Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Protective Security Operations Officer

Department of Homeland Security
DHS Headquarters
Federal Protective Service (FPS)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Service (FPS), Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/12/2025 to 08/18/2025
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$111,442 to - $153,151 per year

Salary is within the above range and will be based on locality upon selection. Atlanta, GA: $111,442 - $144,876; Chicago, IL: $117,807 - $153,151

Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Locations
2 vacancies in the following locations:
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
75% or less - You may be expected to travel 11 or more nights per month for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
ST-12770214-25-AB
Control number
842968200

Duties

Help

The primary purpose of this position is administering the regional program for the contract security guard/protective security officer's programs and for providing technical expertise in initiating and leading projects involving the evaluation of related security programs and operations.

Duties performed:

  • Administering the Federal Protective Service (FPS) regional program for contract security guards/protective security officers (PSO).
  • Participating in nationwide and/or regional studies and other key contract security program initiatives having national significance and importance.
  • Providing technical expertise initiating and leading projects involving the evaluation of related security programs and operations.
  • Directing and coordinating the development of performance monitoring schedules and plans for FPS law enforcement managers and Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs).
  • Maintaining liaison with various internal and external stakeholders and vendors to ensure mutually supportive plans and operations.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
  • You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
  • One-year probationary period may be required.
  • Must meet Time-In-Grade requirements.
  • This position requires a negative pre-employment drug test result prior to appointment into this position.
  • 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.
  • DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
  • All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • License required: Yes - Valid Driver's License
  • Pre-employment physical required: Yes
  • This is a non-bargaining unit position.
  • Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses will not be paid.
  • Promotion Potential: This position is at the full performance level.
  • Essential Personnel: This position may be designated as essential personnel. Essential personnel must be able to serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of unscheduled leave or government closures due to weather, protests, and acts of terrorist or lack of funding. Failure to report for or remain in this position may result in disciplinary or adverse action in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations (5 U.S.C. 7501-7533 and 5 CFR Part 752, as applicable).
  • Tour of Duty: Must be available for overtime and shift work.
  • Travel: The incumbent may be required to travel.
  • Random Drug Testing: The incumbent of this position is subject to random drug testing.

Qualifications

Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Specialized Experience requirements as noted below.

Specialized Experience:
GS-13: Applicant must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-12 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties:

  1. Collaborating with senior procurement and contracting specialists to manage contract security guard/protective security officer programs;
  2. Utilizing knowledge of security program administration, policies, and procedures to advise a variety of key stakeholders;
  3. Evaluating program requirements and activities to provide guidance related to security programs and operations; and
  4. Presenting proposals, findings, and/or recommendations to internal or external stakeholders to support program improvements.
NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Only the first five pages of your resume will be used to make an eligibility/qualifications determination.

Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying). Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current employees applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. NOTE: All current or former Federal employees must provide a copy of their SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one), "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility. The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure (1 or 2), and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

NOTE: 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.

Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP): This program applies to Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed, or employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet eligibility criteria for CTAP or ICTAP; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. Well-Qualified includes those applicants whose knowledge, skills, and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. For information on eligibility criteria and required documentation, go to: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.

Lautenberg Amendment: This person is covered by the 1996 Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968. Person convicted of a misdemeanor of felony crime of domestic violence are not eligible for the position.

Law Enforcement: As required, the incumbent must maintain law enforcement qualification sand proficiencies and possess law enforcement authority under Title 40 of the United States Code, Section 1315, exercising such authority to provide investigative and law enforcement services to customers' agencies, Federal employees, and members of the general public located and/or conducting business in government-owned or leased properties.
If the incumbent is vested with 40 USC 1315 authority, he/she must also: Meet the established experience, basic training, and in-service training requirements for the enforcement of police powers, which includes the Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP); qualify quarterly (or as other policy dictates) in the use of firearms and other weapons.

Motor Vehicle Operation: This position requires the incumbent possess a valid driver's license, maintain a safe driving record, and demonstrate they are medically qualified to operate a motor vehicle safely in accordance with the standards and procedures established in 5 CFR 930.Periodic verification of license and safe driving record will be required.

Pre-employment Medical Requirement: Prior to appointment, the person selected for the position must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties, which may include protecting citizens, taking suspects into custody, and responding to situations requiring physical agility and quick and legally sufficient decision making. Also, must successfully pass a pre-employment medical examination (which includes, but is not limited to vision, hearing, cardiovascular and mobility of extremities) given by an authorized government physician. This position may be subject to periodic incumbent examinations in the future.

Training: Must successfully complete the FPS Physical Security Training Program and all other required physical security, personnel security and contract related training established by FPS.

Mobility Agreement; This position may require the incumbent to be reassigned to different geographic locations. Accordingly, the incumbent will be required to sign a mobility agreement, which will remain in effect through the duration of the assignment.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Note: DHS continues to take necessary steps to keep our workforce safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic. If you receive a final job offer to onboard, please complete the onboarding forms and submit them electronically in an expeditious manner. Your start date may be delayed if the action above is not completed.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for a Top Secret/SCI clearance as a condition of placement in this Special-Sensitive/High Risk position. This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12654 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.

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.

Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP): This program applies to Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed, or employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet eligibility criteria for CTAP or ICTAP; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. Well-Qualified includes those applicants whose knowledge, skills, and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. For information on eligibility criteria and required documentation, go to: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp

Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).

If you are unable to apply online contact CSB_Inquiries@opm.gov.

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.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using an Assessment Questionnaire. The questions are related to the following fundamental competencies (or Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) needed to perform the duties of this job:

  • Contracting/Procurement
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Oral Communication


Based on your responses, you will receive a score from the Assessment Questionnaire. Those applicants who score the highest will be referred to the hiring manager and may be called for an interview. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you will be removed from consideration or your score will be lowered.

Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards as an indicator of quality of prior experience; no points will be assigned.

For Competitive Merit Promotion and Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) Applicants: The highest rated candidates will be referred to the hiring agency.

For Noncompetitive Appointment Eligibles: All qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring agency.

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veteran must 1) be a preference eligible; or 2) be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions (you must submit a DD214-member copy 4).

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.

To preview the assessment questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12770214

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.