Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens, lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) eligibles and Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) employees.

The selectee will serve as a Detection Systems Specialist in the Office of Technical Operations, Aviation and Airspace Security Division. Typical work assignments include:

• Overseeing and monitoring air traffic using integrated radar data and computerized flight information.
• Operating various radar and air surveillance detection systems.
• Providing airborne track updates to operations center staff and ground security via clear communications to enhance situational awareness.
• Coordinating the planning of surveillance and communication for all aspects of airspace security.

Apply for this exciting opportunity to support the Secret Service's mission by providing a technically secure environment for the President and Vice-President of the United States, and other protectees, and to provide leading edge technical support to criminal investigations conducted by the agency. This Detection Systems Specialist position starts at a salary of $102,415.00, GS-12, step 1 with promotion potential to $158,322.00, GS-13, step 10.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Complete the initial online assessment and USA Hire Assessment, if required.

If selected for this position, you will be required to:

• Obtain and maintain a top-secret Tier 5 clearance. For more information visit OPM Mythbuster Page.
• Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
• Submit a credit check after a conditional offer of employment has been accepted.
• Undergo and pass a Full Scope Polygraph prior to onboarding.
• This position requires frequent travel aboard commercial and/or military aircraft.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To be considered qualified for this position you must meet the following qualification requirements for the respective grade level in which you are applying.

Specialized Experience:

You qualify for the GS-12 level (starting salary $102,415) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level performing duties such as:

• Operating and maintaining complex detection systems that require accurate manual control and coordination;
• Delivering updates on surveillance operations to team members, management, and external partners;
• Developing operational plans for detection systems (e.g., screening, surveillance, or sensor technologies).

You qualify for the GS-13 level (starting salary $121,785) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level performing duties such as:

• Overseeing advanced surveillance operations using integrated detection systems to maintain airspace security;
• Managing multiple systems simultaneously with accuracy and speed during critical operations;
• Presenting complex surveillance information and recommendations to senior leadership and external partners;
• Leading the development and implementation of operational plans for detection and surveillance systems.

The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

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.

Applicants who meet the basic requirement and specialized experience for the position will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration. Traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to the 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).

Upon review, your resume and/or supporting documents need to support your answer choices to the assessment questionnaire. Your resume must also 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:

• Eye-Hand Coordination
• Oral Communication
• Planning and Evaluating
• Surveillance

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the Federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under ICTAP, you must be placed in the well-qualified category for this position, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

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.

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.

In addition to addressing the vacancy specific questions, you must also submit the following documentation:

• 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 work experience 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 tentatively selected for the position, the applicant may be required to provide additional documentation (SF50s) to validate their eligibility for the position.
• Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)? Submit documentation verifying your CTAP eligibility - this includes a copy of your agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
• Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)? Submit documentation verifying your ICTAP eligibility - this includes a copy of your agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location
• Are you a veteran? Veterans' preference does not apply to selections made using Direct Hiring Authority however, if you would like to submit your military records for benefits you may receive after selection, please submit the following: a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4). If a DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4) is not available, other documentation listing the beginning and ending dates of active service and the type of discharge must be submitted to verify eligibility. If claiming 10-point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form (SF-15), "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference." For more information view Veteran Information.
• 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, Notification of Personnel Action, 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 appointment.

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