Job Opening: 63878
Opening Date: September 8, 2026, 2026
Closing Date: September 22, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)
Job Title Surveillance Program Specialist Full Performance Level GS-13 Division Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG) Unit National Lookout Program Unit (NLPU) Location Quantico, VA Working Hours Will vary depending on field office needs Job Type Full Time/Permanent Who May Apply Current, permanent FBI employees Number of Positions Available 1 Questions Email: [email protected] Salary GS12 $102,415.00 - $133,142.00
GS13 $121,785.00 - $158,322.00
Full Cost Transfer : Selected candidates will be offered a Full Cost Transfer, if eligible. In order to receive the incentive candidates will have to sign a 1 year service agreement and provide a proof of residency verifying they relocated to their new geographic area. To be eligible for a Full Cost Transfer, the candidate must move 50 miles or more to the location. Proof of change in residency will be required.

Additional selections may be made from this announcement to fill positions within the same division when the position includes substantially the same duties, responsibilities, and qualifications.
UNIT DESCRIPTION
The National Lookout Program Unit program is responsible for providing proactive fiscal, operational, training, and administrative program management for NLP field office (NLP-FO) operations. The NLPU creates and updates all NLP policies and procedures and serves as the NLP-FO's liaison to other FBIHQ divisions/units, other government agencies (OGA), and other organizations.
KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Must be a current, permanent FBI employee who are or have been a GS 11 Surveillance Specialist, Supervisory Surveillance Specialist, or Supervisory Surveillance Specialist Coordinator for one (1) year.
• Must be able to obtain an SCI clearance
• Frequent travel will be required
• Selectee will be required to complete form FD-887, Request for Access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)

Physical Demand

• The work is primarily sedentary but may require prolonged periods of standing. It requires some walking, bending, stooping, and lifting. A considerable amount of physical exertion, such as walking, running over rough or uneven surfaces, crawling, climbing (over fences, walls and stairs), stooping, lifting can be required. Ground surveillance work may involve extended periods of intense concentration making visual and mental fatigue a factor.

Work Environment

• The work is primarily performed in an office setting. Work occasionally involves operating and/or being confined to a motor vehicle. Incumbent can be required to work long and irregular hours, to include nights, weekends and/or holidays. Frequent travel is also required.

MAJOR DUTIES
GS 12:

• Serves as a surveillance Subject Matter Expert (SME) for surveillance Forensics (SURF), a subprogram within the NLPU.
• Facilitates workflow and information exchange between the NLPU, case agents, field investigators, and surveillance personnel.
• Facilitates dynamic support to field surveillance teams across the enterprise to strategically focus surveillance resources and mitigate exposure.
• Liaison within the Ground Surveillance ecosystem, to cultivate high level of confidence in surveillance results.
• Integrates technical solutions with practical application into ground surveillance program operations.

GS 13: In addition to the above:

• Provides administration support to NLP's leadership team.
• Creates, reviews and updates policies, SOP's, and guidelines of SURF for the NLPU.
• Research and develops innovative solutions to novel challenges affecting ground surveillance operations.
• Compiles various field surveillance datasets into consolidated SURF reports for various audiences.
• Serves as a Training instructor and expert in the fixed and mobile surveillance instruction.
• Develops and maintains curriculum and course material of related knowledge, skills, and abilities for supervisors and support surveillance personnel.

QUALIFICATIONS & EVALUATIONS
Please ensure that your specialized experience and requirements are clearly identifiable in your resume. Your application will be evaluated using the FBI's Candidate Rating Procedures. Your resume and supporting documents will be reviewed to verify that you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement and will be compared against your responses to the online assessment questionnaire. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
If you are found minimally qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process.
The Competencies will be used in a Structured Resume Review to objectively evaluate applicant resumes. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather you must describe in your resume how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the competencies identified below. Your resume should demonstrate that you possess the following competencies.
Competencies:

• Analytical Thinking
• Communication
• Flexibility / Adaptability
• Organizing / Planning
• Problem Solving / Judgement

Please make sure your specialized experience/requirement(s) can be identified in your resume.
Specialized Experience (SE):
GS 12: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS 11 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Researched and analyzed program functions to assess fulfillment of objectives and work requirements to ensure compliance; identified problems and recommended corrective action.
• Planned and assigned work to subordinates, set priorities, directed and coordinated work efforts, making adjustments based on changing priorities.
• Prepared budgets to manage program resources; Identified projected and prioritized short and long term goals to ensure compliance with the overall mission.
• Communicated orally and in writing program evaluations, projections, and analyses to a variety of personnel.

GS 13: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS 12 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Researched and analyzed program functions to assess fulfillment of objectives and work requirements to ensure compliance; identified problems and recommended corrective action.
• Planned and assigned work to subordinates, set priorities, directed and coordinated work efforts, making adjustments based on changing priorities.
• Prepared budgets to manage program resources; Identified projected and prioritized short and long term goals to ensure compliance with the overall mission.
• Communicated orally and in writing program evaluations, projections, and analyses to a variety of personnel.
• Prepared and presented program briefings, evaluations, projections, and analyses in oral and written format to a variety of personnel.
• Prepared detailed budget reports documenting new or changed requirements; strategically presented program budgets to upper management, providing justification in support of budget requests or made recommendations to address undefined issues.

Preferred Skills

• Experience using and navigating Sentinel and the NLPU database
• Experience Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) and/or experience with Integrated Operator Course (IOC)
• Experience with general administrative and organizational software (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Project)

Education
Education may not be substituted for specialized experience
HOW TO APPLY
For detailed instructions related to applying, uploading documents, withdrawing an application or updating your application, please review instructions on How to Apply . If applying online is a hardship, please use the contact information listed in the vacancy announcement prior to the closing date for assistance.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
To apply to this position, interested applicants must provide a complete application package by the closing date which includes:

1. Utilizing the Resume Builder, outline your relevant work experience and associated start and end dates. Uploaded resumes will not be reviewed or used for qualification purposes.
2. A complete assessment questionnaire
3. Other supporting documents (if applicable):
   • College transcripts, if qualifying based on education or if there is a positive education requirement

While applicants might see these documents in their profile, HR Specialists may be unable to access them. Therefore, all applicants MUST upload another copy to ensure that staffing units can review the complete application.
Please note: Failure to provide the necessary and relevant information required by this vacancy announcement may disqualify you from consideration. Incomplete applications will not be supplemented with additional requests for information; your application will be evaluated solely on the information you submit. You must complete the application process and submit all required documents by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the announcement's closing date.
WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The Most Competitive candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of your status throughout the process.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Positions with fitness for duty requirements or those that require international travel may require proof of certain vaccinations.
• Management may select at any grade for which this position has been announced.
• Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for an actual assignment and performance of higher-level duties.
• The selectee will be required to serve a one-year probationary period for initial assignment to a supervisory position.
• Required Leadership Training: All FBI supervisors promoted after January 2022 are required to attend and complete the Training Division's Supervisor Essentials Program within 365 days from initial assignment into a supervisory position. Supervisors will need to complete both the "Mentoring and Coaching" and "Performance Appraisals" courses as part of the Supervisor Essentials program. The Supervisor Essentials course is a pre-requisite for the new Leading People (Virtual) and face-to-face version (VLP) that will be offered beginning the 2nd Quarter of 2022.
• Limited Movement: Policy has been implemented wherein support employees entering a position may be precluded from moving to another position within the Bureau through reassignment or change to a lower grade for a minimum of 12 months. HRD will waive this limited movement policy for qualified employees, who have received an official notification letter that their current position is being relocated due to an organizational restructuring initiative, so those employees can compete for a position elsewhere.
• Probationary employees are precluded from being considered for all job opportunities until 12-months of their 24-month probationary period has concluded. Probationary employees may be considered for competitive vacancies that are advertised within their respective division or field office after serving 90 days within the FBI.
• Candidates will not be considered if currently on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP); a Letter of Requirement (LOR); or have failed a PIP or LOR and are currently awaiting the final action by HRD.

a) Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is a 90-day written developmental plan for an employee whose performance on one or more critical elements is rated "Unacceptable."
b) A Letter of Requirement (LOR) is issued when a supervisor identifies leave abuse and/or when frequent absences negatively impact operations of an office.

• Relocation expenses MAY be borne by the FBI. Candidates receiving a transfer of physical location, whether at the expense of the FBI or not, will be required to complete a one-year commitment to the assignment, prior to moving to a new position at the FBI. The 12-month waiting period begins the day an employee reports for duty at the new location.
• Current tax law may impact your transfer by making some of your moving expense reimbursements taxable. Please contact 304-625-9337 (304-625-XFER) for information regarding taxable expenses.
• Employees selected for promotions at the GS 12 level or higher, selected for a supervisory position at any grade level, or selected for positions where a transfer of location is required, will be processed through the name check program prior to being notified of their selection.

Nepotism
Nepotism is the act of favoring relatives in the hiring process and is prohibited by law. Public officials are prohibited from hiring or promoting relatives or relatives of officials in their chain of command, as well as actively or indirectly endorse a relative's appointment or promotion. During the hiring process, all selected candidates and FBI hiring managers will be required to certify they are not related to anyone involved in the hiring process.