Criminal Investigator (Special Agent)

U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 47,000 - 116,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a prestigious agency as a Special Agent, where you will engage in vital protective and investigative work. This role offers a competitive starting salary with significant promotion potential and additional compensation through Law Enforcement Availability Pay. As a Special Agent, you'll be tasked with conducting complex investigations, ensuring compliance with federal laws, and maintaining public safety. Candidates must possess a strong educational background or relevant experience, along with the ability to pass rigorous assessments and obtain a Top-Secret Clearance. This is an exceptional opportunity to serve your country and make a meaningful impact in law enforcement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement or specialized experience required.
• Top-Secret Clearance and physical fitness assessment are mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Perform critical protective and investigative assignments as a Special Agent.
• Conduct interviews, gather evidence, and ensure compliance with federal laws.

Skills

Investigative methods

Protective methods

Law enforcement techniques

Attention to detail

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Ph.D. or equivalent

Job description

Joining the Secret Service as a Special Agent will allow you to perform critical protective and investigative assignments. The Special Agent position starts at a base salary of $47,462.00 (GL-07, step 1), with promotion potential to $115,079.00 (GS-13, step 10).

This position is covered by Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) which is an additional compensation of 25% of the locality rate.

For more information on the Secret Service click here.

Duties

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Hearing loss, as measured by an audiometer, must not exceed 25 decibels (A.S.A. or equivalent I.S.O.) in either ear in the 500, 1000 and 2000Hz ranges.
• Obtain a Top-Secret Clearance and retain it during your career.
• Use your official name on your application as it appears on your valid government identification (i.e., Driver License, State ID, Passport).

You are minimally qualified for the GL-07 Level (starting base salary $47,462) if you possess one of the following:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with superior academic achievement (S.A.A.) which is based on class standing, grade-point average, or honor society membership as described below.
  • Maintained a grade-point average of "B" (a GPA of 3.0 or higher) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study; OR
  • Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university, or major subdivision; OR
  • Be a member of a national honor (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. Please submit a college transcript(s) showing your grade point average for all four years of undergraduate study, including all transferred courses.
  • NOTE: GPAs are rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9. If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail or similar basis, your claim must be based on class standing or membership in an honor society.
• At least one full year of graduate level education (i.e., 18 semester hours); OR
• At least 1 year of specialized experience in, or related to, the investigative methods, protective methods, and law enforcement techniques that provide the specific competencies to successfully perform the position's duties. Experience also includes exercising initiative; attention to detail; judgment in collecting, assembling and developing facts, evidence or other pertinent data; the ability to analyze and evaluate data or evidence to arrive at sound conclusions including applying new information; and the ability to partner with or lead others in the accomplishment of mission activities.

You are minimally qualified for the GL-09 Level (starting base salary $53,043) if you possess one of the following:

• A master's or equivalent graduate degree (such as LL.B. or J.D.) or two full years of progressively higher graduate education, in a related field, leading to such a degree from an accredited college or university; OR
• Have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-7 level such as experience applying law enforcement, protective, or investigative techniques in the performance of job duties; identifying problem areas and proposing and implementing solutions; taking responsibility for own actions and those of team members to ensure the goals and deadlines for the team are met; and leading meeting or seminars on behalf of a professional or academic group; setting work priorities and allocating resources; partnering with other individuals from within and outside the organization; OR
• A combination of specialized experience, as described above, and related graduate level education, beyond the first full year of graduate level study.

You are minimally qualified for the GS-11 Level (Starting base salary $62,107) if you possess one of the following:

• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M.; OR
• Have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-9 level such as experience in, or related to planning and conducting complex criminal investigations to determine violations of Federal laws and regulations; collecting and assembling facts to identify logical conclusion; gathering, analyzing, and evaluating evidence or data; conducting interviews and interrogations; making arrests; conducting searches and seizures; taking responsibility for own actions and those of team members to ensure the goals and deadlines for the team are met; partnering with or leveraging networks or relationships from outside the organization, experience managing complex projects including setting priorities and determining resource requirements; OR
• A combination of specialized experience, as described above, and related graduate level education, beyond the first full year of doctoral level study.

Qualified applicants will only be referred at the highest grade level for which they qualify.

Applicants must successfully complete and pass Phase 1 assessments (see below) to receive a Conditional Job Offer. In addition, applicants must successfully complete and pass Phase II (see below) to receive final consideration for employment.

Phase I:

• National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
• Special Agent Entrance Exam (SAEE)
• Applicant Physical Abilities Test
• Interview

Phase II:

• Credit Check
• Security Interview
• Polygraph examination
• Drug screening
• Medical examination
• Background investigation (a top-secret security clearance)

The Secret Service follows stringent guidelines relating to illegal drug usage. An applicant's history is reviewed and a determination for employment is made according to our guidelines.

As part of the application process the applicant will be required to complete the United States Secret Service Applicant Physical Abilities Test (APAT). It is a physical fitness assessment which consists of four components (push-ups, sit-ups, Illinois Agility Run and a 1.5 Mile Run). The APAT is designed to measure the current level of general physical fitness of an applicant, which serves as an indicator of an applicant's ability to safely complete a vigorous physical training program. It evaluates the applicant's ability to perform the physical tasks required on the job by measuring muscular and dynamic strength, endurance, flexibility, aerobic capacity and other factors related to physical aptitude.