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INVESTIGATIVE PROGRAM SPECIALIST (POLYGRAPH EXAMINER)

Department of Homeland Security
Customs and Border Protection
Office of Professional Responsibility
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Professional Responsibility, Credibility Assessment Division. Location is negotiable to the following locations:

  • Tucson, AZ
  • San Diego, CA
  • Portland, ME
  • Newark, NJ
  • Valley Stream (JFK), NY
  • San Antonio, TX
  • McAllen, TX
  • Yuma, AZ
  • Aliso Viejo, CA
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Miramar, FL
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Detroit, MI
  • Minneapolis (Bloomington), MN
  • Dallas, TX

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
05/05/2025 to 05/09/2025
Salary
$96,147 to - $148,633 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
7 vacancies in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
OPR-SMP-12731995-MCM
Control number
836274300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Current Federal employees with competitive status; Current/former Federal employees covered by an OPM Interchange Agreement; CTAP DHS employees, Reemployment Priority List, ICTAP Federal Employees; Priority Reemployment List; Current/former Land Mgmt employees who meet the Land Mgmt Workforce Flexibility Act; Current/former Federal employees with reinstatement eligibility; Veterans eligible under VEOA; Certain Military Spouses; Individuals eligible under a noncompetitive special hiring authority

Duties

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This position starts at a salary of $96,147.00 (GS-12, Step 1) to $148,633.00 (GS-13, Step 10).

Salary: salary listed reflects the rest of U.S. scale and, if applicable, will be adjusted to meet the locality pay or special rate of the duty location and position.

The Investigative Program Specialist (Polygraph Examiner) applies the full range of polygraph investigative methodologies necessary to resolve and complete administrative, civil, counterintelligence, and criminal investigations by detecting deception, collecting sworn statements of confession, vetting critical information, and exonerating the falsely accused. Duties and responsibilities include:

  • Serving as an investigator, technical advisor and exam conductor in the field of polygraph examinations;
  • Preparing comprehensive and timely reports of the outcomes of polygraph examinations; and
  • Fostering harmonious working relationships with other federal, state, and local law enforcement, intelligence and/or trade communities

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
  • Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
  • You may be required to pass a background investigation and/or polygraph
  • CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
  • As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.
  • DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.
  • Financial Disclosure is required.
  • Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.
Training: You may be required to successfully complete the Basic Federal Polygraph Training Program at the National Center for Credibility Assessment (NCCA) in Ft. Jackson, SC. Successful completion of this training is a requirement and will result in official certification by the NCCA.

Qualifications

All Polygraph Examiners hired must be certified by the National Center for Credibility Assessment (NCCA) by attending the Basic Federal Polygraph Training Program.

Individuals who are not currently certified through an official designation of the NCCA under the Defense Academy for Credibility Assessment or the Department of Defense Polygraph Institute, the NCCA requires candidates to meet the qualification basic requirements detailed below to be admitted into the training program, this will require you to submit your transcripts to establish eligibility to attend the NCCA and meet all the basic requirements listed below in addition to the specialized experience.

Individuals who are certified and are establishing eligibility based on certification through a prior official designation of the NCCA under the Defense Academy for Credibility Assessment or Department of Defense Polygraph Institute must provide your certificate as appropriate and meet the specialized experience listed below:

Experience: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

  • Selecting appropriate polygraph techniques based on a thorough review and analysis of all available documentation on the investigation;
  • Analyzing physiological data collected to determine the results of the polygraph examination;
  • Conducting interviews in an attempt to elicit admissions or confessions during criminal, administrative or legal review investigations;
  • Applying knowledge of U.S. laws, regulations, executive orders, and agency agreements that govern management inspection, integrity management, security, and investigation techniques.
Experience: You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:
  • Adapting polygraph techniques to the situation, using experience and ability to determine if case is administrative or criminal in nature;
  • Collecting evidence while maintaining all lawful and legal standards throughout the polygraph interview process (e.g., administering Miranda warnings, obtaining sworn written statements of confession);
  • Conducting in-depth interviews and interrogations in an attempt to elicit admissions or confessions during administrative or criminal investigations.
  • Applying knowledge of U.S. laws, regulations, executive orders, and agency agreements that govern management inspection, integrity management, security, and investigation techniques.
You qualify for this position if you possess one year of specialized experience or substitution of education, if applicable, as described above and meet the basic requirement listed below:

Basic Requirements:
  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university;
  • at least two years of investigative experience with a recognized U.S. Government agency or other law enforcement agency;
  • Successful completion of a Psychophysiological Detection of Deception (PDD) polygraph examination; and
  • Be at least 25 years of age
Transcripts will be required if you are unable to provide certification documentation at the time of application.
NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.

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.

You must:
  • Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and
  • Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 05/09/2025.
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.

Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers

Polygraph Examination: The INVESTIGATIVE PROGRAM SPECIALIST (POLYGRAPH EXAMINER) position is a polygraph-required position. If you are not a current CBP employee in a law enforcement position, you may be required to take a polygraph exam and have favorable results in order to continue in the pre-employment process. Please see Polygraph Examination.

Polygraph Reciprocity: CBP may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of a CBP polygraph exam. You will receive information to request reciprocity in your Background Investigation Package.

Polygraph Waiver: Certain veterans may be eligible to obtain a polygraph waiver. You will receive information to request a waiver in your Background Investigation Package.

Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:
  • Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
  • A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
  • Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
  • Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government
Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one-year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.

Additional information

Additional Hiring and Special Appointing Authorities: See "THIS JOB IS OPEN TO" section above for what additional Appointing Authorities may apply. Veterans, military spouses, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and people 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 and to understand what documentation would be required with your application, please click on the appropriate link below. You must provide documentation supporting your eligibility prior to the closing date of this announcement. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, please contact the CBP Hiring Center via the contact information listed at the end of this job opportunity announcement.


Positions with known promotion potential do not guarantee promotion, nor is the promise of promotion implied.

This position DOES NOT confer Federal Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) retirement coverage.

Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.

Follow U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Twitter @CustomsBorder

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applicants will only be considered for the Eligibilities for which they claim in the job questionnaire AND must provide the supporting documentation. Applicants will not be considered for Eligibilities for which they did not claim, regardless of the documentation submitted with the application. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12731995

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education, and training will be rated using an assessment questionnaire.

This self-assessment will be used to assess the following competencies or KSAs:

  • Administration and Management - Knowledge of planning, coordination, and execution of business functions, resource allocation, and production.
  • Integrity - Follows agency policy and the letter and the spirit of the law; avoids even the appearance of impropriety; instills mutual trust and confidence; behaves in a fair and ethical manner toward others.
  • Judgement - Makes sound evaluations of situations. Uses intelligence and common sense to avoid actions that could put oneself or others in danger or could jeopardize the effectiveness and mission of the organization. Recognizes clues or other possible indications of a potential problem.
  • Oral & Written Communication - Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed. Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
  • Teaching Others - Shares technical expertise with others; instructs others on how to perform tasks; communicates relevant information and provides constructive feedback.
  • Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. Preview the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12731995

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibilityon OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement.

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