Intelligence Operations Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Intelligence & Analysis (I&A). The primary purpose of this position is conducting counterintelligence activities to identify, deceive, exploit, disrupt, or protect against espionage against other intelligence activities, sabotage, or assassinations conducted for or on behalf of foreign powers, organizations, or persons, or their agents. Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Duties

As a Intelligence Operations Specialist, GS-0132-7/9/11/12/13, your typical work assignments may include: Serves as a Counterintelligence Officer in the Counterintelligence Program Division and assists in the gathering of information and conduct of activities to protect against espionage and other intelligence activities. Incumbent identifies opportunities to provide CI support to homeland security operations and other sensitive activities. Assists in the development of collaborative information and knowledge sharing networks and builds alliance with colleagues and counterparts within area of responsibility. Incumbent balances the need to share sensitive or classified information against the need to protect information. Assists in the conduct of debriefings and interviews to obtain information of security, counterintelligence, investigatory and/or intelligence value. Incumbent demonstrates success in eliciting information in normal interview situations. Performs support work in conducting defensive counterintelligence awareness training for DHS personnel, partners and stakeholders. With supervision, incumbent develops, plans, coordinates, and evaluates counterintelligence training events specific to addressing customer's needs and requirements. With supervisory approval, she/he provides guidance and direction to supported elements. 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.

Qualifications and evaluation

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using a job questionnaire that is based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills and abilities needed to perform this job: Customer Service, Partnering, Strategic Thinking, and Technical Competence If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories: Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF), and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) as determined by the job analysis. Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPF's and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis. Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis. If you are amongst the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. To preview the job questionnaire and application, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12998866 Interviews are required for this position. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be removed from consideration or your score may be lowered. Consideration may be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards as an indicator of quality of prior experience.

Education

GS-12 level: Specialized Experience: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal government, or comparable experience in the private sector, performing duties such as: Conducts defensive counterintelligence awareness training for DHS personnel, partners and stakeholders. With minimal supervision, incumbent develops, plans, coordinates, and evaluates counterintelligence training events specific to addressing customer's needs and requirements. With supervisory approval, she/he provides guidance and direction to supported elements Analyzes potential threats and vulnerabilities and conducts assessments in a counterintelligence context to protect against FIE activities. With supervision, incumbent develops and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies to improve the CI posture of supported elements. Conducts CI debriefs for personnel returning from foreign travel or with foreign contact, and other requests by supported elements. Understands how FIE or Insider Threats use the cyber environment to advance their goals, objectives and priorities targeting the Department. Utilizes approved investigative actions to discover the facts for the purposes of referring the activity to the proper authority, absolving the Subject of suspicion and/or providing the facts to the proper authority for further investigation and possible prosecution. Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level. GS-13 level: Specialized Experience: You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal government, or comparable experience in the private sector, performing duties such as: In-depth ability to effectively communicate and coordinate with and advise management officials, program managers and specialists, contractor personnel, and representatives of other agencies; to reconcile differing or conflicting viewpoints; to organize information and present statements of position; and, to write succinctly and clearly. Understands and applies knowledge of collection strategies, management processes, systems and tools. Incumbent effectively employs CI/HUMINT collection strategies and processes to inform the USIC of potential CI threats to the DHS and USG. Maintains a thorough understanding of DHSs responsibility and appropriate roles within the Intelligence Community, in order to build interagency cooperation and facilitate the coordination of resources. Coordinates with Federal, state, and municipal civilian law enforcement counterparts for intelligence fusion and situational awareness of terrorist groups and FIS activities for both general awareness and for potential DHS jurisdiction. Ability to communicate moderately complex ideas both written and verbally in order to formulate and present findings, briefings, project papers, status reports, and correspondence to foster understanding and acceptance of findings and recommendations. Strong customer service and interpersonal skills in order to maintain effective working relationships with both internal and external customers. Advanced knowledge of DHS I&A homeland security intelligence mission and the role of both raw and finished intelligence reporting in the relationship between DHS, State/Local governments and the Intelligence Community. 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 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.

How to apply

To begin your online application, click "Apply Online" to create a USAJOBS account and follow the prompts or log in to your existing account. Your application packet must include a completed assessment questionnaire, a resume, and any applicable and or required supporting documentation. Please see the "Required Documents" section for additional information. All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. The address below is for inquiries only. You may apply more than once, but the most recent application is the only one that will be used. You must submit your resume, your online questionnaire, and any supporting documents by 11:59 PM eastern standard time on the closing date of the announcement. Only resumes up to a total of two pages will be accepted. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. To preview the questionnaire please click the link below: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12998866. It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete. Applicants must submit all required documentation to properly qualify for this position.

Required documents

Your resume NOTE: Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages. For what to include in the resume, click on the link: USAJOBS Help Center Your responses to the job questionnaire. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12998866 Are you qualifying based on education? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an accredited institution. Once selected and prior to appointment, applicants must provide an official college transcript. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information. Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title, Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee), Agency, and Beginning and ending dates of appointment. You may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards. Are you an IC CAE Scholar? Information on the IC CAE program can be found at https://www.dni.gov/index.php/iccae To verify you are a IC CAE Scholar, you must submit a copy of your transcript that shows you are current student at an active or legacy IC CAE institution, or an individual who has graduated from such an institution, who has successfully completed at least one course in IC CAE study areas, such as Intelligence, National Security, Critical Technologies, STEM, languages, or other areas of study as determined by the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to meet Intelligence Community needs.

Additional information

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. 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-07 or GS-13 level. If selection is made at the GS-07 level, promotion to the GS-13 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 as a condition of placement in this SPECIAL SENSITIVE 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.