Special Agent - Special Agent Talent & Achievement Recruitment (STAR)

United-States-Secret-Servic; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 61,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

United States Secret Service seeks a Special Agent to perform critical protective and investigative duties. Starting base pay is $48,854 (GL-07, step 1) with potential to reach $118,204 (GS-13, step 10). LEAP adds 25% of the base pay.

A 2-year trial period may apply, with rigorous assessments to advance in federal service. Applicants must meet education and experience criteria and successfully complete Phase I and Phase II checks, including background, credit, polygraph, and medical

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.).
• GPA requirements: 3.0 or higher (or 3.5 or higher for certain tracks).
• At least one full year of graduate level education.
• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-5 level.
• Combination of specialized experience and related graduate level education.

Responsibilities

• Perform protective and investigative assignments as a Special Agent.
• Complete Phase I assessments (NCIC, SAEE, APAT) and interviews.
• Undergo Phase II checks: credit check, security interview, polygraph, drug screen, medical exam, background investigation.

Education

Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.)

1 year graduate level education

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 $48,854.00 (GL-07, step 1), with promotion potential to $118,204.00 (GS-13, step 10).

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

For more information on the Secret Service click here.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 2-year trial 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 trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

You are minimally qualified for the GL-07 Level (starting base salary $48,854) 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 (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.

  1. Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.

  2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of:

  • 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or
  • 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR
• Have at least one full year of graduate level education (i.e. 18 semester hours); OR
• Have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-5 level. Specialized experience is defined as, experience writing non-technical reports, drafting responses to requests for information, and writing brief, informative or routine reports; gathering information, analyzing it and summarizing the results of your findings; taking responsibility for own actions to meet deadlines; presenting specific, pre-determined information at meetings, conferences, or seminars as a representative of a work or academic group; OR
• A combination of specialized experience, as described above, and related graduate level education.

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.

Applicants must successfully pass Phase 1 assessments (see below) to receive a Conditional Job Offer. In addition, applicants must successfully 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 (APAT)
• 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. For more information regarding the U.S. Secret Service drug guidelines please click here to view our Drug Policy.

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. For more information about the APAT, please click here.