Clarification from the agency

United States Citizens. If you are a current or former federal or eligible under a special hiring authority (VEOA, Schedule A, etc.), you may be eligible to apply under the concurrently advertised merit promotion vacancy announcement: OFO-2025-0026

APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 150 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 150th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first.  

We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application.

As a Protective Service Specialist, GS-1801-12, you will be responsible for:

• Incumbent is responsible, during her/his shift for the security of the Secretary, to and from her/his residence and office, while attending events and meetings both official and personal inside and outside her/his office, while on travel within the United States and overseas, and during periods of heightened threats or federal government alert that would require continuous protection.   
• Serving as a Personal Protection Specialist and assists in the development and planning for the protection of the Secretary of Education and when appropriate, the Deputy Secretary of Education.     
• Assisting in investigations concerning threats to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary. Coordinates official liaison activities with the United States Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Capitol Police and other federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies, relating to the personal protective security operations of the Secretary and Deputy Secretary.   

As a Protective Service Specialist, GS-1801-13, you will be responsible for:

• Incumbent is responsible, during her/his shift for the security of the Secretary, to and from her/his residence and office, while attending events and meetings both official and personal inside and outside her/his office, while on travel within the United States and overseas, and during periods of heightened threats or federal government alert that would require continuous protection.    
• Serving as a Personal Protection Specialist and assists in the development and planning for the protection of the Secretary of Education and when appropriate, the Deputy Secretary of Education.   
• Assisting in investigations concerning threats to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary. Coordinates official liaison activities with the United States Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Capitol Police and other federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies, relating to the personal protective security operations of the Secretary and Deputy Secretary.   
• Coordinating with appropriate offices/agencies to ensure that all telecommunication systems are in place to include constant secure telephone services and other electronic communication systems with the Department of Education and the White House.

Conditions of employment

• Relocation will not be paid.
• You may be subject to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Must be a US Citizen.
• Must Complete a Background Investigation and Fingerprint check.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

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. We will consider all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience.

Conditions of Employment

TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY:

• You may be eligible for occasional telework in which you are required to report to the office on a regular basis. Participation must be requested and approved by the supervisor and there must be a signed telework agreement. The number of telework days approved is determined by the agency policy, emergency situations, the approval of your immediate supervisor. You must have access to high speed internet and cell phone service meeting current Agency policy from the approved work location.  

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements

You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-12, if you possess the specialize experience.

Specialized Experience for the GS-12

One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-11 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Experience in providing protective service within the United States, as well as during periods of heightened threats that would require continuous protection.
2. Experience in the implementing protective security plans as well as liaison activities with other partners in doing so.
3. Experience performing protective service advance activities within the United States.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

1. Knowledge of personal security processes, methods, techniques, and systems involving threat assessment and vulnerability identification.
2. Ability to plan, prepare and coordinate administrative communications, transportation, security, and other logistical requirements for key agency officials.
3. Knowledge of security program interrelationships sufficient to coordinate and serve as a liaison with appropriate offices/agencies.

You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-13, if you possess the specialize experience.

Specialized Experience for the GS-13

One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-12 performing two (2) out of  three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Experience in providing protective security of a senior executive department head or equivalent within the United States, as well as during periods of heightened threats that would require continuous protection.   
2. Experience in the implementing protective security plans for a senior executive department head or equivalent as well as liaison activities with other partners in doing so.   
3. Experience performing protective service advance activities, within the United States and overseas, and investigating threats to a senior executive department head or equivalent.   

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

1. Knowledge of personal security processes, methods, techniques, and systems involving threat assessment and vulnerability identification.
2. Ability to plan, prepare and coordinate administrative communications, transportation, security, and other logistical requirements for key agency officials.
3. Knowledge of security program interrelationships sufficient to coordinate and serve as a liaison with appropriate offices/agencies.

How you will be evaluated

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

We use a multi-step process to review and evaluate applicants:

1. Eligibility and Minimum Qualifications

Once the vacancy announcement closes, we will review your submitted resume and documents to determine if you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, including any required education, experience, and/or selective placement factors. You will be rated as ineligible if you are outside of the area of consideration (i.e., who may apply) or your application is missing any required documents. You will be rated as not qualified if you do not possess the minimum qualification requirements.

2. Rating and Ranking

If you are found to meet both the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, we will assess the quality of your experience and the extent to which you possess the required KSAs by comparing your submitted resume and documents against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. Your application may be referred to a subject matter expert or panel of subject matter experts for further evaluation. Based on the outcome of this evaluation, you will be placed into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. If your responses to the occupational questionnaire are not substantiated by your submitted resume, you may be eliminated from receiving further consideration. Veterans’ Preference: Qualified veterans’ preference eligibles will be ranked ahead of qualified non-preference eligibles within each category for which they are qualified. Qualified veterans’ preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more (CPS and CP) will be placed at the top of the Best Qualified category, except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 grade level or higher.

Based on the outcome of this evaluation candidates will be assigned a numerical score out of a possible 100 and be placed into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified.  The three categories are defined below:

Best-Qualified Category – Applicants who have a score between 95 and 100.  Demonstrates better overall or key knowledge, skills, or abilities for a specific position.

Well-Qualified Category – Applicants who have a score between 85 and 94.99.  Possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities which clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position but does not necessarily meet the definition of best qualified.

Qualified Category – Applicants who have a score between 70 and 84.99. Meets the minimum qualification standards for a specific position.

3. Referral and Selection

If you are found to be amongst the most highly qualified applicants, you will be referred to the selecting official. As part of the assessment and selection process, the selecting official may invite you to participate in a structured interview, check your references, and/or request that you submit a writing sample or complete a written assessment or exercise to further evaluate your qualifications for this position. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the interview process or written assessment or exercise, please inform the selecting official at the time of scheduling.