Technical Security Investigator

About the role

Joining the U.S. Secret Service, Office of Technical Operations, within the Aviation and Airspace Security Division, Operational Communications and Integration Division, or Technical Security Division allows you to provide specialized technical expertise and operational support, to develop and implement countermeasures against threats to protected individuals and facilities, and contribute to criminal investigations conducted by the USSS.

What you will do

• The selectee will serve as a Technical Security Investigator in the Office of Technical Operations, Aviation and Airspace Security Division (ASD), Technical Security Division (TSD) or Operational Communications and Intelligence Division (OCI).
• The Aviation and Airspace Security Division (ASD) develops, coordinates, and implement airspace security plans for sites visited by the President and Vice President of the United States or other designated USSS protectees.
• The Technical Security Division (TSD) provides specialized technical expertise and operational support, develops and implements countermeasures to address threats against protected persons and facilities, and supports criminal investigations conducted by the Secret Service.
• Please note, TSD is only selecting candidates for positions located in Washington, DC.
• The Operational Communications and Integration Division (OCI) provides secure, and integrated communications for Secret Service protectees and ensures reliable, interoperable systems with federal, state, and local partners to support protective and investigative missions.
• Please note, OCI is only selecting candidates for positions located in Washington, DC.
• Typical work assignments include: Installing, monitoring, and evaluating the latest known technologies, such as state-of-the-art intrusion detection systems and devices.
• Conducting routine security searches to identify, detect, deter, and stop potential or actual threats involving hazardous materials, items, devices, persons, or unsafe environmental conditions.
• Assisting with implementing protective countermeasures and supporting law enforcement responsive planning duties.
• Contributing to the development and organization of investigative tactics and techniques to support investigations of suspected criminal violations.
• Apply for this exciting opportunity to impact the United States Secret Service's security initiatives in support of our protective and investigative missions.
• This Technical Security Investigator position starts at a salary of $67,248.00 (GL-07, step-1), with promotion potential to $162,708 (GS-13, Step-10).

Requirements

• US 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.
• Obtain a Top-Secret Clearance and retain it during your career.
• For more information visit OPM Mythbuster Page.
• 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.
• 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.
• Submit to a polygraph examination prior to your appointment.
• Submit to a medical examination prior and during your appointment.
• Pass physical fitness assessments during your appointment.
• Maintaining firearm proficiency is also 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.
• 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.

Education

If you are qualifying for a position by substituting education or training for experience, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted that includes your name, the name of the educational institution, course title(s), number of credits, grade, and date of completion. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

How you will be evaluated

This announcement is being filled using the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Direct-Hire Authority. Agencies may appoint candidates directly to jobs, without regard to the provisions of Title 5 U.S.C.3309 through 3318. Therefore, Veterans' preference does not apply when appointing individuals.

For more information on Direct Hire Authority please visit: Direct Hire Authority. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

Upon review, your resume and/or supporting documents need to support your answer choices and reflect the one year of specialized experience requirement, in order to be considered. If the one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the next lower grade level cannot be identified in your resume, you will be considered not qualified.

The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Manages and Organizes Information Problem Solving Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies.

You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered.

You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the Federal government, you are not ICTAP/CTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP/CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.

To be considered eligible under ICTAP/CTAP, you must be deemed qualified based on the structured resume review, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

Veterans: Although the Direct Hire Authority permits hiring without regard to Veterans Preference, applicants who are eligible for Veterans Preference are encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (See Required Documents section for information on substantiating documents). An interview may be required for this position.

If an interview is required, failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration. After the U.S. Secret Service completes its hiring, the resumes of the remaining candidates referred for selection consideration may be shared with other DHS Components and other federal agencies.

During the application process, you may choose to opt-in if you would like your name, application material, and assessment results to be shared. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements.

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 Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring.

These authorities are subject to change.

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.
• To learn how to format and submit a two-page resume, please visit the USAJOBS Help Center.
• In order to receive credit for experience contained in an uploaded resume, your employment history should show work experience in month/year format (MM/YYYY), reflecting starting date and ending date, and include the number of hours worked per week.
• If the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level.
• Be specific about the skills you have that directly relate to the position.
• Support your skills with specific examples such as accomplishments or results from your career or education.
• Are you qualifying based on education or you are qualifying based on a combination of education and experience?
• Submit a copy of your college/university transcript (unofficial is acceptable) it 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.
• You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility.
• The member 4 copy of your DD214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," is preferable.
• If claiming 10-point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form (SF-15), "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference." If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date on the certification.
• This must indicate your dates of service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions.
• View more veterans' information.
• Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (I/CTAP)?
• Submit a copy of your agency notice, copy of your most recent performance appraisal (with at least a satisfactory rating), and your most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.
• 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 appropriate retirement code.
• An award SF-50 does not contain the required information.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, within-grade increases, and accessions.
• Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee?
• Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title, Type of appointment (Schedule a, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee) Agency, beginning and ending dates of your appointment.
• Have you completed a Federal Law Enforcement Training Program (FLETC) and Mixed Basic Training Course (MBTC)?
• Submit a copy of your FLETC and MBTC certification and transcript.

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; 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

It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration.

If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application. Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your eligibility. Best-qualified applicants will be referred for further consideration and possible interview.

We expect to make a selection within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. For more information on applying for Federal employment, please click here.

Additional information

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

You will be required to complete and sign an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, to certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to receiving your Conditional Job Offer letter.

False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment. 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 ***.

Applicant selected for this position will be required to sign a Continued Service Agreement (CSA) before being assigned to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Class (FLETC). The continuing service agreement will commit the applicant to a specified period of employment with the U.S. Secret Service upon the successful completion of training.

This position is covered by Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUO) and additional compensation may be paid at the rate of up to 25% of the base salary. More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade and unit occur.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707.

Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs.

To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

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).

For definitions of terms found in this announcement, please click here.