statement of Service from the Armed Forces that list the beginning and ending dates of active service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions.
• Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out the SF-15 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form.
• Click here for more veterans' information.
• Are you a current or former Federal Employee?
• Submit a copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing your tenure code, position occupied and highest grade and step.
• In addition, if you have or had service in a Federal Law Enforcement position covered by law enforcement or firefighter retirement provisions, including early or mandatory retirement, the SF-50 must show the retirement code.
• You may have to submit more than one to show time in the code.
• An award SF-50 does not contain the required information.
• Also submit your performance appraisals and/or incentive awards.
• The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees.
• If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
• Did you previously take the Special Agent Entrance Exam (SAEE)?
• Submit a copy of your SAEE results.

Benefits

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays.

Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies (government vehicle); uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities.

For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service- connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

What to expect next

You may check the status of your application for this position by going to *** You will also receive an e-mail notification regarding your application status. For definitions of terms found in this announcement, please click here.

Additional information

*Recruitment Incentive: Applicants may be eligible for a $40,000 recruitment incentive in accordance with regulatory requirements. The first installment of $15,000 will be paid following successful completion of Secret Service Criminal Investigator training.

A second installment of $10,000 will be paid following one year of service post training and an acceptable performance rating. The final installment of $15,000 will be paid after a third year of service post training and an acceptable performance rating. Provision of these payments require the execution of a three-year Continued Service Agreement (CSA) with the agency.

Newly hired employees who resign from the USSS prior to the expiration of the CSA will be required to repay the recruitment incentive. (NOTE: Eligibility is limited to "Newly appointed" Federal employees as defined by 5 CFR 575.102). Applicants selected for this position will be required to sign a CSA before being assigned to an initial training class.

The CSA will commit the applicant to a specified period of employment with the Secret Service upon the successful completion of training.

Applicants will be required to travel to all phases of the hiring process at their own expense.

If a final job offer is extended, relocation expenses will not be authorized for first duty location.

The Secret Service prohibits employees from having visible body markings (including but not limited to tattoos, body art and branding) on the head, face, neck, hand and fingers (any area below the wrist bone) (exception a single conservative and unobtrusive tattoo in the form of a ring is authorized on one finger).

If you are deemed minimally qualified for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entering Phase 1 of the hiring process.

False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment. Since the duties of this position are exacting and involve the responsibility for the safety of others under trying conditions, applicants must possess emotional and mental stability.

Any condition that would hinder full efficient performance of the duties of this position or that would cause the individual to be a hazard to himself/herself or to others is disqualifying.

There are also specific medical requirements for this position and any chronic disease or condition affecting the respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, digestive, nervous, endocrine, lymphatic, nervous, genitourinary and other systems that would impair full performance of the duties of the position may also be disqualifying.

Click here for more information. The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment.

In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to Equal ***.