Intelligence Operations Specialist (Watch Officer)

Summary The Intelligence Operations Specialist (Watch Officer) serves as a key member of the FAA's 24/7 intelligence and incident operations team. The incumbent supports the agency’s mission by delivering timely and actionable intelligence, monitoring global aviation threats, managing incident response activities, and ensuring accurate and prompt dissemination of intelligence notifications and alerts. Duties This position requires a dynamic, mission-focused professional capable of operating in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment with a strong understanding of aviation-related threat issues. This position works under the direction of the Senior Watch Officer and the Watch Team Lead within the FAA’s intelligence enterprise in the Office of Security and Hazardous Materials Safety (ASH) and may assume leadership responsibilities in the absence of senior staff during overnight or weekend shifts. The Intelligence Operations Specialist will perform multiple, varying, and complex assignments applying experience and advanced technical knowledge of intelligence sources, methods, and processes used to collect, analyze, and disseminate threat information. 1. Intelligence and Analysis Support (24/7) Monitors, collects, and assesses intelligence from multiple classified and open-source feeds to identify potential or emerging threats to the National Airspace System (NAS), civil aviation, or FAA personnel and infrastructure. Maintains situational awareness of global threat environments that may impact aviation, reporting developments to FAA leadership, operational centers, and inter-agency partners as appropriate. Coordinates with FAA Lines of Business/Staff Offices, law enforcement, national security agencies, and international partners to ensure timely information sharing. 2. Incident Management and Response Serves as the initial point of contact and coordination for intelligence-related incidents impacting or involving FAA equities. Participates in the FAA’s incident response framework, ensuring intelligence input is integrated into FAA operational decisions and actions. Supports and maintains continuity of operations (COOP) procedures, classified communications, and coordination protocols in response to significant aviation or national security incidents. Tracks incidents from initial notification through resolution, ensuring full documentation and accurate reporting. 3. Intelligence Production and Alerting/Notification Produces concise and well-sourced written intelligence summaries, assessments, and alerts tailored to operational and executive-level audiences. Drafts, reviews, and disseminates notifications, intelligence summaries, and situation reports (SITREPs) regarding threats or incidents with potential impacts to the FAA or civil aviation sector. Maintains and updates notification protocols and distribution lists to ensure rapid and appropriate dissemination of time-sensitive intelligence. Assists in the development and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for intelligence reporting, notification, and coordination processes. This position requires the incumbent to work rotating 24/7 shifts, including holidays and weekends. Requirements Conditions of employment US Citizenship is required. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Designated or Random Drug Testing required. Travel Required: 15% (Domestic and International) Qualifications To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-H, FG/GS-10-12 level. This experience is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience working in an intelligence or operations center, with experience operating in a 24/7 or operations center environment, focusing on national security or transportation infrastructure. You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered. Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification. *Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.* Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA. **All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.** Education Education cannot be substituted for experience. Preview job questionnaire Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire. Additional information We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions. Position may be subject to a background investigation. A one-year probationary period may be required. The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing. This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about Core Compensation is available at: https://www.faa.gov/jobs/working_here/benefits. As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA. In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA section, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a human resource specialist as appropriate. Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; (3) alphabetical; or (4) priority grouping, and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration. Some, all, or none of the applicants may be interviewed. This Level 4 (Special Sensitive; TS/SCI) position requires favorable adjudication of a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained. Please review both vacancy announcements before making application to determine your eligibility to apply. This announcement is also being advertised under VA #AWA-ASH-26-8779BR-96794. This is not a bargaining unit position. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.