Intelligence Operations Specialist

Summary This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Intelligence and Analysis, Intelligence Watch and Coordination Center, Open-Source Intelligence Division. The primary purpose of this position is to supports open source intelligence collection and analysis, providing timely and relevant information to inform Homeland Security missions and assist senior leadership decision-making. Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position. Learn more about this agency Duties As a Intelligence Operations Specialist, GS-0132-7/9/11/12/13, your typical work assignments may include: Lead and oversee highly complex intelligence collection activities, applying expert knowledge of advanced methods and techniques to address unprecedented problems and projects. Identify, research, and analyze requirements, directives, intelligence databases, and ancillary sources to gather and disseminate intelligence information for ongoing or emerging programs. Develop, coordinate, and maintain homeland security-related collection strategies, plans, and postures; create new concepts, guides, and methodologies to solve complex issues. Coordinate all-source intelligence collection requirements, ensuring customer needs are articulated, entered, and met through appropriate systems and processes. Prepare and present reports, assessments, and briefings for senior leadership, providing recommendations and project plans to integrate new capabilities, processes, and technologies. Represent DHS at the highest levels in departmental and IC presentations, briefings, working groups, and committees, advocating for DHS information and capability needs and integrating interagency collection activities. All DHS-HQ announcements have a 5-business day open period due to the number of applications received. This announcement will be open for 5 business days OR until the first 250 applications have been received, whichever happens first. View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions. Requirements Conditions of employment You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service. You must successfully pass a background investigation. You must submit to a pre-employment drug test. This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) and is subject to random testing. You may be required to serve a two-year trial period. Acceptance of an excepted service appointment from applicants in the competitive service will require a written statement of understanding when voluntarily leaving the competitive service. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions. You will be subject to a pre-employment polygraph examination and random polygraph examinations may be conducted after entry on duty. Must obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance. This position requires the incumbent to be reassigned to a different geographic location. Accordingly, the incumbent will be required to sign a mobility agreement, which will remain in effect while assigned to this position. You may be required to work in shifts on a rotational basis in support of 24-hour operations. You may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or overtime, and/or 24/7 shift schedules, and/or on-call and standby duty status Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft. Qualifications You qualify for the GS-07 grade level if you possess one (1) of the following: Specialized Experience: You qualify for the GS-05 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience in Federal government, performing duties such as: As assisting with open-source intelligence operations assignments by gathering and compiling publicly available intelligence data. Supporting the preparation and dissemination of open-source intelligence reports; reviewing requests for open-source information; and assisting senior specialists in presenting findings and recommendations. Experience must demonstrate basic knowledge of open-source intelligence principles and methods, attention to detail, and the ability to follow established procedures under supervision. Substitution of Education for Experience A bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement, which is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership: Class standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. Grade-point average (GPA.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. -OR- One (1) full year of graduate level education at an accredited or pre-accredited college or university -OR- Combination of Education and Experience A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application. You qualify at the GS-09 grade level if you possess one of the following: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in Federal service, that demonstrates the following: Performing open-source intelligence operations assignments that include gathering, analyzing, and interpreting publicly available intelligence data. Preparing and disseminating open-source intelligence reports; reviewing and responding to requests for open-source information; and making recommendations regarding the distribution and prioritization of open-source intelligence products. Experience must demonstrate the ability to apply established open-source intelligence principles and methods to complex situations, communicate findings to stakeholders, and support decision-making processes. -OR- Substitution of Education for Experience You may substitute your education for your experience if you possess one of the following: A master's or equivalent graduate degree. Two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree LL.B. or J.D., if related. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above that, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application. NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of the first year may be used to qualify for the GS-09 level. You qualify at the GS-11 grade level if you possess one of the following: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in Federal service that demonstrates the following: Conducting substantive open-source intelligence collection and dissemination activities; researching and analyzing open-source intelligence requirements and publicly available information. Preparing portions of complex open-source intelligence reports; coordinating open-source intelligence collection requirements. Developing and maintaining open-source collection strategies and plans; and representing the organization in presentations, briefings, and working groups. Experience must demonstrate advanced knowledge of open-source intelligence methods and techniques, the ability to analyze complex issues, and effective communication with internal and external stakeholders. -OR- Substitution of Education for Experience You may substitute your education for your experience if you possess one of the following: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree LL.M., if related -OR- Combination of Education and Experience A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above that, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application. NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of the first two years may be used to qualify for the GS-11 level. You qualify for theGS-12 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal government that demonstrates the following: Leading and supporting complex open-source intelligence collection activities. Researching and analyzing open-source intelligence requirements and publicly available information. Developing and coordinating open-source collection strategies, plans, and postures; preparing reports and assessments of open-source collection activities and processes. Coordinating open-source intelligence collection requirements; and representing the organization in presentations, briefings, and working groups. Experience must demonstrate advanced knowledge of open-source intelligence methods and techniques, strategic planning, innovation, and effective communication with internal and external stakeholders. Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level. You qualify for theGS-13 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal government that demonstrates the following: Leading and overseeing highly complex open-source intelligence collection activities; researching and analyzing open-source requirements and publicly available information. Developing and implementing innovative open-source collection strategies and methodologies; coordinating open-source intelligence collection requirements. Preparing and presenting open-source intelligence reports, assessments, and briefings for senior leadership; and representing the organization at the highest levels in interagency forums. Experience must demonstrate expert knowledge of open-source intelligence methods and techniques, strategic planning, innovation, and effective communication and leadership in complex environments. Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level. All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Education Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications. Additional information Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses will not be paid. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement. Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result. This position may be filled at the GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, GS-12 or GS-13 level. If selection is made at the lower level, promotion to the higher level may occur without further competition. If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration of Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment. Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation for Top Secret/SCI with a Polygraph as a condition of placement in this Special Sensitive Level position. This review may include financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. This is a permanent appointment in the Excepted Service and will be filled on a full-time permanent basis. Employees hired under an Excepted Service appointment may be required to serve a two (2) year trial period. This position does not confer non-competitive conversion to the competitive service. Acceptance of an excepted service appointment from applicants in the competitive service will require a written statement of understanding when voluntarily leaving the competitive service. Veterans Preference: Veterans preference does not apply under Title 50 appointment authority. 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.