Special Agent in Charge, Special Operations Division

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all groups of qualified individuals within the civil service.

The position of Special Agent in Charge (SAC) manages a major field division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and exercises executive responsibility for the primary enforcement of Federal alcohol, tobacco, firearms, explosives and arson laws and regulations. This position is located in: Washington, D.C.

• Directs and manages national and congressionally mandated programs and activities that support ATF's firearms, explosives, alcohol, and tobacco enforcement mission.
• Serves as the primary advisor to the Assistant Director (AD)(FO) and the Deputy Assistant Directors (DAD)(FO) on all matters pertaining to technical surveillance, polygraph examinations, investigative examinations, investigative-type enhancements, airborne operations, forensic hypnosis, agent cashier and emergency funds, firearms training, and special response team policy and programs.
• Manage the program development, operation, and training/readiness for all ATF's highest risk tactical and undercover operations, critical incident management, and emergency response functions.

Conditions of employment

1. You must be a United States Citizen or National.
2. Veterans' preference is not applicable to the Senior Executive Service.
3. Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31st, 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
4. You will be required to complete a pre-employment security investigation and background check for the security level designated for this position.
5. You may also be subject to post-employment conflict of interest restrictions under 18 USC 207 (c).
6. You will be required to undergo a drug screening and obtain favorable results prior to being appointed.
7. You may be subject to a one-year probationary period effective from the date in which you are appointed.
8. This position requires you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) upon entry, and annually thereafter in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.
9. You must meet all minimum qualifications to be deemed eligible. Only experience obtained by closing date of this announcement will be considered.
As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Mandatory Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications.

Experience required for the ES-1811 series: You must have substantive experience serving as a principal advisor to senior management on laws, regulations, policies and procedures pertaining to law enforcement and regulatory operations.

The 1811 position requires law enforcement experience and is covered by special retirement provisions, including maximum entry and retirement age requirements. The successful applicant must be able to display and maintain the required proficiency with firearms per ATF's firearms proficiency standards. Complete or have previously completed the basic criminal investigative courses at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). Complete a medical examination (including vision, hearing, cardiovascular and mobility of extremities) by an authorized government physician and be determined physically fit to perform strenuous physically demanding duties. You will be required to undergo regular physical examinations and to maintain a level of physical fitness in accordance with ATF's standards and policies.

Qualifications

The application process used to recruit for this position is RESUME-ONLY. Applicants must show clear evidence of their demonstrated leadership ability by addressing the the Executive Core Qualifications(ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) embedded within their resume. The resume-based application should not to exceed 2 pages (1-sheet double-sided or 2 sheets one-sided)

**Note: Applicants who have completed the SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) and have had their ECQs certified by OPM must provide a copy of their certificate as part of their application. Candidates must still satisfy the MTQs of the position.

We recommend that your resume emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs managed, and your program accomplishments, including the results of your actions. You will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required of the position and on the extent your application demonstrates that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of the Special Agent in Charge. Please be sure to give concrete examples of your experience and demonstrate the complexity of the knowledge you possess.

ECQ1- Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding: Involves demonstrating knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

ECQ2- Driving Efficiency: Involves demonstrating the ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

ECQ3- Merit and Competence: Involves demonstrating knowledge, ability, and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

ECQ4- Leading People: Involves demonstrating the ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.

ECQ5- Achieving Results: Involves demonstrating the ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

For this position, the following Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) have been established and should be addressed within the resume application.

MTQ1: Knowledge of federal laws, regulations and policies governing law enforcement operations in order to plan, implement and evaluate comprehensive enforcement programs, with particular emphasis on investigative techniques involving undercover operations, technical surveillance, polygraph examinations, and investigative-type enhancements related to the enforcement of federal laws.

MTQ2: Demonstrate experience in developing, planning, and carrying out high risk, tactical operations, and critical incident management through the use of the Special Response Team, Tactical Medics, Negotiators and the Critical Incident Management Response and Support Teams.

MTQ3: Demonstrate experience in forming and maintaining effective partnerships with counterparts in other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to effectively coordinate efforts as the Nation's lead for Emergency Support Function-13 - Public Safety and Security. (For example, developing and implementing the multi-agency federal law enforcement responses to assist other law enforcement entities overwhelmed by a terrorist and/or natural or manmade disaster).

MTQ4: Broad management experience in planning, developing, administering, and directing an organization, including overall responsibility for short and long range program planning, allocation of human and material resources, development of operational guidelines and policies, implementation of technology solutions, and creation of new methods and procedures to solve complex management problems.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application will first be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications. A rating and ranking panel of senior executives will review your application and evaluate your qualifications for this position. It will determine the extent to which your professional and volunteer experience, education and training, and awards or professional recognition indicate you possess the required executive and technical experience. Candidates determined to be highly qualified will undergo at least one interview. Prior to selection, candidates will undergo a reference check.

Note: All applicants must thoroughly address the Mandatory Technical Qualifications. Current and former SES members, and other applicants who have already been certified by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Review Board (QRB), are not required to address the Executive Core Qualifications. However, they must provide documentation of certification in the form of a SF-50 showing career SES status or an OPM issued SES qualification certificate.

• ALL APPLICANTS: You must submit a detailed resume containing the following pieces of information for each job entry listed in your employment history:

1. Official position title;
2. Employer name and contact information;
3. Start and end dates (including month and year);
4. Your Pay Plan/series/grade and a detailed list of duties & accomplishments

• Narrative Statement of Executive Core Qualifications, if applicable.
• Narrative Statement of Technical Qualifications.
• SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):
  • Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
  • An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
  • Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
  • Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
    • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
    • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
    • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

• The page of your performance evaluation that indicates your overall, current rating of record and the date of that rating. Actual written narrative submissions are not required. A copy may be asked for at a later time.

Applicants who fail to submit all required information and documents will not receive consideration for the position.

Your complete online application and any required supplemental documentation must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. It is also your responsibility to ensure all documents are received on time and the materials are readable. If applying on-line poses a hardship to any applicant, please contact us at the telephone number listed on this announcement. Applicants must contact us prior to the closing date to speak to someone who can provide assistance for on-line submission. Requests for extensions will not be granted. Paper applications submitted without prior approval from the agency point of contact may be handled as incomplete.

Next steps