Summary
Joining the Secret Service, Office of Training, James J. Rowley Training Center, will allow you to provide curriculum development and training to both canines and law enforcement canine handlers in the specialized fields of the Emergency Response Team (ERT), Explosive Detection Training (EDT), and Personal Canine Screening in an Open Environment (PSC-O).
For more information on the Secret Service click here.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
All U.S. Citizens
Duties
The selectee will serve as a Law Enforcement Specialist (Instructor - Canine) in the James J. Rowley Training Center. Typical work assignments include:
- Developing instructional techniques, procedures and policies based on current trends and tactics within the explosive detection canine, tactical/patrol canine operations, and law enforcement canine operations.
- Arranging operational exercises, participating in continued development and maintenance of programs, partnering with industry, educational and state/local/federal experts to ensure industry standards and adherence to Federal Law Enforcement Accreditation and internal standards.
- Designing, developing, and executing course materials for instructions and practical application such as lesson plans, support materials, practical exercises development, and use of training areas.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
- One-year probationary period may be required.
- Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
- Obtain and maintain a Top Secret Tier 5 clearance. For more information visit OPM Mythbuster Page here.
- Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
Qualifications
Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Minimum Qualification/Specialized Experience requirements as noted below
GS-11: You qualify for the GS-11 level (starting salary $82,764.00) if you possess one of the following:
A. Applicant must possess one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties:
- Assisting in the instruction for a canine law enforcement program or organization;
- Participating in the research of public safety topics in relation to a training program; and
- Assisting in the administration of a training program or course (e.g. schedules, training certifications, performance evaluations).
OR B. Successfully completed three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D.; or successfully completed a Ph.D.; or LL.M., if related, at an accredited college or university in a field that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
OR C. Less than one year of experience as described in A and less than 3 years of graduate level education as described in B. However, you have a combination of specialized experience and graduate level education that when combined, equals at least 100% of the total requirement. Note: Only graduate education in excess of the master's level [generally 36 semester hours] may be used in this calculation.
GS-12: You qualify for the GS-12 level (starting salary $99,200.00) if you possess one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-11 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties:
- Providing instruction for a canine law enforcement program or organization;
- Researching public safety topics to inform training program development; and
- Providing administrative support to a training program (e.g. updating lesson plans, record maintenance, scheduling).
NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.
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.
Veterans' Preference: For more information on veterans' preference see: https://www.opm.gov/fedshirevets/veteran-job-seekers/#
Current or Former Political Appointees: 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.
Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP): This program applies to Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed, or employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet eligibility criteria for CTAP or ICTAP; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. Well-Qualified includes those applicants whose knowledge, skills, and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. For information on eligibility criteria and required documentation, go to: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.
This position requires more than a moderate degree of physical exertion on part of the incumbent. This includes lifting, kneeling, crouching, and carrying medium size packages or containers. Work may also involve physical exertion within a training environment and operating in various weather conditions. Travel to field locations to coordinate training activities may be involved. Some of the work is sedentary in nature, but requires some travel, walking, bending, and carrying items, such as briefcases, notebooks, and work papers. The work involves occasional visits to industrial, commercial, construction, agricultural, and other business establishments.
The normal workplace includes a classroom or office, and inside/outside training facilities. Position duties will require exposure to varying climate and environment conditions, both cold and warm weather conditions and/or exposure to high levels of noise and dangerous substances.
Education
If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
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.
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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your application will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the duties of the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications, a score will automatically be calculated based on your answers to the vacancy specific questions to place you in one of three categories. All answers provided in the online process must be substantiated by your resume. 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:
- Education and Training
- Public Safety and Security
- Technical Competence
If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:
- Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF), and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (ORF) as determined by the job analysis.
- Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPF's and appropriate ORFs as determined by the job analysis.
- Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.
The Category Rating Process does not add veteran's preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher). This position is not considered scientific/professional. Veteran preference eligibles will receive selection consideration before non-preference eligibles within each quality category.
If you are among the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.
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.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your resume showing a detailed description of your job-related qualifications that includes beginning and ending dates with the month and year and hours worked per week (if less than 40) for each paid and non-paid work experience job title listed.
2. Other supporting documents (only submit if applicable to you):
- Are you qualifying based on education? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) or a list of coursework with hours completed.
- Are you claiming veterans' preference?
- Submit Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 or other (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) or other notice form
- If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, in addition to the DD-214, you must also submit a Standard Form 15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference) and provide an official document dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces, and/or any other required documentation based on your 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 you submit your application. This must indicate your dates of service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions.
- For more information on veterans' preference see Feds Hire Vets.
- Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP)? If so, submit:
- A copy of your RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate, notice of disability annuity termination, or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
- A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action'', documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc.;
- A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
- Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
- 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; and
- Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 10/04/2024 to receive consideration.
PLEASE NOTE: If your materials are not received by the closing date, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible. Also, if you do not provide a valid email address, you may not be notified of the outcome of your application.
The application process is as follows:
- To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
- Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
Next steps
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. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information".
For more information on applying for Federal employment, please click here.
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