Protective Events Specialist (Technical Hazards) (GS-13/14)

Summary

Joining the Secret Service, Office of Technical Operations, Technical Security Division will allow you to support the mission by providing a variety of research, analysis, strategic planning, policy development, and communication assignments in support of the operational missions of the division. For definitions of terms found in this announcement, please click here.

Duties

The selectee will serve as a(n) Protective Events Specialist (Technical Hazards) in the Office of Technical Operations, Technical Security Division. Typical work assignments include: Conducting a variety of continuing and ad hoc administrative, technical research and analytical assignments in support of the security programs and protective operations of the Technical Security Division. Works with TSD managers, TEC, the Office of Protective Operations (OPO), Secret Service Police (SSP) and other Secret Service officials in the development, review, and implementation of various policies and programs related to security planning for NSSEs and other events of national significance. Collaborates with executive leadership in conducting high-level briefings for officials from the White House, Department of Homeland Security, other federal agencies, state and local partners, and/or foreign delegations. Develops and provides specific response plans and associated training exercises with outside agencies, in conjunction with the James J. Rowley Training Center (JJRTC) for all NSSEs, including but not limited to tabletop exercises, field training exercises, command and control exercises, briefings. Apply for this exciting opportunity to provide a technically secure environment for the President, Vice President, and other protectees. Employees plan for and provide protection against the full spectrum of potential threats through robust prevention, preparedness, detection, and response. This Protective Events Specialist (Technical Hazards) position starts at a base salary of $121,785.00, GS, with promotion potential to a base salary $187,093.00 GS-14 step 10.

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. GS-13: You qualify for the GS-13 level (starting salary $121,785) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level performing duties such as: Conducts technical research, operational analysis, and advance planning activities in support of National Special Security Events and other events of national significance. Supports the development, review, and implementation of technical security, countermeasure, response, and after-action plans with USSS offices and federal, state, local, and other mission partners. Coordinates and evaluates pre-event training, tabletop exercises, field exercises, and other preparedness activities to support technical hazard response and operational readiness. GS-14: You qualify for the GS-14 level (starting salary $143,913) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level performing duties such as: Leads technical research, operational analysis, and advance planning activities in support of National Special Security Events and other events of national significance. Directs the development and delivery of complex briefings, strategic communications, reports, and other products for senior officials, interagency partners, and oversight stakeholders. Plans, coordinates, and evaluates pre-event training and exercises related to technical hazards, emergency response, continuity of operations, and operational readiness. 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 competitive service 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, "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). You may need to submit more than one SF-50 to comply. 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.

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship is required. 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 a credit check after a conditional offer of employment has been accepted. Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position. Submit to a Full-Scope polygraph examination prior to your appointment. This position requires the incumbent perform irregular shift work with adjustment in shift with little to no advance notification. Hours of work encompass fluctuating tours of duty to include evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Overtime may be required as directed and the incumbent is subject to recall for extended periods. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 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 probationary period or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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. 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. Candidates who possess the one year of specialized experience will be evaluated in a pre-certificate structured interview process. Candidates who are deemed best-qualified based on the results of the pre-certificate structured interview will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are: Attention to Detail Compliance Inspection Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Oral Communication Reading Comprehension Reasoning Research Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the Federal government, you are not ICTAP/CTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP/CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under ICTAP/CTAP, 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. Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veteran must be 1) be a preference eligible; or 2) be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement. (Note: Veteran's preference does not apply under Merit Promotion procedures.) View VEOA information on Feds Hire Vets. 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. Due weight will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3). After the U.S. Secret Service completes its hiring, the resumes of the remaining candidates referred for selection consideration may be shared with other DHS Components. During the application process, you may choose to opt-in if you would like your name, application material, and assessment results to be shared. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements. 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.

How to apply

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. PLEASE NOTE: Only resumes up to a total of two pages will be accepted. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 10/27/2026 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 10/27/2026. To view the required online questionnaire please visit https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13094911 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. We strongly encourage you to apply online. If you cannot apply online, you may contact the Non-Law Enforcement Talent Acquisition Division at HRSupport@usss.dhs.gov OR by calling (202) 406-6420 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.

Other information

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. 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. 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. 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).