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Security Officer - Branch Chief

Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Summary

This position is located within the Security Branch of the Emergency Management, Safety, and Security Division under Emergency and Regulatory Compliance Services. The Security Branch is responsible for the protection of APHIS personnel and contractors as well as property and infrastructure at Federally owned and leased facilities across the country.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/25/2026 to 03/03/2026
Salary
$125,776 to - $197,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Remain in current duty station except National Capital Region or if mobile field position
Location Negotiable After Selection
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% 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
14
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
MP-12893662-26-ER
Control number
858764400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted only from current permanent APHIS employees with competitive status and CTAP/RPL eligible candidates.

Duties

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  • The duties may include, but are not limited to:
  • Subject matter expert on threats and threat mitigation and serves as the Agency Security Officer and principal risk manager for APHIS leadership.
  • Supervises, trains, evaluates and manages a team of subordinate security and administrative personnel.
  • Responsible for managing a significant budget with multiple line items.
  • Provides support to APHIS programs that maintain firearms for mission-related responsibilities.
  • Manages security focused training courses and maintains an annual training calendar to provide active shooter, de-escalation and other relevant security-focused courses.
  • Responsible for supporting animal and plant health emergencies as well as all hazards events.
  • Deploys to support the security needs of an Incident Command.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National.
  • Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
  • Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
  • Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
  • Testing Designated Position: Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
  • In accordance with Office of Government Ethics regulations concerning conflict of interest, the incumbent will be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of their effective date of appointment and annually thereafter.
  • All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

FOR THE GS-14 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-13 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

  • Planning, developing, and executing physical security projects and programs;
  • Evaluating and managing the safety and physical security of agency personnel, infrastructure, and agency assets;
  • Preparing briefings as a risk manager, to advise senior personnel regarding physical security issues and recommending mitigation;
  • Collaborating and liaising with local law enforcement, federal law enforcement, senior intelligence personnel, and other related physical security personnel to evaluate possible threats to agency personnel, infrastructure and assets;
  • Supervising others by planning, directing, prioritizing work, monitoring progress, and meeting organizational goals.
Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level.
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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This position does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

  • Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
  • First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected.
  • Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee.
  • Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection.
  • If selected for this position, you will remain in your current official duty station of record unless you are in the National Capital Region. Selectees with a current duty station in the National Capital Region defined as the District of Columbia; Montgomery and Prince George's Counties of Maryland; Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties of Virginia will need a new duty station established prior to entrance on duty. Selectees located anywhere else will not be able to voluntarily change their duty station as part of this selection process.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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 reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualification requirements. Your resume must address experience and education relevant to this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements will be referred to this hiring manager for consideration.

Note: If after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.


To preview the application questionnaire, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12893662

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