Watch Officer

Summary The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) leads the nation's effort to protect the United States from terrorism by integrating, analyzing and sharing information to drive whole-of-government action and achieve our national CT objectives. Learn more about this agency Duties Major Duties and Responsibilities (MDRs): The NCTC Operations Center (NCTOC) serves as NCTC's point of entry for intelligence reporting and provides situational awareness on global terrorism issues and breaking real-world events. It is the central hub for communications between the Center, the IC, and the broader CT community. The Watch Officer is a member of the team maintaining NCTC's 24x7 situational awareness mission. The team serves a number of customers, including the Intelligence Community, the broader counterterrorism community, the Director of NCTC, and the Director of National Intelligence. Maintain 24/7 global situational awareness by independently researching and analyzing raw intelligence reporting and maintaining awareness of current intelligence issues. Monitor, sort, prioritize, and analyze intelligence and operational message traffic in support of counterterrorism (CT) operations and terrorism crisis management. Draft all-source Alerts, Advisories, and other sensitive CT situational awareness products while ensuring accuracy and timeliness. Perform community outreach and collaboration activities by supporting internal and external information sharing, fostering collaborative relationships with interagency partners, and communicating timely and relevant threat information to the CT community. Coordinate with other NCTOC officers to ensure situational awareness across the teams; support intelligence production, tradecraft development, and other NCTOC initiatives. Requirements Conditions of employment Must be a U.S. Citizen residing in the United States Appointment is subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation. Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance based on an SBI with eligibility for sensitive compartmented information (SCI) Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. A two-year trial period is required for all new permanent appointments to the ODNI. Qualifications FREE RESPONSE ESSAY QUESTIONS All applicants must answer the following four short, free response essay questions. The responses cannot exceed 200 words per question. By submitting your responses to the following questions, you certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]). How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you and explain how you would help implement them if hired. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position. Required Qualifications: Knowledge of intelligence analysis and production. Ability to maintain and develop effective working relationships with counterparts and senior staff in the IC for the purpose of sharing information. Ability to make assessments of time-sensitive issues, adjust priorities, and change focus quickly as demands change. Ability to work effectively both independently and in a team or collaborative environment, coupled with established and effective interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Ability to work rotating shifts of 12.5 hours in a fast-paced demanding environment. Good oral and written communication skills, including the ability to clearly convey complex information to all levels of management. Interpersonal and organization skills, including ability to manage competing priorities under strict guidelines while maintaining superior customer service. Education Bachelor's degree. Additional information JOB INTERVIEW TRAVEL Candidates from outside the Washington Metropolitan Area (WMA) may be selected for a telephone, teleconference, or in-person interview. SALARY DETERMINATION The ODNI uses a rank-in-person system in which rank is attached to GS employees on the basis of individual qualifications, experience, and performance. Individuals whose current GS grade is equivalent to the grade of the advertised position will retain their current grade and step. Individuals who transfer to the ODNI from a non-GS pay scale will have base pay converted to the appropriate GS grade and step as determined by the Chief of Human Resource Management. In some cases when a current federal civilian employee applies for an ODNI position that is a lower grade than his or her personal grade, the candidate's personal grade will be downgraded to the grade of the advertised ODNI position and pay will be set at the step that is closest to, and not less than, the employee's current annual base rate of pay, not to exceed the maximum step rate of the GS grade to which assigned. RELOCATION EXPENSES For new ODNI employees, reimbursement for relocation is discretionary based on availability of funds. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS The ODNI provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Reasonable Accommodations Officer by email at [email protected], by telephone at (703)275-3900 or by FAX at (703)275-1217. Your request for reasonable accommodations will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION TO THE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION EMAIL ADDRESS. THIS EMAIL IS FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS ONLY. The ODNI is an equal opportunity employer and abides by applicable employment laws and regulations. Expand Hide  additional information 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.