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Technical Security Investigator

Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Secret Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Joining the Secret Service, Office of Technical Development and Mission Support, Technical Security Division will allow you to provide specialized technical expertise to develop and implement countermeasures to protected persons and/or facilities, and support protective and criminal investigations. This Technical Security Investigator position starts at a salary of $64,012 (GL-9, step 1) or $74,950 (GS-11, step 1), with promotion potential to $138,868 (GS-13, step 10)

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
09/14/2022 to 09/30/2022
Salary
$64,012 to - $97,430 per year
Pay scale & grade
GL 09 - 11
Location
Washington, DC
9 vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
50% or less - Frequent domestic and foreign travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - Initial appointment is in the Excepted Service
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
13 - Full Performance Level (FPL)
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
TLE-TEC-TSD-SM371-22-EX
Control number
677098100

This job is open to

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The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

Selectees will receive an excepted appointment, which is limited to 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.

Duties

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The selectee will serve as a Technical Security Investigator specializing in one of the following areas: Chemical Biological Countermeasures; Electronics; Explosive Ordnance Disposal; or Technical Surveillance Countermeasures in the Office of Technical Development and Mission Support, Technical Security Division. Typical work assignments include:

  • Installing, monitoring, maintaining, analyzing, and evaluating the latest known technologies (e.g. state of the art intrusion detection systems and devices) that may potentially be used by hostile entities, both domestic and abroad, either independent or as groups to penetrate the Agency sites or otherwise harm protectees; conducting routine security searches of protective and investigative locations to identify, detect, deter, and stop potential or actual threats involving hazardous materials, items, devices, persons, or unsafe environmental conditions; and advising senior Technical Security Investigators on potential violations and security deficiencies, matters that are not routine.
  • Assisting in protective countermeasures and related law enforcement response planning duties; assisting in planning, organizing investigative tactics and techniques to assist with investigations of suspected criminal violations.
  • Assisting in protective advances and conducting surveys and analyses; adjusting plans and schedules; and assisting in developing alternative strategies in response to delays, sudden and/or major changes in itineraries or the introduction of critical intelligence.
  • Assisting in providing advice and assistance to U.S. Secret Service, White House Officials and representatives from other federal agencies and organizations on issues.

Apply for this exciting opportunity to directly impact the mission of the agency by providing operational support to protective operations and criminal investigations through the identification, fielding and monitoring of unique or specially tailored equipment necessary to provide protective countermeasures, document criminal activity and acquire criminal target location.

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.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade and unit occur.

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

This position is covered by Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUO) and additional compensation may be paid at the rate of up to 25% of the base salary.

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.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. citizenship is required.

Conditions of Employment If selected for this position, you will be required to:

  • Be at least 21 years of age at the time of application.
  • Obtain and maintain a top secret Tier 5 clearance. Visit OPM Mythbuster Page.
  • Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
  • Submit to a polygraph examination prior to your appointment.
  • Possess a valid U.S. state motor vehicle operator's license at the time of appointment.  You must maintain license while employed in the position and will be required to operate motor vehicles in accordance with applicable OPM regulations and U.S. Secret Service guidance and policies.
  • Carry and use a firearm. Maintaining firearm proficiency is 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 a pre-employment medical examination (vision, hearing, cardiovascular and mobility of extremities) by an authorized Government physician and be determined physically fit to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties. You will be required to undergo regular physical examinations and to maintain a level of physical fitness in accordance with the standards and policies of this agency.
  • 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. Applicants will be considered eligible provided specific visual tests are passed. The following are waiting periods for visual tests: Lasik-3 months after surgery, PRK-6 months after surgery, and ALK and RK-one year after surgery)
  • 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
  • Complete 12 weeks of intensive training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA or Artesia, NM. https://www.secretservice.gov/join/training/fitness/
  • Complete a 10-week Mixed Basic Training Course (MBTC) at the Secret Service's training facility in Laurel, MD.
  • Failure to pass either of the training programs on the first attempt may result in separation from the U. S. Secret Service.

Qualifications

GL-9: You qualify for the GL-9 level (starting salary $64,012) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-7 level performing duties as identified below in one of the following areas:

Electronics:

  • Utilizing troubleshooting tools to troubleshoot and perform systematic problem solving of electronic devices and systems.
  • Maintaining electronic components and systems requiring knowledge of electronic theory.
  • Testing and evaluating electrical components and systems.
  • Troubleshooting and maintaining computers and computer network systems pertaining to electronics.
  • Providing assistance to ensure compliance of computer security.

Chemical Biological Countermeasures:

  • Planning and organizing the operations involved in combating structural/industrial/wildland firefighting and/or responding and mitigating hazardous materials (HAZMAT) or chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incidents.
  • Inspecting or investigating various facilities (e.g. warehouses, shops, hospitals, offices, living quarters, etc.) for violations of fire regulations, and for conditions contributing to serious fire hazards.
  • Identifying criteria and implementing fire life safety surveys for pre-incident analysis and incident response.

Technical Surveillance Countermeasures:

  • Participating in technical surveillance countermeasures inspections that include: radio frequency signal adjudication, electrical and physical component detection, and physical inspections identifying and neutralizing technical penetrations and vulnerabilities that could be used to compromise sensitive and national security information.
  • Performing technical surveillance countermeasures functions utilizing a wide variety of technical surveillance countermeasures equipment and instrumentation.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal:

  • Responding to incident scenes where explosives threats are suspected or determined to be suspected.
  • Interpreting x-rays of potential explosive devices, and/or other unknown and suspicious devices.
  • Identifying and differentiating between commercial, military, and home-made explosives.

Or

Master’s or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., or a combination of education and experience.

GS-11: You qualify for the GS-11 level (starting salary $74,950) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-9 level performing duties as identified below in one of the following areas:

Electronics:

  • Directing or managing projects encompassing the installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of electronic components and systems requiring electronic theory.
  • Analyzing technical data to determine equipment compatibility of various electronic security devices.
  • Recommending and utilizing troubleshooting tools, and systematic problem solving as it relates to electronic devices and systems.
  • Performing project management duties of troubleshooting and maintaining computers and computer network systems pertaining to electronics.
  • Designing, installing, and implementing architecture to monitor security issues.
  • Evaluating and analyzing electronic equipment and overall operations of systems.

Chemical Biological Countermeasures:

  • Performing command and control duties overseeing a unit, branch, division, task force or equivalent during large, complex incidents/operations involved in combating structural/industrial/wildland firefighting and/or responding and mitigating hazardous materials (HAZMAT) or chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incidents.
  • Providing oversight or management of inspections or investigations of various facilities (e.g. warehouses, shops, hospitals, offices, living quarters, etc.) for violations of fire regulations, and for conditions contributing to serious fire hazards.
  • Identifying criteria, assessing hazards, and implementing fire life safety surveys for pre-incident analysis and incident response.

Technical Surveillance Countermeasures:

  • Conducting technical surveillance countermeasures inspections that include: radio frequency signal adjudication, computer and network inspections, electrical and physical component detection, physical and logical telephony systems inspections.
  • Selecting and maintaining technical surveillance countermeasures equipment.
  • Developing processes and procedures for the use of technical surveillance countermeasures equipment.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal:

  • Managing and coordinating the resources required for the response to, and mitigation of an explosives related incident/threat.
  • Analyzing and investigating post-blast incidents.
  • Instructing on explosives theory and best practices regarding threat mitigation.

OR

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., or a combination of education and experience.

In addition, all applicants who are not currently employed in the law enforcement provision of FERS or the Civil Service Retirement System must be less than 37 years of age at the time of referral. (Unless you have previous service in a Federal Civilian Law Enforcement position covered by special civil service retirement provision, including early or mandatory retirement).  Applicants who are eligible for veterans preference must be less than 40 years of age at the time of referral.

Qualifications Must Be Met: The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

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 selected for this position will be required to sign a continuing service agreement before being assigned to an initial training class. The continuing service agreement will commit the applicant to a specified period of employment with the U.S. Secret Service upon the successful completion of training.

Education

Please refer to "Qualifications" section above.

Additional information

If selected for this position, you will be required to sign a mobility agreement stating willingness to accept assignments anywhere within the United States and overseas.

The work routinely requires long hours with minimal breaks and to be on call 24 hours a day. Must be able to operate in sensitive, real time situations that may produce physical and emotional stress. Required to work in environments that involve risks of unknown hazards when performing protective searches of remote unsecured areas that may harbor unauthorized persons or environmental hazards, as well as the discomforts associated with working in hard to reach, dirty and hazardous areas of buildings, facilities and outside areas. You will not have control of the environmental conditions or schedule of operations; and will be required to be flexible to ensure mission completion. At times, you  may be subjected to explosives handling and/or radio frequency (RF) exposure.

Regular and reoccurring physical exertion such as long periods of walking, standing, climbing, bending, crawling and similar activities is conducted on protective advances, technical investigations and projects at permanent sites. Performance of the duties requires physical strength to carry heavy equipment and mental alertness for activities such as long periods of surveillance for both investigative and protection efforts. Good physical condition, eyesight and hearing are critical requirement to this position.

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).

E-Verify Statement: 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.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

This position will require a credit check after initial job qualifications have been determined.

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.

For more information on the Secret Service click here.  For definitions of terms found in this announcement, please click here.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your 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 online process must be substantiated by your resume. Upon review, your resume and/or supporting documents need to support your answer choices and reflect the one year of specialized experience requirement, in order to be considered.  If the one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the next lower grade level cannot be identified in your resume, you will be considered not qualified. The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are:

  • Knowledge of physical and technical security concepts, techniques, policies, tools, methods and procedures to safeguard against threats to protectees and their environments associated with chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats; fire protection, life safety and technical rescue; compromise of security systems, sensitive or classified information, personnel, facilities, installations, equipment, and other sensitive materials, resources, or processes
  • Ability to serve as the agency’s technical investigative authority in criminal investigations.
  • Ability to communicate in writing to present ideas and provide plans and procedures to customers, supervisors, and team members.
  • Ability to communicate verbally to present ideas and provide plans and procedures to customers, supervisors, and team members.

Interview Requirement: Interviews are required for this position. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

May be subject to an Applicant Physical Abilities Test.

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). 


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