Special Agent - Counter Assault Team presso Department of Homeland Security

Top Secret

Duties

SPECIAL AGENTS During the course of their careers, Special Agents carry out assignments in both investigations and protection and may be assigned to multiple duty stations throughout the U.S. and abroad. Duties include: Conducting criminal investigations pertaining to financial obligations of the United States. Providing protection for various protectees. Planning and implementing security designs for National Special Security Events. For more information about the Special Agent position, click here. BE A PART OF THE COUNTER ASSAULT TEAM The Secret Service Special Operations Division's Counter Assault Team (CAT) creates a unique tactical career opportunity for special agents within the Office of Protective Operations. Special Agents within this tactical operations assignment possess operational skills that are relevant to the mission of the Special Operations Division. Special Agents assigned to CAT provide tactical support to Secret Service protective details to include high level protectees such as the President and Vice President of the United States of America. CAT members conduct comprehensive mission planning and extensive coordination with support entities to accomplish their mission. CAT personnel receive advance training in weapons handling, tactics, and decision making. IMPORTANT: If you are unable to successfully complete the specialty team selection school or the specialty basic school required for CAT, you will have an opportunity to remain in the Special Agent position in a non-tactical role. For more information about the CAT position, click here.

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship. Possess a current valid driver's license. Must be REAL ID compliant. Use your official name on your application as it appears on your valid government identification (i.e., REAL ID Driver's License, State ID, Passport). Applicants must be 21 at the time of application and under 37 at the time of a conditional offer, unless they have prior federal law enforcement service under special retirement provisions. Veterans' preference applicants must receive a conditional offer before age 40. 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. Obtain a Top-Secret Clearance and retain it during your career. This position requires an automatic credit check after initial qualifications are met. Carry and use a firearm. Maintaining firearm proficiency is 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 13 weeks of intensive training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA and 20 - 22 weeks of specialized training at the James J. Rowley Training Center in Laurel, MD. Failure to pass the training program may result in separation from the Secret Service. Click here to review standard. Sign a mobility agreement stating your willingness to accept assignments anywhere within the United States and overseas. 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 special agent applicants. Applicants will be considered eligible for the special agent 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, 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 2000Hz ranges.

Qualifications

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. You are minimally qualified for the GL-07 Level (starting base salary $48,371) 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 class standing, grade-point average, or honor society membership as described below. Maintained a grade-point average of "B" (a GPA of 3.0 or higher) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study; OR Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university, or major subdivision; OR Be a member of a national honor (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. Please submit a college transcript(s) showing your grade point average for all four years of undergraduate study, including all transferred courses. NOTE: GPAs are rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9. If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail or similar basis, your claim must be based on class standing or membership in an honor society. At least one full year of graduate level education (i.e., 18 semester hours); OR At least 1 year of specialized experience in, or related to, the investigative methods, protective methods, and law enforcement techniques that provide the specific competencies to successfully perform the position's duties. Experience also includes exercising initiative; attention to detail; judgment in collecting, assembling and developing facts, evidence or other pertinent data; the ability to analyze and evaluate data or evidence to arrive at sound conclusions including applying new information; and the ability to partner with or lead others in the accomplishment of mission activities. You are minimally qualified for the GL-09 Level (starting base salary $53,945) 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-7 level such as experience applying law enforcement, protective, or investigative techniques in the performance of job duties; identifying problem areas and proposing and implementing solutions; taking responsibility for own actions and those of team members to ensure the goals and deadlines for the team are met; and leading meeting or seminars on behalf of a professional or academic group; setting work priorities and allocating resources; partnering with other individuals from within and outside the organization; OR A combination of specialized experience, as described above, and related graduate level education, beyond the first full year of graduate level study. You are minimally qualified for the GS-11 Level (Starting base salary $63,163) if you possess one of the following: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M.; OR Have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-9 level such as experience in, or related to planning and conducting complex criminal investigations to determine violations of Federal laws and regulations; collecting and assembling facts to identify logical conclusion; gathering, analyzing, and evaluating evidence or data; conducting interviews and interrogations; making arrests; conducting searches and seizures; taking responsibility for own actions and those of team members to ensure the goals and deadlines for the team are met; partnering with or leveraging networks or relationships from outside the organization, experience managing complex projects including setting priorities and determining resource requirements; OR A combination of specialized experience, as described above, and related graduate level education, beyond the first full year of doctoral level study. Qualified applicants will only be referred at the highest grade level for which they qualify. Applicants must successfully pass Phase 1 assessments (see below) to receive a Conditional Job Offer. In addition, applicants must successfully pass Phase II (see below) to receive final consideration for employment. Phase I: National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Special Agent Entrance Exam (SAEE) Applicant Physical Abilities Test Interview Phase II: Credit Check Security Interview Polygraph examination Drug screening Medical examination Background investigation (a top-secret security clearance) 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. 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 consists 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 the 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. For more information about the APAT, please click here. Ideal candidate for the CAT Program must have one or more of the following: Occupied a combat arms occupational specialty in the US Armed Forces Served as a tactical team member (in a non-support or administrative role) in a Department of Defense special operations unit Served as a military member possessing direct combat experience Served as a member of a federal, state, or local law enforcement tactical team Participated as a student athlete at a college or university Participated as a professional athlete in a sport Failure to provide relevant documentation satisfying one of the six categories of specialized training in the "Ideal Candidate Section" can result in removal from the CAT process.

Other Information

*Recruitment Incentive: Applicants may be eligible for a $60,000 recruitment incentive in accordance with regulatory requirements. The first installment of $15,000 will be paid following successful completion of Secret Service CAT specialized training. A second installment of $15,000 will be paid following one year of service post specialized training and an acceptable performance rating. The third installment of $15,000 will be paid after a third year of service post specialized training and an acceptable performance rating. The final installment of $15,000 will be paid after a fourth year of service post specialized training and an acceptable performance rating. Provision of these payments require the execution of a four-year Continuing Service Agreement (CSA) with the agency. Newly hired employees who resign from the USSS prior to the expiration of the CSA will be required to repay the recruitment incentive. (NOTE: Eligibility is limited to "Newly appointed" Federal employees as defined by 5 CFR 575.102). Applicants selected for this position will be required to sign a CSA before being assigned to an initial training class. The CSA will commit the applicant to a specified period of employment with the Secret Service upon the successful completion of training. Applicants will be required to travel to all phases of the hiring process at their own expense. If a final job offer is extended, relocation expenses will not be authorized for first duty location. 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). If you are deemed minimally qualified 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 entering Phase 1 of the hiring process. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment. General Medical Requirements: As determined by OPM 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.