Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens

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.

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:

• Assisting with intelligence operations assignments by gathering and compiling intelligence data; supporting the preparation and dissemination of intelligence reports.
• Reviewing requests for information; and assisting senior specialists in presenting findings and recommendations.
• Experience must demonstrate basic knowledge of 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 intelligence operations assignments that include gathering, analyzing, and interpreting intelligence data.
• Preparing and disseminating intelligence reports; reviewing and responding to requests for information and making recommendations regarding the distribution and prioritization of intelligence products.
• Experience must demonstrate the ability to apply established 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 intelligence collection and dissemination activities.
• Researching and analyzing intelligence requirements and sources.
• Preparing portions of complex intelligence reports; coordinating all-source intelligence collection requirements.
• Developing and maintaining collection strategies and plans; and representing the organization in presentations, briefings, and working groups.
• Experience must demonstrate advanced knowledge of intelligence methods and techniques, the ability to analyze complex issues, and effective communication with internal and external stakeholders.

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 intelligence collection activities; researching and analyzing intelligence requirements and sources.
• Developing and coordinating collection strategies, plans, and postures.
• Preparing reports and assessments of collection activities and processes.
• Coordinating all-source intelligence collection requirements.
• Representing the organization in presentations, briefings, and working groups.
• Experience must demonstrate advanced knowledge of intelligence methods and techniques, strategic planning, innovation, and effective communication with internal and external stakeholders.

• Leading and overseeing highly complex intelligence collection activities.
• Researching and analyzing requirements and sources for intelligence programs.
• Developing and implementing innovative collection strategies and methodologies.
• Coordinating all-source intelligence collection requirements.
• Preparing and presenting reports, assessments, and briefings for senior leadership.
• Representing the organization at the highest levels in interagency forums.
• Experience must demonstrate expert knowledge of intelligence methods and techniques, strategic planning, innovation, and effective communication and leadership in complex environments.

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, social). 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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

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: Oral Communication, Planning and Evaluating, Project Management, Research, Strategic Thinking, and Technical Credibility

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/12912218

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.

1. 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
2. Your responses to the job questionnaire. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12912218
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)? Submit the following:
   • A copy of your agency notice,
   • A copy of your most recent performance rating, and
   • A copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
6. 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.
7. You may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards.

Next steps