The Secret Service is seeking retirees of the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) to support our integrated mission and impart knowledge and experience to the current workforce. Joining the Secret Service, Office of Field Operations, will allow you to conduct polygraph examinations as part of national security and suitability investigations for background checks.
For definitions of terms found in this announcement, please click here.
Summary
The Secret Service is seeking retirees of the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) to support our integrated mission and impart knowledge and experience to the current workforce. Joining the Secret Service, Office of Field Operations, will allow you to conduct polygraph examinations as part of national security and suitability investigations for background checks.
For definitions of terms found in this announcement, please click here.
This announcement is open to Civil Service Retirees from the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) who are eligible for reemployment as a federal annuitant; and Federal Government Agency; and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) eligibles.
The selectee will serve as a Polygraph Examiner (Reemployed Annuitants and ICTAP Eligibles) in the Office of Field Operations. Typical work assignments include:
Serving as a technical advisor to field agents and investigative teams regarding evidence corroboration through polygraph examinations outcomes.
Scheduling, planning and conducting criminal and personnel security polygraph examinations.
Advising internal and external stakeholders on the appropriate use of polygraph examination in criminal investigations, statutory and regulatory requirements, and interview techniques.
Apply for this exciting opportunity to impact the Secret Service's investigative and protective mission. This Polygraph Examiner position starts at a base salary of $90,025.00, GS-13, Step 1 with potential to $117,034.00 GS-13 step 10.
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
If selected for this position, you will be required to:
Obtain and maintain a Top-Secret Tier 5 clearance. For more information visit OPM Mythbuster Page.
Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
Submit a credit check after a conditional offer of employment has been accepted.
Submit to a polygraph examination.
Obtain and maintain Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access.
OPM Dual Compensation Offset Waiver Approved for Rehires: This announcement is being used to recruit CSRS and FERS annuitants on a limited basis with a waiver of salary offset (if a dual compensation waiver is requested) under certain specified circumstances not to exceed 12/31/2028.
Annuitants who are reemployed with a salary offset waiver (dual compensation) are eligible for:
Full annuity and full Federal salary.
Annual and sick leave (not applicable for an intermittent work schedule)
Full-time, part-time, or intermittent work schedules.
Receive overtime (on a full-time schedule). Overtime hours are counted towards maximum hour limitations.
Annuitants under this authority will be offered a 4-year, non-status, term appointment in the competitive service.
Appointments that continue past December 31, 2028, may be subjected to salary off-set (reduced) if the OPM dual compensation salary off-set waiver is not renewed.
Annuitants who are reemployed with a salary offset waiver (dual compensation) are NOT eligible for:
Additional retirement coverage (other than Social Security coverage).
TSP Contributions.
Annual, sick leave or holiday pay (applicable to an intermittent work schedule only).
Reemployed annuitants may only receive one appointment per job series.
Qualifications
To be considered qualified for this position you must meet the following qualification requirements for the respective grade level in which you are applying.
You qualify for the GS -13 level(starting base salary $90,025.00) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level performing duties such as:
Performing various test interviews to assess truthfulness and gather relevant information to conduct a polygraph examination.
Interpreting and evaluating physiological responses recorded during polygraph examinations to determine consistency with truthful and deceptive behavior.
Documenting findings and conclusions from polygraph examination reports for use in investigations or adjudications.
Advising stakeholders in polygraph-related matters, including providing testimony in legal or administrative settings.
Selective Placement Factor: In addition to the minimum qualifications described above, you must meet the following requirement to be considered qualified for the position: Must possess a Federal Polygraph Certification from the National Center of Credibility Assessment (NCCA).
The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date of this 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. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
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.
Education
Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.
Additional information
Re-employed annuitants are at-will employees and can be separated at any time for any reason. There are no notice requirements and annuitants have no Reduction-in-Force (RIF) protections.
DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Click here to 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.
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 HRsupport@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.
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).
The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. 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 or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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. The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are:
Problem Solving
Technical Competence
Technical Credibility
Structured Resume Review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. SMEs will review ONLY two (2) pages of your resume, starting at your work experience. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume). Applicants passing the structured resume review will be referred for further consideration.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the Federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under ICTAP, you must be deemed qualified based on the structured resume review, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.
An interview may be required for this position. If an interview is required, 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 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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
In addition to addressing the vacancy specific questions, you must also submit the following documentation:
Resume - In order to receive credit for experience contained in an uploaded resume, your employment history should show relevant work experience in month/year format (MM/YYYY), reflecting starting date and ending date, and include the number of hours worked per week. A resume must be no more than two pages. If your resume exceeds two-pages, the USAJOBS database will not allow the application to be submitted.
Certification: Must submit a copy of Federal Polygraph Certification from the National Center for Credibility Assessment (NCCA).
If tentatively selected for the position, you may be required to provide additional documentation (SF50s) to validate your eligibility for the position.
Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)? Submit a copy of your agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance appraisal (with at least a satisfactory rating) and your most current SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
Are you a federal annuitant? Submit a copy of your retirement SF 50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing your tenure code, position occupied and highest grade and step. In addition, if you have or had service in a Federal Law Enforcement position covered by law enforcement or firefighter retirement provisions, including early or mandatory retirement, the SF-50 must show the retirement code. An award SF-50 does not contain the required information. You may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and or incentive awards. Instructions for obtaining your SF-50: If you need assistance with obtaining your SF-50 showing your retirement, please contact the National Records Center website at https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/civilian-non-archival. You must submit the SF-50 associated with your retirement for consideration.
Are you a Veteran? Veterans' preference does not apply to selections made under this announcement. However, if you would like to submit your military records for benefits you may receive after selection, please submit the following: copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4). If a DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4) is not available, other documentation listing the beginning and ending dates of active service and the type of discharge must be submitted to verify eligibility.
10-Point Veterans' Preference: If claiming 10-point Veterans' Preference, you will need to submit a SF-15 and provide an official document from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying your overall compensable service-connected disability rating (NOTE: Your overall percentage must be clearly shown), and/or any other associated documentation based on your preference.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
Only resumes up to a total of two pages will be accepted. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. To learn how to format and submit a two-page resume, please visit the USAJOBS Help Center.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 10/16/2025 to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
To begin your online application, click the Apply Online button and follow the prompts to register or sign into USAJOBS.
Complete the online questionnaire and submit the required documents. See Required Documents section for more detail.
You must complete the application process and submit any required documents no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 10/16/2025.
To update your application, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides the Announcement Status and a "You applied on" date. This information does not confirm the agency application status. Use the "Track this Application" link for additional information regarding the agency application status, the documentation you submitted, and any correspondence sent related to this application. The Announcement Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Announcement Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application.
We strongly encourage you to apply online. If you cannot apply online, you may contact APT Talent Management Division at HRSupport@usss.dhs.gov by calling (202) 406-6420 or TDD at (202) 406-5390 between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:30 pm EST (excluding Federal holidays) prior to the closing date of this announcement to receive assistance.
The Secret Service provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process.
Once your complete application is received we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your eligibility. Qualified applicants will be referred for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information. For more information on applying for Federal employment, please click here.
Note: The average re-employment process is typically 2-6 months depending on your unique history.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
In addition to addressing the vacancy specific questions, you must also submit the following documentation:
Resume - In order to receive credit for experience contained in an uploaded resume, your employment history should show relevant work experience in month/year format (MM/YYYY), reflecting starting date and ending date, and include the number of hours worked per week. A resume must be no more than two pages. If your resume exceeds two-pages, the USAJOBS database will not allow the application to be submitted.
Certification: Must submit a copy of Federal Polygraph Certification from the National Center for Credibility Assessment (NCCA).
If tentatively selected for the position, you may be required to provide additional documentation (SF50s) to validate your eligibility for the position.
Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)? Submit a copy of your agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance appraisal (with at least a satisfactory rating) and your most current SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
Are you a federal annuitant? Submit a copy of your retirement SF 50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing your tenure code, position occupied and highest grade and step. In addition, if you have or had service in a Federal Law Enforcement position covered by law enforcement or firefighter retirement provisions, including early or mandatory retirement, the SF-50 must show the retirement code. An award SF-50 does not contain the required information. You may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and or incentive awards. Instructions for obtaining your SF-50: If you need assistance with obtaining your SF-50 showing your retirement, please contact the National Records Center website at https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/civilian-non-archival. You must submit the SF-50 associated with your retirement for consideration.
Are you a Veteran? Veterans' preference does not apply to selections made under this announcement. However, if you would like to submit your military records for benefits you may receive after selection, please submit the following: copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4). If a DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4) is not available, other documentation listing the beginning and ending dates of active service and the type of discharge must be submitted to verify eligibility.
10-Point Veterans' Preference: If claiming 10-point Veterans' Preference, you will need to submit a SF-15 and provide an official document from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying your overall compensable service-connected disability rating (NOTE: Your overall percentage must be clearly shown), and/or any other associated documentation based on your preference.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
Only resumes up to a total of two pages will be accepted. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. To learn how to format and submit a two-page resume, please visit the USAJOBS Help Center.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 10/16/2025 to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
To begin your online application, click the Apply Online button and follow the prompts to register or sign into USAJOBS.
Complete the online questionnaire and submit the required documents. See Required Documents section for more detail.
You must complete the application process and submit any required documents no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 10/16/2025.
To update your application, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides the Announcement Status and a "You applied on" date. This information does not confirm the agency application status. Use the "Track this Application" link for additional information regarding the agency application status, the documentation you submitted, and any correspondence sent related to this application. The Announcement Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Announcement Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application.
We strongly encourage you to apply online. If you cannot apply online, you may contact APT Talent Management Division at HRSupport@usss.dhs.gov by calling (202) 406-6420 or TDD at (202) 406-5390 between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:30 pm EST (excluding Federal holidays) prior to the closing date of this announcement to receive assistance.
The Secret Service provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process.
Once your complete application is received we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your eligibility. Qualified applicants will be referred for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information. For more information on applying for Federal employment, please click here.
Note: The average re-employment process is typically 2-6 months depending on your unique history.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
