Enforcement Officer

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.

EDUCATION: There is no positive education requirement for this position.

SPECIALIZED 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 has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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.

Specialized experience:
To qualify at the ZA-2 (GS-7/9) grade level: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-1 (GS-5) in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Participating in law enforcement patrol and inspection activities to detect violations of laws and regulations to protect marine resources; and
• Assisting in identifying violations/crimes, investigating and apprehending suspects

OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: 1 full year of graduate level education, if related. Examples of degree programs include Criminal Justice and/or Administration; Law and Society; Forensics; Public Safety and/or Administration; Homeland Security; Law Enforcement; Justice Administration; Organizational Security and Management; Criminology; Cyber Security. (NOTE: You must attach a copy of your transcripts for verification).

OR

Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.): S.A.A. is based on (1) Class Standing, (2) Grade-Point Average, or (3) Honor Society Membership. (1) Class Standing: Upper one-third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision based on completed courses. (2) Grade-Point Average: A grade point average of (a) 2.9 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (B or better) as recorded on the official transcript or as computed based on four years of education, or computed based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum; -or- (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 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 two years of the curriculum. (3) Election to Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society: Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies. Freshman scholastic honor societies cannot be used to meet the requirements of this position. NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts (official or unofficial) to verify your education. Examples of degree programs include Criminal Justice and/or Administration; Law and Society; Forensics; Public Safety and/or Administration; Homeland Security; Law Enforcement; Justice Administration; Organizational Security and Management; Criminology; Cyber Security. (NOTE: You must attach a copy of your transcripts for verification).

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above.

To qualify at the ZA-3 (GS-11/12):One full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-2 (GS-9) in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Conducting law enforcement patrol and inspection activities to detect violations of laws and regulations to protect marine resources;
• Identifying violations/crimes, investigating and apprehending suspects; and
• Preparing investigative reports delineating findings from investigative or inspection activities.

ORSUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for which both education and experience are acceptable.

Maximum Entry Age: This position is a covered primary law enforcement position under Title 5 U.S.C 3307 Maximum Entry Age, the special retirement provisions for Federal Law Enforcement Officer (LEO). Candidates without previous LEO service must be under age 37. Those with current or prior federal LEO coverage will be considered only if they can demonstrate that they will have completed 20 years of covered service by mandatory retirement age of 57. This requirement is waived for Veterans; please see link below: https://www.chcoc.gov/content/change-maximumentry-age­ requirements-veterans%E2%80%99- preference eligibles.

If you have current or prior Federal Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) coverage you must submit appropriate SF-50s that shows period of coverage. Failure to provide proof of Federal LEO coverage may result in removal from consideration.

Incumbent must maintain requirements to qualify for LEO retirement coverage (5 USC 8336(c) and 5 USC 8412(d)).