Summary This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Service, Denver, Colorado, Kansas City, Missouri, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, New York, New York, San Ysidro, California, and Washington, District of Columbia. Applicants will be limited to selecting two of the listed duty locations for consideration. Responsibilities 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.