Department of Homeland Security

Lead Investigative Protection Officer

District of Columbia, District of Columbia, Palm Beach, Florida Full time

Lead Investigative Protection Officer

Department: Department of Homeland Security

Location(s): District of Columbia, District of Columbia, Palm Beach, Florida

Salary Range: $76463 - $99404 Per Year

Job Summary: Joining the United States Secret Service, Office of Protective Operations, Presidential Protective Division or the Dignitary Protective Division allows you to serve as a Lead Investigative Protection Officer. This position supports an integrated protective and investigative mission(s) which plans, directs, coordinates, and implements domestic and international protective and investigative policies, programs and operations of the Secret Service.

Major Duties:

  • The selectee will serve as Lead Investigative Protection Officer conducting a range of law enforcement activities. Typical work assignments include: Assigning, overseeing, and reviewing the work of team members. Performing and/or conducting protective and investigative functions. Ensuring all investigative information is processed in all applicable databases. Planning logistics and strategic plans to arrange protective services and transportation for internal and external law enforcement counterparts. Preparing reports and presentations to senior level management on protective services and investigative operations. Apply for this exciting opportunity to impact the Secret Service's security initiatives in support of our protective and investigative missions. This Lead Investigative Protection Officer starts at a base salary of $76,463.00 (GS-12, Step-1), with a promotion potential to $99,404.00(GS-12, Step-10). Locality pay will be determined by the selected duty station.

Qualifications: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. To qualify for the GS-12 grade level you must possess one year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as: Compiling documentation for protective services and/or investigative operations; Performing law enforcement activities such as surveillance, collecting evidence, serving warrants, and/or making arrests; and Performing protective service activities such as participating in advance security surveys, maintaining a security post, and/or surveying facilities and surrounding areas. 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. 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). 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 and eligibility requirements listed above must be met by the closing date of this announcement. 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.

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 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 03/19/2026 To preview the questionnaire, please click the link https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12898661 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 the TLE Support Branch at TLEhrsupport@usss.dhs.gov OR by calling (202) 406-6411 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.

Application Deadline: 2026-03-19