Summary This vacancy is for a Police Officer in the Office of the Secretary within the Department of Commerce. The selected candidate will play an important role in providing law enforcement and security services for the Department of Commerce, Office of Security, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Police Services Group. Salary will vary based on locality: Boulder, Colorado: $52,850 - $82,927 Gaithersburg, Maryland: $55,560 - $89,473 Responsibilities As a Police Officer, you will perform the following duties: Enforce federal/state laws, ordinances, and regulations, including criminal, civil, and traffic; executes misdemeanor and felony warrants of arrest. Appear in federal, state, or local courts of law to testify. Interview witnesses to gather statements. Write reports of preliminary investigations which may be used in court. Write citations for clear-cut, observed violations of laws and rules. Monitor closed circuit television (CCTV) systems to detect illegal activities. Utilize standard operating procedures and checklists to enforce laws, ordinances, and regulations. Provide security patrol/physical presence to promote a sense of security. Respond to alarms and calls for service and reports observations with regard to environmental health, safety, and fire code hazards/violations. Operate weapons properly and qualifies at the range (passing required weapons qualifications), demonstrates proper officer safety techniques and procedures, and uses less than lethal weapons properly. Order of Referral: This is an open continuous announcement. Eligible and Qualified applicants that apply from the opening of the announcement through the first cut-off date, Monday, July 08, 2024, will be on the first certificate referred to the hiring manager. Eligible applications received after this date will be referred at regular intervals (monthly), or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until the closing date of the announcement. This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Police Officer GS-0083-5/6/7 Full Performance Level (FPL) GS-7 positions within the Office of the Secretary in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience. 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 of possession of drugs. A probationary or trial period may be required. 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. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing. License required: Yes; will be required to operate a motor vehicle, and must possess and maintain a valid state operator's license. Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/). You must obtain and maintain a Critical Sensitive Secret security clearance. This position is subject to pre-employment drug testing and random drug testing thereafter. This position may be assigned to any shift, and is responsible for the protection of life and property through the enforcement of laws, ordinances, and regulations. All Office of Security employees are considered Emergency Employees and may be called upon to assist in providing essential services during an emergency, weather, or COOP event at the worksite, an alternate location, or by teleworking. Bargaining Unit Position: Yes Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): No Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: Will not be paid Time-in-grade/band requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement unless eligible for special hiring authority, reinstatement eligible, non-current Federal employee applying as a VEOA eligible which do not require time-in-grade/band. Medical Exam/Drug Testing: All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use and satisfactorily pass all required pre-placement physical/medical examinations prior to appointment. Selectee must be able to successfully pass, as applicable, annual and periodic physical/medical examinations, drug screenings, and psychological screenings to maintain a level of physical fitness in accordance with the standards and policies of this agency. Qualifications Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ 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 possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that which equipped you with the particular knowledge of a body of basic laws and regulations, law enforcement operations, practices, and techniques and involved responsibility for maintaining order and protecting life and property. Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Minimum Qualification requirements as noted below. To qualify at the GS-5 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-04) or equivalent band in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience applying laws and regulations, law enforcement operations, practices, and techniques and involved responsibility for maintaining order and protecting life and property; OR Have successfully completed at least four years of education above the high school level leading to a bachelor's degree in Police Science or a comparable degree program related to police officer work; OR Equivalent combinations of experience and education. NOTE: Successful completion of a Federal, State, County, or Municipal Police Academy or comparable training course that include at least 40 classroom hours of instruction in police department procedures and methods, and local law and regulations, may be substituted for a maximum of 3 months of specialized experience. Please provide certificate of completion at the time of your application. To qualify at the GS-6 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-05) or equivalent band in the Federal service. This experience must include at least two of the following types of duties: Responding to calls or alarms concerning reports of violations or complaints; Issuing citations for personally observed violations of laws, rules, or regulations; Performing traffic patrol and emergency response duties to include enforcing speed limits, assisting at accident scenes, taking statements from principals and witnesses, and/or directing traffic/controlling the movement of vehicles and pedestrians at worksites. To qualify at the GS-7 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-06) or equivalent band in the Federal service. This experience must include at least three of the following types of duties: Interviewing and questioning witnesses to prepare detailed reports of incidents; Coordinating emergency responses between security, fire, and/or other emergency units; Taking charge of a crime or accident scene and restricting access as necessary; Conducting long and short term investigations when solutions cannot be achieved during the course of a normal patrol shift. Selective Placement Factor(s): Selective placement factors are applied in the same manner as minimum qualification requirements. Failure to meet a selective placement factor will result in you not receiving further consideration. In addition to the minimum qualifications described above, you must meet the following selective placement factor(s): You must have successfully graduated from one of the following training courses with the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). You may also submit a certificate from another "equivalent" course for possible consideration. An example could be Department of Defense Civilian Police Academy or Veterans Affairs Law Enforcement Center's VA Basic Police Officer Course. - FLETC Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP) - FLETC Mixed Basic Police Training Program (MBPTP) - FLETC Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) - FLETC Land Management Police Training Program (LMPT) NOTE(s): Education: You must submit a copy of your college transcripts (official or unofficial) to document education. Experience: Your resume must support your claim of experience or you will be found ineligible. Training: You must submit a copy of your FLETC (or equivalent) training certificate or you will be found ineligible. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification. 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). 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. For work in the federal service, include the grade level for the position(s). Firearms: Selectee will be required to carry and use a firearm, demonstrate proficiency on a recurring basis, and not be in violation of 18 USC 922 (Lautenberg Amendment). NOTE: Lautenberg Amendment: This position authorizes the incumbent to carry a firearm. Any person who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (Title 18, USC Section 992(g)). A felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence is generally defined under the statute, as any offense involving the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by the victim's current or former domestic partner, parent or guardian. The term convicted, as defined in the statute, excludes any person whose conviction has been expunged, set-aside or pardoned, or any person whose civil rights have been restored, so long as such restoration does not restrict the shipping, transport, possession or receipt of firearms or ammunition. Candidates who have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence within the meaning of the referenced statutes are not eligible for the position. 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/ (https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/) Mandatory Completion of Basic Training: Applicants must have satisfactorily completed a basic law enforcement training program provided by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (equivalent) to receive consideration. Working Conditions: The duties of these positions require moderate to arduous physical exertion and/or duties of a hazardous nature. The following medical requirements apply to all applicants: good near and distant vision, ability to distinguish basic colors, and ability to hear the conversational voice. Agencies may establish additional, job-related physical or medical requirements provided that the specific position(s) involves the arduous or hazardous duties to which the physical requirements relate. Applicants and employees must have the capacity to perform the essential functions of the position without risk to themselves or others. Applicants and employees must possess emotional and mental stability. In most instances, a specific medical condition or impairment will not automatically disqualify an applicant or employee. A medical condition or impairment is disqualifying only if the condition, for good medical reason, precludes assignment to or warrants restriction from the duties of the specific position. For some positions, the loss or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid. Reasonable accommodation shall also be considered in determining an applicant's ability to perform the duties of a position. Reasonable accommodation may include, but is not limited to the use of assistive devices, job modification or restructuring, provision of readers and interpreters, or adjusted work schedules. Additional Information 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. The following links provide information on various hiring authorities that may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment. Veterans Recruitment Act (VRA) Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) 30% or more disabled veterans Persons with disabilities Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) ICTAP and CTAP Eligibles: CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice). A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location; A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential. ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement; A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc; A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential. 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.