Operational Careers Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. 25-12749822 Department Central Intelligence Agency
Salary $72,254.00 to $109,975.00 Grade 9 to 12
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 7/28/2026 Close Date 9/30/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Operational Careers

Central Intelligence Agency

Summary

Discover an operational career at the CIA, where your creativity, critical thinking, discipline, teamwork, and unwavering dedication are vital in delivering foreign intelligence to U.S. Government policymakers. Immerse yourself in mission and purpose with global impact, while you help provide the United States with a tactical and strategic advantage.

Please visit cia.gov/careers, to view all job opportunities currently available.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Federal employees - Competitive service

Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.

Federal employees - Excepted service

Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.

Duties

  • Job duties will vary based on the occupation. Operational careers include: Case Officer, Collection Management Officer, Paramilitary Officer, Language Officer, Staff Operations Officer, and Targeting Officer.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • You must be physically in the United States or one of its territories when you submit your resume.
  • You must be registered for the Selective Service, if applicable.
  • You must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years of age (dual-national US citizens are eligible).
  • You must be willing to move to the Washington, DC area.
  • You must successfully complete a thorough medical and psychological exam, a polygraph interview, and a comprehensive background investigation.
  • For further requirements information, please visit: https://www.cia.gov/careers/cia-requirements/

Qualifications

Interested 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 US Constitution. Hiring decisions will not be based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

CIA has a variety of operational jobs; all candidates should possess the following attributes:

  • Patriotism

  • Integrity

  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written)

  • Quick thinking/action, results oriented

  • Curiosity

  • Flexibility and ability to deal with ambiguity

  • Stress tolerance

  • Independent thinking skills

  • Teamwork skills

  • Ability to multi-task

  • Creativity

  • Time management skills

  • Initiative

  • Self-awareness

Minimum Qualifications

  • Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently

  • Adaptability and commitment to the mission of the CIA

  • Ability to meet the minimum requirements for joining CIA, including U.S. citizenship and a background investigation

Desired Qualifications

  • Willingness and ability to establish strong personal relationships

  • Ability to "think on your feet" and develop creative yet practical solutions to anticipated and unanticipated problems

  • Interest in seeking answers, learning foreign languages, and studying other cultures

Education

Education

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required. Applicants within one year of earning a four-year degree will be considered. There is no preferred major or program of study. Degrees from foreign academic institutions are accepted, but you are responsible for obtaining and providing CIA with a credential evaluation from an accredited firm confirming that the foreign degree is the equivalent of a BA/BS and/or MA/MS degree conferred by a U.S. college or university.

  • At least a 3.0 GPA on a 4-point scale is preferred.

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.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

For more information, please visit: https://www.cia.gov/careers/.

Required Documents

For more information, please visit: https://www.cia.gov/careers/.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

This post is for viewing purposes only. To get started, please visit https://www.cia.gov/careers/, where you can read more about this position and other opportunities; you may express interest in up to four jobs.

Agency contact information

Central Intelligence Agency

Next steps

After you express interest for up to four positions on cia.gov/careers, a CIA recruiter may contact you for further discussion if your qualifications meet our needs.

Central Intelligence Agency

We are the Nation's first line of defense, and we have a mission for you. Join us as we leverage the power of information to keep our Nation safe by collecting foreign intelligence, producing objective all-source analysis, conducting covert action at the president's direction, and safeguarding secrets that protect the United States. Our workforce is our strength. CIA is a place that values people with different backgrounds and perspectives. The goal being to create a community that fosters a sense of belonging in a way that enriches officers and empowers them to advance CIA's mission.

Read more about life at CIA here: https://www.cia.gov/careers/working-at-cia/

Agency contact information

Central Intelligence Agency

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Central Intelligence Agency, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.cia.gov/careers