Summary
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 salary of $52,921 (GL-07, step 1), with promotion potential to $158,432 (GS-13, step 10). For more information on the Secret Service click here.
This position is covered by Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) and additional compensation of 25% of the base salary will be added to locality pay.
Clarification from the agency
If you do not report to take the Special Agency Entrance Examination (SAEE), or you fail the exam, there is a three-month waiting period before you can reapply and retest.
**The COVID-19 vaccination requirement for federal employees pursuant to Executive Order 14043 does not currently apply.
Duties
During the course of their careers, special agents carry out assignments in both investigations and protection and may be assigned to multiple duty stations throughout the U.S. and abroad. Duties include:
- Conducting criminal investigations pertaining to financial obligations of the United States.
- Providing protection for various protectees.
- Planning and implementing security designs for National Special Security Events.
For more information about the Special Agent position click here.
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. citizenship is required
- Possess a current valid driver's license
- You must obtain a Top Secret Clearance and retain it during your career.
Conditions of Employment you will be required to:
- Be at least age 21 at the time of application and less than age 37 at the time you receive a conditional offer of employment, unless you have previous service in a Federal Civilian Law Enforcement position covered by special law enforcement or firefighter retirement provisions, including early or mandatory retirement. Applicants with veteran's preference must receive a conditional offer of employment prior to reaching age 40 to continue in the application process.
- 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.
- Carry and use a firearm. 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.
- Complete 13 weeks of intensive training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA and 18 weeks of specialized 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. Click here to review standard.
- 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.
- Be appointed to this position under an excepted appointment which is limited to 3 years and 120 days. Upon completion of this period, you will either be converted to career status or separated based on the expiration of the appointment.
- Possess uncorrected visual acuity of no worse than 20/100 binocular, possess corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better in each eye.(Note: Lasik, ALK, RK, and PRK corrective eye surgeries are acceptable eye surgeries for special agent applicants. Applicants will be considered eligible for the special agent position provided specific visual tests are passed. The following are waiting periods for visual tests:Lasik-2 months after surgery, PRK-6 months after surgery, ALK and RK-one year after surgery).
- 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.
Qualifications
You are minimally qualified for the GL-07 Level (starting salary $52,921) if you possess one of the following:
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with superior academic achievement (S.A.A.) which is based on class standing, grade-point average, or honor society membership (for more information on S.A.A. please click here);
- OR at least one full year of graduate level education (i.e., 18 semester hours);
- OR at least 1 year of specialized experience in, or related to, the investigative methods, protective methods, and law enforcement techniques that provide the specific competencies to successfully perform the position's duties. Experience also includes exercising initiative; attention to detail; judgment in collecting, assembling and developing facts, evidence or other pertinent data; the ability to analyze and evaluate data or evidence to arrive at sound conclusions including applying new information; and the ability to partner with or lead others in the accomplishment of mission activities.
You are minimally qualified for the GL-09 Level (starting salary $59,021) if you possess one of the following:
- A master's or equivalent graduate degree (such as LL.B. or J.D.) or two full years of progressively higher graduate education, in a related field, leading to such a degree from an accredited college or university;
- OR have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-7 level such as experience applying law enforcement, protective, or investigative techniques in the performance of job duties; identifying problem areas and proposing and implementing solutions; taking responsibility for own actions and those of team members to ensure the goals and deadlines for the team are met; and leading meeting or seminars on behalf of a professional or academic group; setting work priorities and allocating resources; partnering with other individuals from within and outside the organization;
- OR a combination of specialized experience, as described above, and related graduate level education, beyond the first full year of graduate level study.
You are minimally qualified for the GS-11 Level (Starting salary $69,107) if you possess one of the following:
- Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M.,
- OR have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-9 level which is defined as experience in, or related to planning and conducting complex criminal investigations to determine violations of Federal laws and regulations; collecting and assembling facts to identify logical conclusion; gathering, analyzing, and evaluating evidence or data; conducting interviews and interrogations; making arrests; conducting searches and seizures; taking responsibility for own actions and those of team members to ensure the goals and deadlines for the team are met; partnering with or leveraging networks or relationships from outside the organization, experience managing complex projects including setting priorities and determining resource requirements;
- OR a combination of specialized experience, as described above, and related graduate level education, beyond the first full year of doctoral level study.
Qualified applicants will only be referred at the highest grade level for which they qualify. Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards as an indicator of quality of prior experience.
Applicants must successfully complete and pass Phase 1 assessments (see below) to receive a Conditional Job Offer. In addition, applicants must successfully complete and pass Phase II (see below) to receive final consideration for employment.
Phase I:
Phase II:
- Credit Check;
- Security Interview;
- Polygraph examination;
- Drug screening;
- Medical examination;
- Background investigation (a top secret security clearance)
The Secret Service follows stringent guidelines relating to illegal drug usage. An applicant's history is reviewed and a determination for employment is made according to our guidelines. For more information regarding the U.S. Secret Service drug guidelines please click here to view our Drug Policy.
The Applicant Physical Abilities Test (APAT) evaluates an applicant’s ability to perform the physical tasks required on the job by measuring muscular and dynamic strength, endurance, flexibility, aerobic capacity and other factors related to physical aptitude. The standards are anticipated to be the same regardless of age, gender or position. Prior to testing applicants must obtain a Certificate of Wellness from a certified physician to be eligible to test. It is recommended that this certificate is completed as soon as possible. Please click here for the Certificate of Wellness.
For definitions of terms found in this announcement please click here.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal 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 http://www.dhs.gov/careers and select "benefits."
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of three categories, Qualified, Well Qualified, and Best Qualified, based on your experience, education, training and competencies. You will receive a conditional job offer if you are determined Best Qualified for a grade level.
You will automatically be considered for all grade levels to maximize your consideration for this position.
The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are:
- Ability to display a high standard of ethical conduct and can be trusted in all work situations; chooses an ethical course of action and does the right thing, even in the face of opposition; encourages others to behave accordingly.
- Ability to deal calmly and effectively with high stress or dangerous situations; remains calm, even-tempered, and in control of emotions as appropriate for the situation.
- Skill in demonstrating good judgment by making sound, timely and well-informed decisions without deferring actions when decisions need to be made; considers the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action and follows through on decisions.
- Ability to identify problems, determine underlying issues and potential causes and generate and evaluate alternatives to arrive at and implement an effective solution.
- Ability to demonstrate fairness, professionalism and tact when interacting with others; understands and interacts effectively with a variety of people to include those who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; adjusts interpersonal style as needed to interact with differing individuals.
Veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best qualified category. Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. For information on veterans' preference please click here.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, problem solving, attention to detail, learning, 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.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
In addition to addressing the job opportunity announcement specific questions, you must also submit the following documentation:
- Resume - In order to receive credit for experience contained in an uploaded resume, your employment history should show 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.
- If you have earned a college degree, you must include a copy of your unofficial college/university transcript with your application.
- 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 (overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 recorded on the unofficial college/university transcript) to qualify at the GS-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.
- Are you a Veteran? Submit Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) or notice form. If a DD-214 is not available, submit certification 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. An award SF-50 does not contain the required information. Also submit your performance appraisals and/or incentive awards.
- Did you previously take the Special Agent Entrance Exam (SAEE)? Submit a copy of your SAEE results.
This position is being advertised via Secret Service Hire which is an automated staffing system. To begin your online application, click the Apply Online button and follow the prompts to register or sign into USAJOBS, complete the online questionnaire, and submit the required documents. See Required Documents section for more detail. You must complete the application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement.
This is an open continuous announcement. The first cut-off date for consideration of applicants will be May 5, 2023. Thereafter, the cut-off for applications received will be every Friday of each month until the job opportunity announcement closes.
If you cannot apply online, you may contact the Law Enforcement Acquisition Division, Special Agent Support Branch at sasupport@usss.dhs.gov OR by calling (202) 406-6760 between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:30 pm EST (excluding Federal holidays) prior to the closing date of this announcement to receive assistance. The Secret Service provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, on a case-by-case basis.
Next steps
Applicants who receive a passing score on the SAEE may retain and use the score indefinitely unless significant changes are made to the test, at which point applicants who reapply for a vacancy must retest on the newest version of the assessments. Applicants who have taken but did not pass the assessments must wait three months (3 months) before retesting and to reapply for this position.
You may check the status of your application for this position by going to www.usajobs.gov. Click on the “My USAJOBS” tab, enter your user ID and password, and click on “My Applications”. You will also receive an e-mail notification regarding your application status. For more information on applying for Federal employment, please click here.
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