Intelligence Operations Specialist

Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens

As a Intelligence Operations Specialist, GS-0132-11/12/13, your typical work assignments may include:

• Provide real-time intelligence support to law enforcement by exploiting digital media and other data sources to uncover derogatory information.
• Review DOMEX-derived results; prepare and disseminate intelligence tips, leads, and message traffic.
• Perform all-source and targeting analyses using technical data from digital forensic examinations, consistent with NICE Analyze and Investigate categories.
• Prepare and present analytic results in formal and informal briefings and written reports to high-level officials, law enforcement, and IC partners.
• Maintain continuous engagement with operational customers to understand case dynamics and coordinate with law enforcement partners.
• Support creation of standard operating processes and procedures; participate in special projects and initiatives.
• Attend meetings and trainings to enhance all-source intelligence and digital forensics expertise; mentor junior analysts as required.

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 100 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 will be 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.
• 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

GS-11 Level: You may qualify at this grade level by meeting one (1) of the following below:

Specialized Experience:
You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess the specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal government, performing duties such as:

• Knowledge of intelligence concepts, principles, & techniques to provide guidance & advice required by the DHS IE.
• Knowledge of the operations of the national IC and associated functions, processes, principles, methods, and procedures to obtain needed intelligence information.
• Knowledge of the major issues, program goals and objectives, work processes, and administrative operations of DHS and I&A organizations.
• Knowledge of intelligence operations and analytical principles as well as threats to Homeland Security to gather, analyze and evaluate intelligence information.
• The work involves gathering information, identifying, and analyzing issues, and developing recommendations to resolve substantive problems of effectiveness and efficiency of work operations in a program or program support setting. This is in addition to work which requires application of qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques that frequently require modification to fit a wider range of variables. Decisions about how to proceed in planning, organizing, and conducting studies are complicated by conflicting program goals and objectives. Assignments are further complicated by the need to deal with subjective concepts such as value judgments. The quality and quantity of actions are measurable primarily in predictive terms, and the findings and conclusions are highly subjective and not readily susceptible to verification through replication of study methods or reevaluation of results. Options, recommendations, and conclusions developed by the employee consider and give appropriate weight to uncertainties about the data and other variables which affect
  long-range program performance.

-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.

Specialized Experience GS-12:
You qualify for theGS-12 grade level if you possess the specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal government that demonstrates the following:

• Skill in applying a comprehensive range of intelligence research, foreign disclosure, collection methods, dissemination applications and methodologies that includes the evaluation of many diverse sources of information utilizing multiple intelligence information systems to develop intelligence capability and threat assessments.
• Knowledge of intelligence operations and analytical principles as well as threats to Homeland Security to gather, analyze and evaluate intelligence information.
• Comprehensive understanding of substantive intelligence programs, goals, priorities, policies, and commitments; the sequence and timing of key program events and milestones; and the interrelationships with other department programs to perform assessments and conduct in-depth studies in support of the Homeland Security DHS IC mission.
• Knowledge of intelligence operations and analytical principles as well as threats to Homeland Security to gather, analyze and evaluate intelligence information.
• Understanding of substantive intelligence programs, goals, priorities, policies, and commitments; the sequence and timing of key program events and milestones; and the interrelationships with other department programs to perform assessments and conduct in-depth studies in support of the Homeland Security DHS CYBER and IC mission.

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

Specialized Experience GS-13:
You qualify for theGS-13 grade level if you possess the specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal government that demonstrates the following:

• Mastery of and skill in applying a comprehensive range of intelligence research, foreign disclosure, collection methods, dissemination applications and methodologies that includes the evaluation of many diverse sources of information utilizing multiple intelligence information systems to develop intelligence capability and threat assessments.
• Expert knowledge of the operations of the national CYBER and IC and associated functions, processes, principles, methods, and procedures to obtain needed intelligence information.
• Knowledge of US intelligence community policies, entities, missions, resources, operations, capabilities, databases, and requirements to perform intelligence research planning, cyber, operations collection, target analysis, and other intelligence collection related activities.
  -Advanced knowledge of DHS and IC intelligence principles and regulations and has strong verbal and written communication and data analysis skills including the ability to communicate complex ideas to formulate and present findings/briefings, maintain effective working relationships with both internal and external customers, effectively train others in full performance of the job, and effectively plan functional team activities to accomplish set goals and objectives.

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.

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.

This position is designated as Emergency Essential. Emergency Essential personnel must be able to serve during a continuity of operation event without regard to declarations of liberal leave or government closures due to weather, protests, and acts of terrorism or lack of funding. Failure to report for or remain in this position may result in disciplinary or adverse action in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations (5 U.S.C. 7501-7533 and 5 CFR Part 752, as applicable).

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, Organizational Awareness, Partnering, Team Building, Technical Competence, 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/12960766

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/12960766
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. You may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards.
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.

Next steps