DHS Headquarters
Law Enforcement Specialist (Rapid Protection Force)
Department of Homeland Security · Multiple Locations
- Salary
- $64,469 - $112,140 per year
- Pay grade
- GS-9 to 11
- Schedule
- Full-time
- Appointment
- Permanent
- Opened
- Nov 2, 2026
- Closes
- Nov 6, 2026
- Remote
- No
- Telework eligible
- No
- Security clearance
- Secret
- Promotion potential
- 12
- Announcement
- DHA-13088705-27-DC
Who may apply: Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) · Open to the public
Applications are submitted on USAJOBS.gov, not on Careers.org. Always confirm details in the official announcement.
Summary
Direct Hire Authority: This position will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. The "Rule of Three", Category Rating and Veterans Preference will not apply to this vacancy.
Duties
- Federal Protective Service is hiring for law enforcement jobs that have an exciting opportunity! Once onboarded, you may be assigned for up to one year to support the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force. The law enforcement component of the D.C. Task Force is a partnership of over 20 federal and local agencies working together to make D.C. the safest city in America. Once the assignment ends, you'll transition back to support the Federal Protective Service. Visit the D.C. Task Force page for more information. This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Service, Auburn, Washington; Grand Prairie, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a member of the Federal Protective Service Rapid Protection Force, conducting law enforcement, criminal investigations, facility security assessments, and inspections of federal facilities and contract security operations. The position helps identify and reduce security risks and may deploy to support enhanced security operations or respond to emergencies. Duties performed: Conduct facility security assessments by evaluating physical, cyber, and technical security systems; identifying risks and vulnerabilities; and recommending countermeasures. At GS-09, independently assess lower-risk facilities and assist with higher-risk assessments. At GS-11, independently assess facilities across risk levels and assist less senior specialists. Perform federal law enforcement duties under 40 U.S.C. § 1315 to protect people and property at federal facilities. Enforce laws and facility rules, preserve the peace, respond to emergencies, and detain or apprehend suspects as authorized. Conduct investigations of suspected criminal violations involving federal facilities and infrastructure. Gather and evaluate information, prepare investigative reports and affidavits, and serve or execute warrants, subpoenas, and other legal documents as authorized. Inspect federal facilities and monitor contract security performance for compliance with security requirements, contracts, and post orders. Identify deficiencies, document findings, and recommend corrective actions. Support Rapid Protection Force operations by participating in enhanced security and emergency response activities, providing security awareness training to facility stakeholders, and coordinating with agency officials and other partners.
Qualifications
Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Minimum Qualification/Specialized Experience requirements as noted below. Minimum Qualifications: GS-09: Applicant must demonstrate one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties: Providing law enforcement services to protect people and property. Examples include patrolling, enforcing laws or rules, responding to calls or emergencies, and detaining or arresting people when authorized; and Investigating suspected criminal violations. Examples include gathering information, interviewing witnesses, reviewing records or evidence, and preparing reports about what happened; and Assessing facilities for security risks. Examples include checking doors, locks, access controls, cameras, alarms, lighting, guard procedures, or emergency plans to identify security weaknesses. OR Have successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree; or two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree; or L.L.B or J.D., if related, that provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform this work. Note: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted to support your claim. OR Have a combination of specialized experience (less than one year) and graduate education (beyond one year of graduate education), that when combined equals 100% of the qualification requirement. Note: Only graduate education in excess of one year (generally 18 semester hours) may be used in this calculation. You must submit a copy of your college transcripts (official or unofficial) and your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet the experience to support your claim. GS-11: Applicant must demonstrate one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties: Independently assessing facility security. Examples include evaluating security systems such as access controls, cameras, alarms, or cybersecurity measures; identifying vulnerabilities; and recommending ways to reduce risks; and Conducting complex criminal investigations. Examples include investigating cases that require extensive information gathering, reviewing evidence, interviewing witnesses, and preparing detailed investigative reports; and Analyzing security inspection results. Examples include identifying recurring or significant deficiencies in a facility's security or guard operations and recommending corrective actions. OR Have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M., if related, from an accredited college or university that provided the knowledge skills, and abilities necessary to perform this work. Note: You must submit a copy of your college transcripts (unofficial or official) to support your claim. OR Have a combination of specialized experience (less than one year) and graduate education (beyond 2 years of graduate education), 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. You must submit a copy of your college transcripts (unofficial or official) and your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet the experience to support your claim. NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Limit your resume to two pages. Only resumes 2 pages in length will be accepted to determine eligibility and qualifications. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification. NOTE: Experience re…
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/.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM. Retrieved Nov 4, 2026, 3:57 AM EST.