Investigative Program Specialist (Polygraph Examiner)

About the role

This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Professional Responsibility, Credibility Assessment Division.

Organizational Locations: Tucson, AZ; Aliso Viejo, CA; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Chicago, IL; Portland, ME; Minneapolis, MN; New York, NJ; Buffalo, NY; Dallas, TX; El Paso, TX; Houston, TX; McAllen, TX; San Antonio, TX; Seattle, WA.

Responsibilities

• Conducting all types of polygraph examinations in support of OPR and other CBP divisions, other DHS components, and outside Federal, State, and local agencies as directed by management.
• Cooking, planning, and administering polygraph examinations.
• Conducting pretest interviews of individuals to be examined in order to determine their willingness and capability to submit to the examination. Evaluating physical and psychological suitability for testing in order to make a final determination on whether to conduct the examination.
• Preparing accurate, concise, logical, comprehensive, and objective reports of investigations to be used in legal venues, potentially including testifying in court in rare occasions, for adjudication, and to brief managers.
• Conducting extended testing to resolve undecided issues, confirm admissions, or locate evidence as necessary.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position.

Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service.

All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English.

You may be required to pass a background investigation and/or polygraph.

CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures.

The Investigative Program Specialist (Polygraph Examiner) applies the full range of polygraph investigative methodologies necessary to resolve and complete administrative, civil, counterintelligence, and criminal investigations by detecting deception, collecting sworn statements of confession, vetting critical information, and exonerating the falsely accused.

Qualifications

• Experience: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:
• Selecting appropriate polygraph techniques based on a thorough review and analysis of all available documentation on the investigation.
• Analyzing physiological data collected to determine the results of the polygraph examination.
• Conducting in-depth interrogations in an attempt to elicit admissions or confessions if deception is indicated by test results.
• Identifying criminal or misconduct case issues and evidence needed, based on analysis of charges, complaints, or allegations.
• Preparing accurate, concise, logical, comprehensive, and objective reports of forensic investigations to be used in legal venues, including testifying in court, for adjudication, and to brief managers.
• Experience: You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:
• Adapting polygraph techniques to the situation, using experience and ability to recognize when administrative cases become criminal investigations.
• Collecting evidence while maintaining all lawful and legal standards throughout the polygraph interview process. (e.g., administering Miranda warnings, obtaining sworn written statements of confession).
• Conducting in-depth interviews and interrogations in an attempt to elicit admissions or confessions if deception is indicated by test results;
• Preparing accurate, concise, logical, comprehensive, and objective reports of forensic investigations to be used in legal venues, including testifying in court, for adjudication, and to brief managers.
• Thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the rules of evidence, criminal procedure, constitutional rights, search and seizure protocol, apprehension and detention of suspects, and related investigative matters.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university;
• At least two years of investigative experience with a recognized U.S. Government agency or other law enforcement agency;
• Successful completion of a Psychophysiological Detection of Deception (PDD) polygraph examination; and
• Be at least 25 years of age

Transcripts

Transcripts will be required if you are unable to provide certification documentation at the time of application.

Experience

Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.

Time in Grade

Subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and

Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 07/10/2026.

Bargaining Unit

This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.

Background Investigation

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.

Polygraph Examination

The Investigative Program Specialist (Polygraph Examiner) position is a polygraph-required position. If you are not a current CBP employee in a law enforcement position, you may be required to take a polygraph exam and have favorable results in order to continue in the pre-employment process.

Polygraph Reciprocity

CBP may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of a CBP polygraph exam.

Polygraph Waiver

Certain veterans may be eligible to obtain a polygraph waiver.

Residency

There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

• Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
• A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
• Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
• Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

Probationary Period

All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period