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Protective Armor Vehicle Specialist

Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Secret Service
Office of Protective Operations, Special Services Division

Summary

Joining the Secret Service, Office of the Protective Operations, Special Services Division will allow you to use your expertise in the field of Automotive Technology to maintain, equip, and repair a state-of-the-art protective vehicle fleet, as well as support protective driving operations to ensure the secure and efficient transportation of protectees.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/20/2026 to 04/27/2026
Salary
$67,248 - $96,778 per year

GL07 - $67,248 to $85,050; GL09 - $74,999 to $96,778

Pay scale & grade
GL 7 - 9
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Domestic and Foreign travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term - The duration of this time limited Schedule B excepted appointment is 3 years and 120 days. Upon completion, you will either be converted to a career appointment in the competitive service or separated based on the expiration of the appointment.
Work schedule
Full-time - This position may require shift work.
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
TLE-OPO-SSD-RS-26-EX
Control number
865825700

Duties

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The selectee will serve as a Protective Armor Vehicle Specialist in the Office of Protective Operations, Special Services Division. The official title for this position is Protective Armor Specialist. Typical work assignments include:

  • Ensuring maintenance of fleet management in accordance with all inspectional procedures, guidelines, policies and procedures to ensure the safety of all stakeholders.
  • Maintaining and tracking vehicle performance data, operational reports, customer service records, and safety records.
  • Participating in logistics and strategic planning efforts to arrange protective services and transportation support for internal and external law enforcement partners.
  • Maintaining proficiency in the agency's protective motorcade operations, including tactical driving of armored vehicles and defensive tactics to ensure the secure transport of authorized personnel.

Apply for this exciting opportunity to support the Secret Service mission by utilizing your skills to maintain the superior performance of the U.S. President's state-of-the-art fleet of protective vehicles. This Protective Armor Vehicle Specialist position starts at a salary of $67,248.00, GL-07 step 1, with promotion potential to $136,830, GS-12 step 10.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Conditions of Employment:

  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Possess and maintain a current valid driver's license. Must be REAL ID compliant.
  • Obtain and maintain a Top-Secret Clearance.
  • Certify registration or exemption with the Selective Service if you are a male applicant born after 12/31/59.
  • Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing during employment.
  • Submit to a polygraph examination prior to your appointment.
  • Complete pre-employment medical examinations.
  • Carry and use a firearm. Maintaining firearm proficiency is also 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.
  • Must have uncorrected vision of at least 20/100, correctable to 20/20 in each eye. LASIK, ALK, RK, and PRK surgeries are acceptable if required post-surgery visual tests are passed: Lasik (3 months), PRK (6 months), ALK/RK (1 year) waiting periods apply.
  • 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 or secure an appropriate waiver for a 12-week Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA or Artesia, NM and a 10-week Mixed Basic Training Course (MBTC) at the agency's James J. Rowley Training Center (RTC) at the U.S. Secret Service's training facility in Laurel, MD. Click here to review the required Fitness Standards. Failure to pass either of the training programs on the first attempt may result in separation.
Lautenberg Amendment: This position authorizes the incumbent to carry a firearm. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (Title 18, USC, Section 922(g)(91)).

Qualifications

You are minimally qualified for the GL-07 Level, if you possess one of the following:

  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) which is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.
    • 1.Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
    • 2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of:
      • 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum;
      • 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR
  • At least one full year of graduate level education (i.e., 18 semester hours); OR
  • At least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-05 level performing duties, such as assisting with fleet management, armored vehicle maintenance, protective driving, physical security, access control, and/or logistics support; OR
  • A combination of specialized experience, as described above, and related graduate level education.

You are minimally qualified for the GL-09 Level, if you possess one of the following:

  • A master's or equivalent graduate degree (such as LL.B. or J.D.) or two full years of progressively higher graduate education, in a related field, leading to such a degree from an accredited college or university; OR
  • Have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-07 level performing duties such as assisting with diagnosing and repairing protective armored vehicles, solving mechanical problems, and/or communicating with high-level officials; OR
  • A combination of specialized experience, as described above, and related graduate level education, beyond the first full year of graduate level study.

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.

Current or Former Political Appointees: 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.

In addition to the minimum qualifications described above, the incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain the following certifications within 24 months of onboarding as identified in one of the following categories:

  1. Five (5) or more National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications or equivalent; or,
  2. Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Master certificate or equivalent; or,
  3. Major Automobile manufacturer certification; or,
  4. Major Manufacturer College Co-Op program e.g., General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program (GM ASEP), Ford's Automotive Student Service Educational Training (Ford ASSET), or Mopar Career Automotive Program (MOPAR CAP).

The qualification and eligibility requirements listed above must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Applicants must successfully complete and pass Phase 1 assessment to receive a Conditional Job Offer. In addition, applicants must successfully complete and pass Phase II to receive final consideration for employment.

Phase I:

  • National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
Phase II:
  • Credit Check
  • Security Interview
  • Polygraph Examination
  • Drug Screening
  • Medical Examination
  • Background Investigation (Top-Secret Clearance)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for a position by substituting education or training for experience, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted that includes your name, the name of the educational institution, course title(s), number of credits, grade, and date of completion. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

Additional information

Applicant selected for this position will be required to sign a Continued Service Agreement (CSA) 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.

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.

Applicants will be required to travel to all phases of the hiring process at their own expense.

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) (exception a single conservative and unobtrusive tattoo in the form of a ring is authorized on one finger).

You will be required to complete and sign an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, to certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to receiving your Conditional Job Offer letter. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to Equal.Opportunity@usss.dhs.gov.

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.

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.

For definitions of terms found in this announcement, please click here.

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 qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments are required for this position. 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. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

The competencies needed to perform this job are:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Oral Communication
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork
  • Technical Competence
  • Vehicle Maintenance
  • Vehicle Operation

The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Veterans: Qualified 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles. View information on veterans' preference.

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

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 Personnel Management guidance and U.S. Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

U.S. Secret Service

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling on those who want to help protect American interests and secure our Nation. DHS Components work collectively to prevent terrorism; secure borders and our transportation systems; protect the President and other dignitaries; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters. We achieve these vital missions through a workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS.

Building on a Tradition of Excellence and Meeting the Challenges of the Future, the Secret Service is a premier law enforcement organization with two critical national security missions: protect our nation's leaders and conduct criminal investigations. Our team members continue a tradition of excellence - whether investigating financial crime or protecting national and visiting foreign leaders. In the Secret Service, we serve the country with duty, loyalty, justice, integrity and courage. In the Secret Service, we:

  • Protect the President, the Vice President, and other leaders; investigate threats against them; and safeguard their residences and other facilities
  • Plan and implement security designs for National Special Security Events
  • Investigate financial crimes including fraud, identity theft and computer-based attacks on banking or telecommunications infrastructure
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Agency contact information

TLE Support Branch
Email
TLEhrsupport@usss.dhs.gov
Address
United States Secret Service
Please read entire announcement
Please apply online
Washington, DC 20223
US

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http://www.secretservice.gov

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