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Police Officer (Uniformed Division) Counter Sniper

Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Secret Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Uniformed Division's mission is to protect facilities and venues secured for U.S. Secret Service protectees. Throughout its history, the Uniformed Division has accomplished this mission through a tradition of honor, integrity, and a commitment to excellence.

This Uniformed Division Police Officer position starts at a salary of $$73,502.00 (LE-0083-01, step 1.)

For more information on the Secret Service click here.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
10/01/2024 to 11/17/2024
Salary
$73,502 to - $126,449 per year
Pay scale & grade
LE 1
Location
Many vacancies in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
75% or less - Occasional domestic and foreign travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—If a final job offer is extended, relocation expenses may be authorized to the duty location.
Appointment type
Term - The duration of your limited-term 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
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
UDB-CS-25-SOD-Q1-CSN
Control number
811956800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applicants must successfully complete the Uniformed Division Entrance Examination (UDEE) to receive consideration for this position. If you do not report to take the Uniformed Division Entrance Examination (UDEE), or you fail the exam, there is a three-month waiting period before you can reapply and retest. This includes applying to multiple job opportunity announcements; only the first test score will be applied.

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Duties

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During the course of their careers, Uniformed Division Officers carry out assignments in protection. Duties include:

  • Providing protection for The White House Complex, The Vice President's Residence, The Main Treasury Building and Annex, and foreign diplomatic missions and embassies in the Washington, D.C. area.
  • Traveling in support of the Presidential, Vice Presidential, and foreign heads of state/government missions.
  • Enforcing mandated protective responsibilities as described under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3056A.

For more information about the Uniformed Division position click here

The COUNTER SNIPER TEAM (CS) is a specialized unit within the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division that provides global long-range observation and tactical support to U.S. Secret Service protective details. On order, CS will also provide support to designated protectees, protected venues, and National Special Security Events (NSSEs). For more information about the CS position click here.

IMPORTANT: If you are unable to successfully complete the specialty team selection school or the specialty basic school required for selection in the Counter Sniper (CS) position, you will have an opportunity to remain within the Uniformed Division position in a non-tactical role.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship.
  • Possess a current valid driver's license.
  • Be at least age 20 and less than age 37 at the time you receive a conditional offer of employment unless you have previous service in a Federal Civilian Law Enforcement position covered by special law enforcement or firefighter retirement provisions, including early or mandatory retirement. Applicants with veteran's preference must receive a conditional offer of employment prior to reaching age 40 to continue in the application process.
  • Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
  • Disclose any prior drug use, attempted use, and/or experimentation.
  • 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.
  • Complete 12 weeks of intensive training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA or Artesia, NM and 17 weeks of specialized training at the James J. Rowley Training Center in Laurel, MD. Failure to pass the standards on the first attempt may result in separation from the Secret Service. Click here.
  • Certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so, if you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959.
  • Possess uncorrected visual acuity of no worse than 20/100 binocular. Possess corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better in each eye. (Note: Lasik, ALK, RK, and PRK corrective eye surgeries are acceptable eye surgeries for Uniformed Division Officer applicants. Applicants will be considered eligible for the Uniformed Division Officer position provided specific visual tests are passed. The following are waiting periods for visual tests: Lasik-2 months after surgery, PRK-6 months after surgery, and ALK and RK-one year after surgery).

Qualifications

Qualifications:
Conditions of Employment Continued:

  • You must successfully complete and pass the Ishihara Color Vision Test.
  • Possess uncorrected visual acuity of no worse than 20/100 binocular. Possess corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better in each eye. (Note: Lasik, ALK, RK, and PRK corrective eye surgeries are acceptable eye surgeries for Uniformed Division Officer applicants. Applicants will be considered eligible for the Uniformed Division Officer position provided specific visual tests are passed. The following are waiting periods for visual tests: Lasik-2 months after surgery, PRK-6 months after surgery, and ALK and RK-one year after surgery).
  • 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. Applicants must be able to hear the whispered voice at 15 feet with each ear without the use of a hearing aid.
  • Obtain a Top-Secret Clearance and retain it during your career.
  • Use your official name on your application as it appears on your valid government identification (i.e., Driver License, State ID, Passport).
You qualify for the LE-01 grade level (starting salary $73,502) if you meet the following requirements:
  • Possess, at a minimum, a high school diploma or certificate of equivalency.
  • Be the age of 20 at the time of application. Must be 21 at the time of appointment.
Ideal candidates will possess ONE of the SEVEN categories:

Military (current/former):

  • Successful completion of a level 1 or level 2 sniper training program.
  • Occupied a combat arms occupational specialty in the U.S. Armed Forces.
  • Served as a tactical operator (in a non-support or administrative role) in the U.S. Armed Forces.
  • Successfully completed the requisite training course for a military special operations unit.
Law Enforcement (current/former):
  • Served as a tactical operator (in a non-support or administrative role) in a U.S. Government special operations unit.
  • Served as a member of a federal, state, or local law enforcement tactical team.
  • Completed the requisite training course for a U.S. Government special operations unit or a federal, state, or local law enforcement tactical team.
Failure to provide the required military/law enforcement documentation satisfying one of the seven categories of specialized training in the qualifications section will result in an automatic removal from the Counter Sniper process, you will automatically continue in the standard Police Officer (Uniformed Division) application process.

All qualification requirements listed above must be met by the cut-off date of the month in which you applied.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are considered in the following order: (1) preference eligibles having a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more; followed by (2) other 10-point preference eligibles; (3) 5-point preference eligible; and (4) non-preference eligibles (i.e., non-veterans). For information on veterans' preference, please click here.

You will be evaluated based on the minimum qualification questions that are in the vacancy questions.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience) 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.

Applicants must successfully complete Phase I (see below) to receive a conditional offer. In addition, applicants must successfully complete Phase II (see below) in order to receive final consideration for employment.

Phase I:

  • Uniformed Division Entrance Examination (UDEE)
  • Applicant Physical Abilities Test
  • Interview
Phase II:
  • Credit Check
  • Security Interview
  • Polygraph Examination
  • Drug screening
  • Medical Examination
  • Background Investigation (a top-secret security clearance)

As part of the application process the applicant will be required to complete the United States Secret Service Applicant Physical Abilities Test (APAT). It is a physical fitness assessment which consist of four components (push-ups, sit-ups, Illinois Agility Run and a 1.5 Mile Run). The APAT is designed to measure the current level of general physical fitness of an applicant, which serves as an indicator of an applicant's ability to safely complete a vigorous physical training program. It evaluates an applicant's ability to perform the physical tasks required on the job by measuring muscular and dynamic strength, endurance, flexibility, aerobic capacity and other factors related to physical aptitude. The standards are anticipated to be the same regardless of age, gender or position.

To view the entire application process, please click here, and click on the red arrow to move through the process.

The Secret Service follows stringent guidelines relating to illegal drug usage. An applicant's history is reviewed and a determination for employment is made according to our guidelines. For more information regarding the U.S. Secret Service drug guidelines please click here to view our Drug Policy.

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

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

General Medical Requirements:

As determined by the Office of Personnel Management, the duties of this position require moderate to arduous physical exertion involving walking and standing, use of firearms, and exposure to inclement weather. Manual dexterity with comparatively free motion of fingers, wrist, elbows, shoulders, hips and knee joints is required. Arms, hands, legs and feet must function sufficiently in order for applicants to perform the duties satisfactorily.

Since the duties of this position are exacting and involve the responsibility for the safety of others under trying conditions, applicants must possess emotional and mental stability. Any condition that would hinder full, efficient performance of the duties of this position or that would cause the individual to be a hazard to himself/herself or to others is disqualifying.

There are also specific medical requirements for this position, and any chronic disease or condition affecting the respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, digestive, nervous, endocrine, lymphatic, nervous, genitourinary, and other systems that would impair full performance of the duties of the position may also be disqualifying. Click here for more information.

Additional information

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.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration of Federal Employment. False statements on any part of the OF-306 and application may result in withdrawal of the offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine or imprisonment.

Applicants selected for this position will be required to sign a continuing service agreement 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.

A special needs/superior qualifications pay-setting authority may be available to applicants who have superior qualifications or whose skills and competencies fill a special need of the Secret Service. The recommended salary for such an applicant may be at any point in the range listed for this position. If you are deemed eligible for this pay-setting authority, you will be notified during the hiring process. Please note that the use of this authority is at the sole discretion of the Secret Service. For more information on superior qualifications. Click here.

WORK SCHEDULE: Newly appointed Uniformed Division Officers normally work a 40-hour workweek on a set schedule (e.g., 6:30 am - 3:00 pm, 2:30 pm - 11:00 pm, or 10:30 pm - 7:00 am shifts). Workdays and shifts will vary depending on assignment and manpower requirements.

Applicants will be required to travel to all phases of the application 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.

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. Click here to learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

How you will be evaluated

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

We review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are considered in the following order: (1) preference eligibles having a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more; followed by (2) other 10-point preference eligibles; (3) 5-point preference eligible; and (4) non-preference eligibles (i.e., non-veterans).

The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are:

  • Ability to follow instructions and respect authority; obeys organizational policies and the chain-of-command.
  • Ability to deal calmly and effectively with high stress or dangerous situations; remains calm, even-tempered, and in control of emotions, as appropriate for the situation.
  • Ability to convey oral information in a clear, concise and well-organized manner taking into account the audience and the nature of the information (e.g., technical, controversial); speaks clearly, convincingly and confidently using proper grammar, tone and pace; tracks audience responses and reacts appropriately to those responses.
  • Ability to demonstrate fairness, professionalism and tact when interacting with others; understands and interacts effectively with a variety of people to include those who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; adjusts interpersonal style, as needed, to interact with differing individuals.
  • Ability to display a high standard of ethical conduct and can be trusted in all work situations; chooses an ethical course of action and does the right thing, even in the face of opposition; encourages others to behave accordingly.

All information that you want us to consider must be in your resume.

To preview questions please click here.

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