Special Agent in Charge Job

Vacancy No. ICESES/25-12752727 Department Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Salary $207,500.00 to $225,700.00 Grade 00 to 00
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 7/12/2025 Close Date 7/28/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Phoenix, AZLos Angeles, CASan Diego, CASan Francisco, CA


Summary

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill Senior Executive Service Special Agent in Charge positions in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at any location in the field. Management retains the authority to make selection decisions that serve the needs of the agency based on location priority and available talent.

Duties

The Special Agent in Charge (SAC) position is located within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). HSI is a critical asset in the ICE mission and is responsible for investigating a wide range of domestic and international activities arising from the illegal movement of people and goods into, within, and out of the United States. As the SAC you will:

  • Serve as a key member of ICE's senior management, reporting to the Assistant Director for Domestics Operations. You will manage all investigative activities throughout an area of responsibility that focuses on the enforcement of HSI's broad array of investigative authority. Your primary jurisdiction includes the protection of the United States and its citizens by deterring, interdicting, and investigating threats arising from the movement of people and goods into and out of the United States. This includes oversight of investigations related to national security, financial, and smuggling violations, including illegal arms exports, commercial fraud, human trafficking, narcotics smuggling, cyber crimes, child pornography/exploitation, and immigration fraud.
  • Establish and implement specific action plans to accomplish investigative goals and objectives.
  • Develop investigative procedures and techniques and provide policy guidance to subordinate supervisors. You will be primarily responsible for the direction and management of large-scale operations to efficiently achieve specified goals and objectives.
  • Coordinate law enforcement activities with the highest level of federal, state, local, and tribal governments and with international law enforcement organizations. This coordination includes integrating ICE functions with other elements of law enforcement, intelligence collection and dissemination, and field operations.
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with various high-level individuals, including members of Congress and their staffs, other legislative and executive agencies, executives of major corporations, and members of the public.
  • Establish and maintain close and cooperative working relationships with agency and department management officials, government agencies, and other institutions with related interests in order to advance the programs and objectives of the agency.
  • Ensure mission effectiveness through the strategic and effective management of a supporting budget. Monitor the personnel, budgetary, and logistical needs of HSI field assets.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position.
  • If you are a male born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under federal law, if selected for this position.
  • You will serve a one-year probationary period unless you previously completed the probationary period in the SES.
  • You must file a Public Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of appointment.
  • Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of placement and/or employment in the position and the incumbent(s) of this position is/are subject to random drug testing.
  • The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 requires SES appointees coming from outside the Federal service to verify they are eligible to work in the United States.
  • Experience in a primary law enforcement position or equivalent experience outside the federal government is a prerequisite.
  • This position requires the incumbent to carry a firearm. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime or domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9)).

Qualifications

1. BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

As a basic requirement for entry into the Senior Executive Service (SES), applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive leadership and supervisory experience that is indicative of senior executive level managerial capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined in the Executive Core Qualifications and Technical Qualifications listed below. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-15 grade level in the federal service or its equivalent.

This experience should be sufficiently broad in scope and at a major management level in a large or complex organization. The ideal candidate will have experience supervising a large number of employees through subordinate supervisors and have experience hiring, developing, and evaluating employees. As such, your resume should demonstrate that you have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully fulfill responsibilities inherent in most SES positions such as:
  • Directing the work of an organizational unit;
  • Ensuring the success of one or more specific major programs or projects;
  • Monitoring progress toward strategic organizational goals, evaluating organizational performance and taking action to improve performance; and
  • Supervising the work of employees, developing policy, and other executive functions.
If your experience does not include these basic qualifications, you will not be determined qualified for this position.

2. EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs)

The ECQs were designed to assess executive experience and potential, not technical expertise. They measure whether an individual has the broad executive skills needed to succeed in a variety of SES positions. All applicants will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs.
  • ECQ 1: Leading Change - This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.
  • ECQ 2: Leading People - This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.
  • ECQ 3: Results Driven - This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
  • ECQ 4: Business Acumen - This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
  • ECQ 5: Building Coalitions - This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.
Additionally, the Fundamental Competencies are the personal and professional attributes that are critical to successful performance in the SES and serve as the foundation for each of the ECQs. They are cross-cutting; experience and training that strengthen and demonstrate these competencies will enhance a candidate's overall qualifications for the SES.
  • Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Integrity/Honesty, Written Communication, Continual Learning, and Public Service Motivation
Additional information on the ECQs is available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/executive-core-qualifications/.

3. TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs)

In addition to the ECQs, all applicants must demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the following TQs.
  • TQ 1 - Expert knowledge of federal laws, regulations, and policies governing law enforcement and regulatory operations to plan, direct, implement, and evaluate comprehensive law enforcement and regulatory programs, or high-risk tactical operations and critical incidents in both a field and headquarters environment, with particular emphasis on programs related to the enforcement of federal customs and immigration laws and regulations.
  • TQ 2 - Expert knowledge of and demonstrated experience in leading multiple investigative teams in a variety of complex federal law enforcement investigative programs, in areas of investigations related to customs and immigration violations (e.g., illegal arms exports, financial crimes, commercial fraud, human trafficking, narcotics smuggling, cyber-crimes, child pornography/exploitation, and immigration fraud, among others).
  • TQ 3 - Broad management experience in planning, developing, administering, and directing an organization, including overall responsibility for short- and long-range program planning, development of operational guidelines and policies, and creation of new methods and procedures to solve complex management problems.

Education

There are no educational requirements for this position.

Additional information

Law Enforcement Retirement: This position carries secondary law enforcement coverage as provided by 5 U.S.C. § 8336(c) and § 8412(d) for eligible law enforcement employees, which does not carry mandatory retirement. However, some employees may be subject to mandatory separation depending on their individual status.

SES Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders and generally is key to advancement. SES members may be reassigned at the discretion of the appointing authority and may be required to sign a mobility agreement. You must be prepared to accept, without objection, reassignment based on the needs of the agency, including for operational and/or career development purposes.

Political Appointee Employee Verification: 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, Noncareer SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information in your resume.

Veterans' Preference: Veterans' preference does not apply to SES positions. Do not submit a DD214 when applying for this position.

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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications described in this vacancy announcement. The evaluation will consider the quality and extent of your experience and qualifications.

The best qualified applicants will be distinguished from other minimally qualified applicants by a screening panel to determine the degree to which qualification requirements are met. Highly qualified applicants may undergo an interview and reference checks. Results of the selection process will be reviewed - and recommendations on final selection to the appointing authority made - in accordance with the agency's Executive Resources Board process. Verification of performance, suitability, and security information will be taken into consideration when making offers of employment.

The application process used to recruit this position is the traditional method. Unless you have already been certified by an OPM-administered Qualifications Review Board (QRB) in the past, your ECQs must be certified by a QRB after selection and before appointment can occur.

Required Documents

1. RESUME - Required for all applicants

When uploading your resume, select the Supporting Document Type labeled "Resume." Your resume must not exceed two (2) standard 8.5" x 11" pages in length (1 sheet double-sided or 2 sheets one-sided) with 1-inch margins on the top and bottom, 1/2-inch margins on the left and right, and a font no smaller than 11 points.

Your resume must reflect proven, demonstrated success in meeting the TQs related to this position as well as the ECQs related to all positions in the SES. It should provide evidence of the necessary level of management skills, characteristics, qualities, specialized knowledge, and technical competence that would indicate successful performance in the position, including clear and concise examples that emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, and the results of your actions. If your resume does not demonstrate the qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

Only a two-page resume is required at the point of application. A panel may assess whether you possess the required ECQs and TQs through resume reviews, assessments, and/or interviews at a later time. If selected, you will be required to submit a ten-page ECQ narrative.

Your resume must also include the following information:

  • Vacancy announcement number: ICESES/25-12752727
  • Your full name, email and mailing address, and day/evening telephone numbers.
  • Educational information, including the name, city, and state of colleges or universities you attended, as well as the type and year of any degree received.
  • If applicable, your current SES or Candidate Development Program (CDP) certified status, or your reinstatement eligibility to the SES and dates held on the SES career appointment.
  • If you are currently, or have been within the last five years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Noncareer SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch.
  • Information about your paid and non-paid work experience related to this position including:
    • Job title (include series and grade if federal job)
    • Employer's name and address
    • Starting and ending dates of employment (month and year)
    • Duties and accomplishments
2. PROOF OF NON-COMPETITIVE ELIGIBILITY - Current and former SES members and graduates of an OPM-approved SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) who wish to be considered as non-competitive eligible, must provide proof of eligibility

Current and former SES members should provide a copy of the Standard Form (SF) 50, Notification of Personnel Action, for the initial appointment to the SES. This personnel action is the only action that reflects that you previously competed and were certified by an OPM QRB. When uploading your SF-50, select the Supporting Document Type labeled "SF-50/Notification of Personnel Action."

CDP graduates must provide a copy of the OPM QRB Criterion B certification. When uploading your QRB Certification, select the Supporting Document Type labeled "Other."

Individuals who were removed from the SES or did not complete the SES probationary period are not eligible for a non-competitive appointment.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the assessment questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement. Your application package must be submitted via USAJOBS. We do not accept application packages via email, fax, or standard/express mail. It is your responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, and sent is received and is accurate.

To begin, click Apply Online on this vacancy announcement to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account.

Your application materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. EDT of the closing date of this announcement.

It is your responsibility to ensure all documents specified under the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement have been submitted. Do not submit any additional information/documents not specifically requested. Unsolicited documents will not be considered. Failure to submit any of the required documents as stated will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.

Documents that do not adhere to the specified requirements may be disqualified. We recommend uploading your documents in PDF format to preserve formatting and ensure conformance with the specifications outlined in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement.

Agency contact information

Shaunta Newby
Address
HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS
500 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20536
US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted, you will receive confirmation by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Executive Services Unit to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification by email regarding your status in the selection process.

Additional Locations

  • Denver, CO
  • District of Columbia, DC
  • Miami, FL
  • Tampa, FL
  • Atlanta, GA
  • Honolulu, HI
  • Chicago, IL
  • New Orleans, LA
  • Boston, MA
  • Baltimore, MD
  • Detroit, MI
  • Saint Paul, MN
  • Kansas City, MO
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Newark, NJ
  • Las Vegas, NV
  • Buffalo, NY
  • New York, NY
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • San Juan, PR
  • Nashville, TN
  • Dallas, TX
  • El Paso, TX
  • Houston, TX
  • San Antonio, TX
  • Seattle, WA


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


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