The position is open only to current Secret Service employees in the competitive service and eligible agency career transition candidates. Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level, including conducting workplace assessments, providing informal conflict resolution services, identifying trends in workplace complaints, and developing training related to conflict resolution or organizational effectiveness. The position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret Tier 5 security clearance. The GS-15 position pays $169,279-197,200 per year and the seven-day application window closes June 9, 2026. (USA Jobs.)
On the one hand, I am heartened and encouraged by this job announcement that appears to be looking for a program that could potentially achieve IOA program certification. If I am not mistaken, the U.S. Secret Service was one of the first federal ombuds programs established in the early 80's by our own beloved Mary Rowe. This program flourished for years, but also, similar to this announcement, pulled from within, whereby agents would serve as ombuds as an additional duty. There is a strong feeling within LE communities that they're the only ones who can understand. I would offer that there are a number of amazing ombuds who have tremendous experience doing this work hand-in-hand with law enforcement who aren't officers or agents themselves - and bring tremendous value through their work. (So yes USSS should open it up to everyone, and perhaps select someone on the outside to reinforce impartiality and avoid any conflicts of interest). The USSS also butchered the ombuds program in recent years by making it part of an ill-conceived "resolution system," thereby minimizing it and reducing its potential impact. I'm unclear about whether the program was DOGE'd away...assuming it was. And my concern is that this administration overall doesn't want to hear "problems" which makes me extremely skeptical of this role, but I'm willing to set that aside for a moment. My optimistic suspicion is that there is a leader high enough in the senior ranks, who knows both the turmoil the agency is in, and who also remembers the incredible impact the ombuds program made. And they have successfully pushed to resurrect the ombuds program, because they have a deep understanding of the incredible value the role brings. Of course the ombuds community knows it, and so do leaders who have experienced it. Whoever this person was, they knew that in order for it to be most effective, it needed to be structured properly, knowing the role needs to be reporting into the Director's office and not buried. I want to remain optimistic that those who are given the responsibility to lead federal agencies (I don't want to flippantly use the word "leader" because that title must be earned) recognize that organizational conflict causes significant, complex, widespread issues (way beyond just 'morale' which I'm not confident this administration cares about) and distracts/detracts from the important mission of the agency (which this and all prior administrations do seem to care about). But you can't have one without the other - they go hand in hand which doesn't seem to be currently understood. But maybe they do know this at the USSS. An ombuds that is structured properly is an incredible resource to not just minimize conflict, but help get folks working together more effectively and get back to being fully focused on the mission. Here's to hoping this insight is more widely understood and embraced.
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