Police Officer (Uniformed Division) Canine Explosives Detection Team Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. UDB-YE-25-SOD-Q1-CAN2 Department U.S. Secret Service
Salary $73,502.00 to $126,449.00 Grade 1 to 1
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/18/2024 Close Date 12/31/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

The Uniformed Division's mission is to protect facilities and venues secured for U.S. Secret Service protectees. Throughout its history, the Uniformed Division has accomplished this mission through a tradition of honor, integrity, and a commitment to excellence.

The Police Officer position starts at a salary of $73,502.00 (LE-0083-01, step 1) in the Office of Protective Operations, Uniformed Division.

For more information on the Secret Service click here.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Applicants must successfully complete the Uniformed Division Entrance Examination (UDEE) to receive consideration for this position. If you do not report to take the Uniformed Division Entrance Examination (UDEE), or you fail the exam, there is a three-month waiting period before you can reapply and retest. This includes applying to multiple job opportunity announcements; only the first test score will be applied.

Duties

During the course of their careers, Uniformed Division Officers carry out assignments in protection. Duties include:

  • Providing protection for The White House Complex, The Vice President's Residence, The Main Treasury Building and Annex, and foreign diplomatic missions and embassies in the Washington, D.C. area.
  • Traveling in support of the Presidential, Vice Presidential, and foreign heads of state/government missions.
  • Enforcing mandated protective responsibilities as described under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3056A.

For more information about the Uniformed Division position, click here.

SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION: CANINE UNIT (K9)

The Canine Explosives Detection Team (K9) is a specialized unit within the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division that provides full-time explosive detection support to the Presidential Protective Division. On order, K9 will also provide support to designated protectees, protected venues, and National Special Security Events (NSSEs). For more information about the K9 position, click here.

IMPORTANT: If you are unable to successfully complete the specialty team selection school or the specialty basic school required for the K9 position, you will have an opportunity to remain with the Uniformed Division in a non-tactical role.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship.
  • Possess a current valid driver's license.
  • Be at least age 20 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 veterans' 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 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.
  • Complete 12 weeks of intensive training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA or Artesia, NM and 18 weeks of specialized training at the James J. Rowley Training Center in Laurel, MD. Failure to pass the standards on the first attempt may result in separation from the Secret Service. Click here for more information.
  • Completion of a 17-week K9 Selection and Basic Training.
  • 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 a limited-term Schedule B excepted appointment which is 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 Uniformed Division Officer applicants. Applicants will be considered eligible for the Uniformed Division Officer 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, and ALK and RK-one year after surgery).

Qualifications

Conditions of Employment Continued:

  • 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 2000 Hz ranges.
  • Obtain a Top-Secret Clearance and retain it during your career.
  • Use your official name on your application as it appears on your valid government identification (i.e., Driver License, State ID, Passport).

You qualify for the LE-01 grade level (starting salary $73,502) if you meet the following requirements:

  • Possess, at a minimum, a high school diploma or certificate of equivalency.
  • Be the age of 20 at the time of application. Must be 21 at the time of appointment.

Ideal candidates will possess ONE of the SEVEN categories:

Military (current/former):

  • Military working dog handler attached to a Garrison or deployed unit.
  • Experience with explosive detection canines.
  • Successfully completed the requisite training course for a military K9 handler.

Law Enforcement (current/former):

  • Certified K9 handler/trainer for state, local, or federal agency.
  • Served as a member of a federal, state, or local law enforcement K9 team.
  • Successfully worked a law enforcement detection canine.
  • Experience with explosive/narcotics detection canines.
Failure to provide the required military/law enforcement documentation satisfying one of the seven categories of specialized training in the qualifications section will result in an automatic removal from the K9 process, you will automatically continue in the standard Police Officer (Uniformed Division) application process.

All qualification requirements listed above must be met by the cut-off date of the month in which you applied.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are considered in the following order: (1) preference eligibles having a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more; followed by (2) other 10-point preference eligibles; (3) 5-point preference eligible; and (4) non-preference eligibles (i.e., non-veterans). For information on veterans' preference, please click here.

You will be evaluated based on the minimum qualification questions that are in the vacancy questions.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience) 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.

Applicants must successfully complete Phase I (see below) to receive a conditional offer. In addition, applicants must successfully complete Phase II (see below) in order to receive final consideration for employment.

Phase I:

  • National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
  • Uniformed Division Entrance Examination (UDEE)
  • Applicant Physical Abilities Test (APAT)
  • Interview

Phase II:

  • Credit Check
  • Security Interview
  • Polygraph examination
  • Drug screening
  • Medical examination
  • Background investigation (a top-secret security clearance)

As part of the application process the applicant will be required to complete the United States Secret Service Applicant Physical Abilities Test (APAT). It is a physical fitness assessment which consists of four components (push-ups, sit-ups, Illinois Agility Run and a 1.5 Mile Run). The APAT is designed to measure the current level of general physical fitness of an applicant, which serves as an indicator of an applicant's ability to safely complete a vigorous physical training program. It 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.

General Medical Requirements:

As determined by the Office of Personnel Management, the duties of this position require moderate to arduous physical exertion involving walking and standing, use of firearms, and exposure to inclement weather. Manual dexterity with comparatively free motion of fingers, wrist, elbows, shoulders, hips and knee joints is required. Arms, hands, legs and feet must function sufficiently in order for applicants to perform the duties satisfactorily. 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.

To view the entire application process, please click here.

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.

Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards as an indicator of quality of prior experience, no points will be assigned.

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

Additional information

*Recruitment Incentive: Applicants may be eligible for a $60,000 recruitment incentive in accordance with regulatory requirements. The first installment of $15,000 will be paid following successful completion of Secret Service K9 specialized training. A second installment of $15,000 will be paid following one year of service post specialized training and an acceptable performance rating. The third installment of $15,000 will be paid after a third year of service post specialized training and an acceptable performance rating. The final installment of $15,000 will be paid after a fourth year of service post specialized training and an acceptable performance rating. Provision of these payments require the execution of a four-year Continuing 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 U.S. Secret Service upon the successful completion of training.

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.

A special needs/superior qualifications pay-setting authority may be available to applicants who have superior qualifications or whose skills and competencies fill a special need of the Secret Service. The recommended salary for such an applicant may be at any point in the range listed for this position. If you are deemed eligible for this pay-setting authority, you will be notified during the hiring process. Please note that the use of this authority is at the sole discretion of the Secret Service. For more information on superior qualifications, click here.

WORK SCHEDULE: Newly appointed Uniformed Division Officers normally work a 40-hour workweek on a set schedule (e.g., 6:30 am - 3:00 pm, 2:30 pm - 11:00 pm, or 10:30 pm - 7:00 am shifts). Workdays and shifts will vary depending on assignment and manpower requirements.

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

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.

Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

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.

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 on-line application will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the duties of the position. All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated by your resume. Your resume and/or supporting documents need to support your answer choices in order to be considered and deemed eligible. The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are:

  • Ability to follow instructions and respect authority; obeys organizational policies and the chain-of-command.
  • 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.
  • Ability to convey oral information in a clear, concise and well-organized manner taking into account the audience and the nature of the information (e.g., technical, controversial); speaks clearly, convincingly and confidently using proper grammar, tone and pace; tracks audience responses and reacts appropriately to those responses.
  • 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.
  • 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.

To preview questions, please click here.

All information that you want us to consider must be in your resume.

Required Documents

In addition to addressing the job opportunity announcement specific questions, you must also submit the following documents:

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Do you have a local, state, federal, or military Law Enforcement Certification? Submit your local, state, federal, or military Law Enforcement Certification.
  • 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 Uniformed Division Entrance Exam (UDEE)? Submit a copy of your UDEE results.

All information that you want us to consider must be in your resume.

Documents for Auto-Request:

  • College Transcripts
  • DD-214
  • Law Enforcement Certifications
  • Notice of Results - UDEE
  • Performance Appraisal
  • Request for Rehire Letter
  • SF-15
  • SF-50
  • Selective Service Registration
  • Statement of Service
  • VA Letter

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

To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.

The application process is as follows:

  1. To begin your online application, click the Apply Online button and follow the prompts to register or sign into USAJOBS,
  2. Complete the online questionnaire and submit the required documents. See Required Documents section for more detail.
To update your application, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account. 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. 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.

To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides the Announcement Status and a "You applied on" date. This information does not confirm the agency application status. Use the "Track this Application" link for additional information regarding the agency application status, the documentation you submitted, and any correspondence sent related to this application. Please be sure to monitor your 'Spam' or 'Junk' folder as correspondence are auto generated and may be routed into the incorrect email box. The Announcement Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Announcement Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.

We strongly encourage you to apply online. If you cannot apply online, you may contact the Law Enforcement Acquisition Division, Uniformed Division Support Branch at udsupport@usss.dhs.gov OR by calling (202) 406-5271 between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm EST (excluding Federal holidays) prior to the closing date of this announcement to receive assistance.

For general recruitment information please call 888-813-USSS (8777) or email HQ.Recruitment@usss.dhs.gov.

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 provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, on a case-by-case basis.

Agency contact information

UD Support Branch
Learn more about this agency

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. We expect to make a selection of which applicants will continue in the application process within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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.Opportunity@usss.dhs.gov.

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 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; telework; 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.

You may check the status of your application for this position by going to www.usajobs.gov.You will also receive an e-mail notification regarding your application status.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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