Private (Police Officer) Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. WO-1614-USPP-25-12795416-DE Department Office of the Secretary of the Interior
Salary $70,495.00 to $126,893.00 Grade 1 to 1
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/15/2025 Close Date 9/26/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

The United States Park Police is the law enforcement arm of the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service tasked with investigating and apprehending criminal actors. The agency is committed to deploying precision-based enforcement, intelligence-led operations, and rapid response capabilities to address emerging threats to the homeland.

Hiring bonuses may be available for up to $70K over 4 years

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Open to U.S Citizens, those eligible to apply for career transition, and those eligible for special/noncompetitive hiring authorities including Public Land Corps. Applicants must have reached their 21st birthday by the date of appointment, but must not have reached their 37th birthday (the age requirement may be waived if applicants are eligible with either of the two exceptions described in the qualifications section of the announcement)

Duties

The major duties of the Police Officer include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Safeguarding the National Park Service icons and symbols of democracy as well as other parks and jurisdictional areas around the Washington Metropolitan Area.
  • Prevent, detect, and investigate criminal activity. Pursue and ensure criminal actors are apprehended.
  • Cooperate with and assist members of the Force, as well as other law enforcement agencies. United States Park Police officers are expected to regularly work with state, local and federal partners to enhance safety and reduce crime.
Specialty Units are available to officers depending on competitive selection process and completion of training. The United States Park Police offers the following full-time specialized units with enhanced technician pay.
  • Motorcycle Unit
  • Aviation Unit
  • Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.)
  • K-9 Unit
  • Marine Patrol Unit
  • Major Crimes Unit
  • Crime Scene Identification Unit-
  • Narcotics and Vice Unit
  • Traffic Safety Unit
  • Horse Mounted Patrol
  • Intelligence and Counterterrorism Branch
  • Physical Security/ Icon Protection Unit
  • Multi-Agency Task Force positions
  • Dignitary Protection

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • High School Graduate or earned General Education Development (GED)
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Achieve and maintain a "Secret" level security clearance.
  • You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment
  • You will be required to pass a pre-employment medical exam. Must meet vision requirements (For distance, corrected 20/20 or better binocularly with at least 20/40 in each eye. Uncorrected distant visual acuity should be 20/100 or better binocularly. For colorblindness: Applicant must be able to pass the Test for Color Deficiency.)
  • If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
  • A valid driver's license (Real ID) is required at the time of application.
  • Must be able to legally possess firearms. You will be required to maintain firearms proficiency. Must not have any Felony Convictions; Must not have any current, pending criminal charges. Must not have any convictions of Domestic Violence
  • Multiple misdemeanor conviction's may also be subject to disqualification
  • Meet the age requirements outlined above.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/26/2025-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. You can only submit one resume; Only the resume submitted under the "Resume" "Document Type" will be used to determine your qualifications and for rating purposes.

For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

Applicants must have reached their 21st birthday, but not have reached their 37th birthday by the date of application to this position. These positions are covered by the special retirement provisions for Federal Law Enforcement officers and have a mandatory retirement age of 57. Two exceptions are allowed:1. An applicant has prior Federal service in a primary covered position sufficient to complete 20 years of service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57; or2. An applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible, in which case the minimum eligibility age is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service. You must submit proof of your status in the Law Enforcement retirement system.

To qualify for this position at the SP-01 grade level, you must possess all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one year of progressively responsible experience that demonstrates the ability to learn and apply detailed and complex regulations and procedures that involve making sound judgment based on the application of directions, regulations, or laws. Examples of qualifying examples include, but are not limited to: Work on a police force, service as a military police officer, specialized military experience, security guards, physical security, visitor protection and law enforcement in parks, forest, or other natural resources or recreational environments, and/or criminal investigations; qualifying experience not immediately related to law enforcement may include, but is not limited to supervisory/managerial experience or personal work related experience that demonstrates the ability to independently manage critical tasks.

-OR-EDUCATION: Successful completion of 60 credits hours/2 years of higher education. You must include transcripts.

-OR- Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above. You must include transcripts.

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.

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your 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.

Additional information

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

Recruitment, Retention and Relocation incentives up to $70K over 4 years may be available to eligible candidates and require a service agreement.

A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the Department of the Interior from another Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Physical Demands: The physical demands of this position require that all candidates pass an extensive physical examination, take a physical performance test, and meet the age requirements promulgated under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3307. The incumbent must possess the psychomotor skills required to drive a vehicle in normal and emergency situations; fire a weapon accurately under extremely varied conditions; maintain agility, endurance and strength; and show dexterity in self-defense and apprehension (e.g. safely taking a person into custody with a minimum of force).

Working Conditions: The incumbent will be expected to work alone in areas where there is a probability that a person may be armed while attempting to commit a crime, and in an attempt to evade arrest, the situation may lead to an assault on the officer. The incumbent will be expected to work independently in an arduous duty position in situations where there is inherit risks of injury while fulfilling the essential functions of their position.

The Department of the Interior has determined that the duties of this position are not suitable for telework.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

Benefit Information: Working for the U.S. Park Police offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health insurance benefits, premium pay, and eligibility for retirement with 20 years of service at age 50, or 25 years of service at any age.

  • Sick Leave - Employees earn 104 hours of sick leave per year that accrues without limit. 12 weeks of paid parental leave is also granted to eligible employees.
  • Annual Leave - Employees earn annual leave at the following rates: 13 days per year for the first three years of service, 20 days after three years of service, and 26 days every year after 15 years of service. Employees may carry over a maximum of 240 hours of annual leave from one calendar year to the next;
  • Overtime - Officers working overtime are eligible to earn monetary pay or compensatory time at a rate of 1.5 times their derived hourly pay;
  • Premium Pay - Officers working the hours between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM are eligible to earn Night Differential at a rate of 10% of their derived hourly pay. Sunday premium is earned at a rate of 25% of their derived hourly pay;
  • Retirement - The Federal Law Enforcement Retirement System offered by the United States Park Police is a special variant of the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) offered to most U.S. government employees.

Review our 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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating. After determination of your minimum qualifications, you may be selected to continue with the following assessment process:

Phase I

WRITTEN EXAMINATION- Applicants must successfully pass a written examination online. Applicants must score 70% or better on the written examination to continue in the hiring process. ***United States Park Police will accept previously passed POST test scores administered by another law enforcement agency.***

  • Applicants requiring special testing accommodations must indicate so at the time of testing scheduling to ensure that the test facilitators have ample time to accommodate such requests

PHYSICAL READINESS TEST (PRT) - Applicants must perform hand release push-ups, an agility run, as well as a 1.5-mile run. Applicants must pass each event with a 70% or better.

MEDICAL REVIEW - Applicants must complete Medical Review form by a Certified Medical Physician of choice. Applicants that pass all assessments will be referred to the selecting official for consideration in selections for the Police Officer, SP-0083-01.

Phase II

FORMS SCREENING REVIEW and BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION PREPARATION

  • Applicants will be required to upload additional documents relevant to the background investigation process via a secure drop box.
  • Selected applicants will participate in a virtual interview with a USPP background investigator. During this process, the applicant shall provide any additional information requested by their investigator in a timely manner. Failure to do so may result in removal from the hiring process.

PASS A QUALIFICATION REVIEW PANEL - The Qualification Review is a virtual interview conducted by a panel of Force officials. Applicants are evaluated on their responses to qualification and scenario questions.

SELECTIONS FOR HIRE- Selected applicants will be subjected to a urinalysis/drug screening prior to being officially hired. The drug screening must be passed successfully.

All information and documents submitted should be true, correct, and provided in good faith. Any information given may be investigated. False statements, deception or fraud in this application or its supporting materials, or in any document or interview associated with the examination process may result in fines or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001) or removal and debarment from Federal service (5 CFR part 731).

Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. You can only submit one resume; Only the resume submitted under the "Resume" "Document Type" will be used to determine your qualifications and for rating purposes. Only one resume will be used to evaluate your qualifications. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/26/2025:

  1. Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, dates specified in month and year format, and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade. Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. You can only submit one resume; Only the resume submitted under the "Resume" "Document Type" will be used to determine your qualifications and for rating purposes. Only one resume will be used to evaluate your qualifications. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.
  2. Complete All Required Assessments.
  3. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable, such as:
    • Veterans Preference Documentation:
      • If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
      • If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
      • If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.
  4. Documentation that you meet Selective Placement Factors.
  5. College transcripts, if qualifying based on education.
  6. Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified or above 80 on the rating criteria for this position.

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

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 occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/26/2025. You must provide documentation to support your claim for each eligibility selected. Please review the required documentation listed in the eligibilities language to ensure you submit the appropriate information. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation.

WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES.

  1. Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to login or create an account.
  2. Prompted to Start the Application Process by selecting "Apply."
  3. Select or add the resume you want to use for this application. Click here on how to build a resume in USAJOBS.
  4. Select documents you want included in this application.
  5. Review package to acknowledge your documents were reviewed.
  6. Select if you want to include your demographic information.
  7. After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site."
  8. Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application.
  9. Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown.
    • Upload any missing required documents or optional documents.
  10. Review and Submit Application.
  11. While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position.
  12. You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement.
    • To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job.
    • Note: When you click Update Application, you will be prompted to re-select your documents from USAJOBS. Documents submitted with the first application will no longer be associated with the applicant record. So it is important that you select all documents you want to use in the re-application.
Please note, the eligibility section of the application process is designed to allow you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement. You will ONLY be considered for the appointment eligibilities that you select. You must provide the supporting documentation to support your claim. Please review the list of documentation provided in the eligibilities language to ensure you provide the appropriate information. You may choose more than one eligibility

Agency contact information

Racheal Winebar
Address
United States Park Police
1100 Ohio Drive S.W.
Washington, DC 20024
US

Next steps

Once the Occupational Questionnaire is received you will receive acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.

Upon submission of your application, you will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application. Please be advised that your application will not be considered complete unless all the required documents have been received.

Best qualified applicants will receive further instructions from the United States Park Police Applicant Processing team at, USPP_Officer_Recruitment@nps.gov.


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


© 2006-2025, exclusive of U. S. government job opportunity announcements