Protective Service Specialist (Special Agent) - SME (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)

Protective Service Specialist (Special Agent) - SME (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)

Department: Department of Transportation

Location(s): Washington, District of Columbia

Salary Range: $84601 - $156755 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is located in the Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary (OST), Office of Intelligence, Security and Emergency Response (OISER), Protective Service Division (PSD). OISER provides Departmental executive leadership in government-wide initiatives pertaining to national security, emergency response programs, protective service operations, Continuity of Operations (COOP), and Continuity of Government (COG).

Major Duties:

• As a Protective Service Specialist (Special Agent), you will: You will participate as a member of teams implementing protective service advance and protective services for the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Department of Transportation under terms and conditions prescribed by the DOT Chief of Staff, OISER Director, and Special Agent in Charge (SAC), Protective Service Division (PSD). You will be expected to work long and irregular hours, walking, driving, and standing to provide physical protection for the Secretary, while in Deputy U.S. Marshal status. Work assignments may therefore be strenuous, consistent with activities associated with protection assignments, including holding of subjects and suspects in pursuit of effective law enforcement, defending oneself or others against physical attack, and maintaining physical control of such suspects in the use of force continuum. Must cope with continuously rigid and extremely short deadlines where schedules and workload are highly variable, unpredictable, and uncontrollable. These activities will be engaged while conducting protective service and protective service advance operations. There is the potential for physical harm, based on hazards associated with reasonable enforcement response. The majority of the work is performed in settings in which there is regular and recurring exposure to discomfort and unpleasantness, such as substantial domestic and international travel, high levels of noise, and high temperatures in confined spaces or adverse weather conditions at mission and surveillance sites. You will be required to qualify in the use of--and maintain proficiency with--firearms and law enforcement/communications equipment. Assignments performed in Deputy U.S. Marshal status require safe work practices with respect to the handling of firearms, may require use of protective clothing, and may place incumbent at great personal risk or in situations where conditions cannot be controlled. This position is designated as Emergency Essential and may require working during weather-related closures. You will also: Serve as an authority and specialist in providing protection both domestically and internationally and independently takes decisive and immediate action in emergency situations requiring innovative solutions. Act as liaison officer and coordinate activities between Office of the Secretary and external agency organizations. Serve as a key advisor responsible for independent and extensive assessment of threat information and the coordination of information gathering activities regarding the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary. Review and analyze threat information and initiates and coordinate protective activities follow up investigations with other appropriate federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Conduct unique and sensitive high-level inquiries/reviews which require extra sensitivity and special handling. Prepare reports and other documents relating to special protective service advances and make oral presentations on protective service advance findings to the Special Agent In-Charge, Protective Service Division, and the Director. The Ideal Candidate Statement: The Office of Intelligence, Security and Emergency Response (OISER), Protective Service Division (PSD) is seeking a seasoned professional who is self-reliant and motivated in providing protective service advance, intelligence, and protective services for the Secretary of Transportation.

Qualifications: Applicants who do not meet the selective placement factors will be ineligible for further consideration. If you meet them then you will be rated and ranked based on the following specialized experience. To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration. To qualify for the GS-11 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-09 it must include: Experience applying protective service security concepts, principles, and policies to research. Experience assessing threat information while providing protection for a high-ranking official/executive domestically and/or internationally. Experience preparing comprehensive protective service advance reports. To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone, you must have: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR A LL.M, if related. You can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application. To qualify for the GS-12 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11 it must include: Experience conducting sensitive and complex protective service inquiries that unfold over periods of time (i.e., days, weeks, months or years); AND Experience providing protection for a high-ranking official/executive domestically and internationally; AND Experience preparing briefings and reports regarding protective service which involve coordination with Federal, State, and/or Local law enforcement. You cannot qualify on education at the GS-12 level; you must have experience. To qualify for the Grade 13 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12, it must include: Experience serving as a shift, advance and/or detail lead for events while providing protection for a high-ranking officials/executive domestically and internationally. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Security - Knowledge of the laws, regulations, and guidelines related to securing personnel, facilities, and information, including the requirements for handling, transporting, and protecting classified information and proper reporting of security incidents. Personnel Security and Safety - Knowledge of methods and controls of personnel, public safety, and security operations; investigation and inspection techniques; or rules, regulations, precautions, and prevention techniques for the protection of people, data, or property. For all types of consideration, 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. For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date. Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

How to Apply: You must submit a complete application package (including resume, vacancy questions and supporting documents) no later than 11:59 (EST) on the closing date of the announcement. To begin, click the "Apply Online" button on the job announcement posting. Follow the directions to register, submit all required documents and complete the assessment questionnaire. You may review your saved application(s) at https://help.usajobs.gov/ If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at: Transjobs@dot.gov

Application Deadline: 2025-12-22