Law Enforcement Specialist (Explosive Detection Canine Handler)

Duties

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a Law Enforcement Specialist, Explosive Detection Canine Handler (EDCH). The mission of FPS within DHS is to lead the national effort to protect and enhance the resilience of the nation's physical and cyber infrastructure.

Duties performed:

• Directing an Explosive Detection Canine (EDC) to perform explosive detection searches of buildings and office areas, vehicles, packages, materials and persons.
• Maintaining home kenneling and ensuring that all home kennel facilities meet safety, security, sanitation and health standards.
• Performing uniformed law enforcement work in the protection of life, property and rights of individual citizens.
• File reports involving felonies and misdemeanors such as theft, burglary, assault, vandalism threats, and vehicular accident
• Implementing the Federal Protective Service process for managing risk to federal facilities through the conduct of activities designed to ensure that facilities receive regular Facility Security Assessments (FSA).
• Directing an Explosive Detection Canine (EDC) to perform explosive detection searches for devices in buildings and office areas, vehicles, packages, materials, and persons.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
• One-year probationary period may be required.
• Must meet Time-In-Grade requirements.
• The incumbent of this position is subject to random drug tests.
• 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.
• DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• License required: Yes, State Driver's License
• Pre-employment physical required: Yes
• This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). For more information visit: https://www.afge.org/about-us/afge-at-a-glance/ .
• Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses will not be paid.
• Promotion Potential: When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.
• Essential Personnel: This position is designated as essential personnel. Essential personnel must be able to serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of unscheduled "leave or government closures due to weather, protests, and acts of terrorism or lack of funding. Failure to report for or remain in this position may result in disciplinary or adverse action in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations (5 U.S.C. § 7501-7533 and 5 CFR Part 752, as applicable).
• This position requires a negative pre-employment drug test with a negative result prior to appointment into the position.

Qualifications

Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Minimum Qualifications/Specialized Experience requirements as noted below:

GS-11 Qualifications:

Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Minimum Qualification requirements as noted below, either through the specialized experience, education or a combination of the two.

Specialized Experience:
GS-11: Applicant must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-09 level in the Federal service that included:

• Working with a canine team to aid in conducting security/vulnerability inspections and incident investigations on the physical and technical security of regulated facilities;
• Assisting with building assessments to identify potential security vulnerabilities; and
• Participating in law enforcement duties to protect property and persons.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise, you will be found ineligible. Only the first five pages of your resume will be used to make this determination.

-OR-

Education: Successfully completed Ph.D.; or equivalent doctoral degree; or three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent degree, e.g., LL.M., if related at an accredited college or university in a field that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform this work.

NOTE: You must submit a copy of your college transcripts (official or unofficial) to support your claim.

-OR-

Combination of Experience and Education: Combination of specialized experience (less than one year) and graduate education (less than three years), that when combined equals 100% of the qualification requirement. NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of two years (generally 36 semester hours) may be used in this calculation.

NOTE: You must submit a copy of your college transcripts (official or unofficial), and your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise, you will be found ineligible.

GS-12 Qualifications

Specialized Experience:
GS-12: Applicant must demonstrate one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-11 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties:

• Analyzing and evaluating security systems from a physical and cyber security aspect in compliance with security standards;
• Conducting law enforcement investigations to protect and secure lives and property;
• Providing technical guidance related to the utilization of detection canines in preventing the introduction of explosive and other prohibited items in facilities; and
• Inspecting facilities to evaluate the effectiveness of their security measures.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Only the first five pages of your resume will be used to make an eligibility/qualifications determination.

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 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 (you may need to submit more than one), "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).

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

NOTE: 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.

Additional Conditions of Employment:

Training: Incumbent must successfully complete the Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP), or equivalent, at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), the Agency Individual Training Program (AITP), and the Physical Security Training Program (PSTP). Additionally, the incumbent must successfully complete the Field Training and Evaluation Program and other in-service training requirements and weapons qualifications for the enforcement of arrest authority as conferred under 1315 authority.

In addition to other law enforcement and physical security training requirements, the incumbent must successfully complete the basic EDCH training course at the designated FPS Canine Academy and any other training or remedial EDC training course established by FPS. The incumbent must satisfactorily complete training and receive formal certification as an EDCT to remain in the position, as well as to be promoted. Maintaining certification as an EDCT is mandatory.

Travel: The incumbent of this position will be required to travel frequently.

Tour of Duty: Must be available for overtime and shift work.

Law Enforcement: The position shall possess law enforcement authority under Title 40 of the United States Code, Section 1315, exercising such authority relating to criminal offenses to provide investigative and law enforcement services to tenant agencies, Federal employees and members of the general public located in/or conducting business in government-owned or leased properties.

Pre-employment Medical Requirements: Prior to appointment, the individual selected for this position must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties, such as protecting citizens, making arrest, and responding to situations requiring physical agility and quick and legally sufficient decision making. The incumbent must successfully pass a pre-employment medical examination which includes, but is not limited to vision, hearing, cardiovascular and mobility of extremities. In addition, the incumbent must be medically eligible and otherwise capable of safely wearing and using a negative air-purifying respirator (gas mask) or other respiratory protective equipment. This position may be subject to periodic incumbent examinations in the future.

Lautenberg Amendment: This position is covered by the 1996 Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968. A person convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence are not eligible for this position.

Firearms Requirements: The incumbent will be required to carry a firearm while performing duties of this position. Maintaining firearms proficiency is mandatory.

Mobility Agreement: This position may require the incumbent to be reassigned to different geographic locations. Accordingly, the incumbent will be required to sign a mobility agreement, which will remain in effect through the duration of the assignment.

Motor Vehicle Operation: The incumbent must possess a valid automobile driver's license.

Education

If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/ .

Additional information

Note: DHS continues to take necessary steps to keep our workforce safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic. If you receive a final job offer to onboard, please complete the onboarding forms and submit them electronically in an expeditious manner. Your start date may be delayed if the action above is not completed.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for a Top Secret clearance as a condition of placement in this Critical- Sensitive position. This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12654 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.

Current or Former Political Appointees: 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.

Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP): This program applies to Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed, or employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet eligibility criteria for CTAP or ICTAP; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. Well-Qualified includes those applicants whose knowledge, skills, and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. For information on eligibility criteria and required documentation, go to: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp

Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/ ).

If you are unable to apply online contact CSB_Inquiries@opm.gov.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using an Assessment Questionnaire. The questions are related to the following fundamental competencies (or Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) needed to perform the duties of this job:

• Criminal Investigation
• Oral Communication
• Teamwork
• Technical Competence
• Writing

Based on your responses, you will receive a score from the Assessment Questionnaire. Those applicants who score the highest will be referred to the hiring manager and may be called for an interview. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you will be removed from consideration or your score will be lowered.

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

For Competitive Merit Promotion and Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) Applicants: The highest rated candidates will be referred to the hiring agency.

For Noncompetitive Appointment Eligibles: All qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring agency.

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veteran must 1) be a preference eligible; or 2) be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions (you must submit a DD214-member copy 4).

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.

To preview the assessment questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12707456 .

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your resume showing a detailed description of your job-related qualifications that includes beginning and ending dates with the month and year and hours worked per week (if less than 40) for each paid and non-paid work experience job title listed. Please limit your résumé to 5 pages. If more than 5 pages are submitted, only the first 5 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
2. Other supporting documents ( only submit if applicable to you ):

• Are you a current federal employee? Submit a copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that demonstrates your eligibility for consideration, e.g., length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, with-in grade/range increases); your current promotion potential; proof of permanent appointment if applying based on an interchange agreement; etc.
• Are you a former federal employee? Submit a copy of your last SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that demonstrates your eligibility for consideration and a copy of your last Federal Performance appraisal.
• Are you qualifying based on education? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) or a list of coursework with hours completed.
• Are you a veteran? Submit Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 or other (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) or notice form. Those applying for 10-Point preference must fill out the SF-15 and provide an official document dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces, and/or any other associated documentation based on your preference. If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date you submit your application. This must indicate your dates of service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions.
• For more information on veterans' preference see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/ .
• Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP)? If so, submit the documents applicable to you:
  • A copy of the documentation demonstrating your status as a surplus or displaced employee (See OPM's Career Transition Guide for additional information regarding these statuses);
  • A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action," noting your position, grade level, and duty location. If you have already separated, submit a copy of your SF-50 documenting your separation;
  • A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating (if your separation notice does not have this information included); and
  • Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
• Are you eligible for a special noncompetitive hiring authority (e.g., Schedule A Disability, Peace Corps, Former Overseas Employees, etc.)? Submit documentation of proof that supports your eligibility under a special hiring authority.
• Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
  • Position title;
  • Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);
  • Agency; and
  • Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
• Are you applying under special hiring authorities as a military spouse? Provide a copy of your:
  • Marriage certificate, and
  • A completed SF-15 with supporting documentation.
• You may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 04/14/2025 to receive consideration.

PLEASE NOTE: If your materials are not received by the closing date, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available, and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible. Also, if you do not provide a valid email address, you may not be notified of the outcome of your application. The application process is as follows:

1. To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.

To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login . 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: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login . All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/ .

Agency contact information

CSB HR Inquiries

Email CSB_Inquiries@opm.gov

Next steps

Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews. We will notify you by email the outcome after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on your USAJOBS account throughout the process.

Note: This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies during the next 90 days. This could result in a few or many vacancies being filled from this announcement. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

We expect to make a selection within 60 days of the closing date of this announcement. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

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.

For more information on applying for Federal employment, please click here .

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request