Senior Construction Security Officer

Clarification from the agency

Open to current and former Federal employees with competitive or excepted status; and all U.S. Citizens. Former members of the Peace Corps may be considered for ODNI employment only if five full years have elapsed since separation from the Peace Corps.

The National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) is dedicated to leading the U.S. Counterintelligence and Security communities, countering all threats posed by adversarial foreign intelligence affiliated threats and enhancing our national security posture at every level. We will serve as the head of U.S. counterintelligence and integrate the instruments of national power to counter foreign intelligence threats. NCSC will be the "center of gravity" to support the counterintelligence and security efforts of the entire U.S. interagency, and public sector initiatives to protect our nation from adversarial efforts to exploit the United States and victimize the American people.

The Security Directorate (SD) is embedded with the National Counterintelligence & Security Center (NCSC). The SD develops and implements policies, guidance, and standards for personnel security, IC-wide and SCI security-relevant issues, and security clearance reform. SD also engages with government and industry partners to protect national security equities against foreign intelligence and security threats, and advance the U.S. Government's risk management environment to safeguard against adversarial and insider threats. The Senior Construction Security Officer will:

Provide oversight and consultation to Department of State (DoS) overseas facilities projects or programs ensuring alignment with IC objectives, including those projects or programs with ill-defined requirements, parallel tasks, multiple dependencies, high risks, and multiple interfaces.

Lead, develop, interpret, and enforce ODNI facility policies and building operation guidelines and manage the preparation of reports and information required by ODNI, Office of Management Budget (OMB), Congress, and other government agencies.

Lead the CSE construction planning and review process for the construction of diplomatic facilities, to include requirements development, contract reviews, and the Congressional Certification process.

Lead the development of structured recommendations on facility design and construction security requirements, operational improvements, and maintenance requirements that comply with applicable OSPB standards, federal regulations, and statutes.

Lead the planning and coordination of project design activities and timelines with DoS planning and construction teams, technical security staff, and general contractor security staff; lead the development of periodic status reports on construction progress, completion forecasts, and issues that may require management intervention.

Lead and oversee comprehensive design reviews of new and/or renovated diplomatic facility construction projects for compliance with Department of State (DoS) and Intelligence Community (IC) agreements and construction requirements as well as with the Overseas Security Policy Board (OSPB) standards.

Lead the planning, management, and preparation of strategic and tactical security planning efforts and develop a broad range of security-related support documents in the areas of building construction including security standards, transportation issues, architectural issues, and unique security countermeasures and counterintelligence.

Provide expert input regarding site selection, lead the review of cost estimates to ensure that project and security costs are accurately covered, and perform expert evaluations of building codes as required if they conflict with proposed countermeasures; lead the identification, evaluation, and discussion of risks and potential project implications and advise management of trends and developments that affect project strategies and scope.

Lead the planning, implementation, and coordination of project management activities for multiple United States (US) diplomatic facilities construction projects abroad, ensuring that technical, physical, procedural, and transit security elements are addressed.

Lead the planning and coordination of facilities concept development and issue resolution meetings to review building plans and specifications and implement best-practice methodologies in construction projects that represent the interest of the IC.

Lead, initiate, cultivate, and maintain productive working relationships with security colleagues, IC security and facilities experts, senior Foreign Service staff, construction and facilities maintenance personnel, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence management to provide security status reports and structured recommendations and, when appropriate, present, justify, defend, negotiate, and/or settle matters involving significant or controversial issues.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen residing in the United States
• Appointment is subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance based on an SBI with eligibility for sensitive compartmented information (SCI)
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• A two-year trial period is required for all new permanent appointments to the ODNI.

Qualifications

This is an excepted service GS-15 position open to the public and all current federal employees at the GS-15 and one level below. Current federal employees at the GS-15 and one level below may apply to this position, and if selected will maintain pay set at their current grade and step. Current federal employees at grade levels GS-13 and below are not eligible for this position and their application will not be forwarded to the hiring manager. All current federal employees that apply for this position must submit their most recent SF-50, Notification of Personal Action (i.e., dated within the last 52 weeks from the closing date of this vacancy announcement) to verify their status of eligibility.

Superior ability to manage complex engineering/construction facilities projects, architecture studies and projects, and building operations as well as the ability to oversee the management of multiple facilities and oversee maintenance and operations.

Expert ability to read and interpret blueprints, schematics, construction specifications, and other facilities documents, and make informed decisions regarding the interpretations of this information. Expert knowledge of American with Disabilities Act standards, the Occupational Safety Health Administration, and Environmental Protection Agency regulations, safety measures, and Architectural/Engineering Codes. Expert knowledge of Computer Automated Facility Management Systems as well as Building Automated Systems for multi-site locations.

Superior ability to develop financial forecasts, conduct analysis, and lead facility projects concerning space management, design, construction, occupancy, and warranty.

Expert knowledge of IC and DoS overseas building operations and diplomatic security systems, standards, and requirements, including technical, physical, procedural, transit security elements and technical security countermeasures.

Expert knowledge of IC components, security programs, processes, practices, and methodologies, as well as how physical and technical security is incorporated into US facilities overseas.

Expert knowledge of construction security policies related to DoS overseas facilities, including a superior ability to manage, analyze, and synthesize classified material regarding security standards, policies, and procedures.

Superior communication, interpersonal, networking, and analytical skills; superior ability to effectively manage competing priorities while adhering to strict guidelines; and superior ability to work effectively, independently, and also in a collaborative environment.

Superior ability to establish regular contact with high-level internal and external resources and customers, supplying or seeking information on security programs and issues; superior ability to tactfully express ideas or opinions to senior leaders, customers, contractors, and other stakeholders.

How you will be evaluated

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

You must submit the supporting documents listed under the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. Only include documents listed under the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. If you have more than one copy of a document, only include your most recent copy. If you are among the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.

As part of the application process for this position, applicants will be required to respond to four free-response essay questions, which are detailed below. These responses will not be scored or rated as part of the initial evaluation. Instead, they provide applicants with an opportunity to elaborate on their qualifications, professional background, and commitment to public service.

FREE RESPONSE ESSAY QUESTIONS

All applicants must answer the following four short, free response essay questions. The responses cannot exceed 200 words per question. By submitting your responses to the following questions, you certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]).

1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
3. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.

A complete application package must include:

a. RESUME: Resumes must be no longer than two (2) pages in length. Resumes longer than two (2) pages will be removed from consideration. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the vacancy announcement, particularly the MDRs, and construct their resume to highlight their most significant experience and qualifications relevant to this job opportunity. You must ensure the resume contains all of the required information and you organize it so we can associate the following information for each experience/position: job title; name of employer; beginning and ending dates of employment (month/day/year format), and hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. Additionally, include a detailed description of job duties, accomplishments, related skills and responsibilities, to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable), and series and grade or equivalent (if a federal position).

b. ESSAY QUESTION RESPONSES: The responses cannot exceed 200 words per question (please see questions in the Requirements section above). By submitting your responses to these questions, you certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]).

c. COVER LETTER: Applicants must submit a professional narrative as a supplement to the resume to elaborate on their qualifications and previous work performed.

d. CURRENT SF-50: Federal Government employees must provide your official most recent SF-50 (i.e., dated within the last 52 weeks from the closing date of this vacancy announcement). An SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, is used to verify current federal status, position, title, grade, and organization of record. If your SF-50(s) does not provide the information needed to make a final determination for qualification, you will be found ineligible for the position.

e. POSITION NUMBER: Reference the announcement number in the subject line on each document submitted.

Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

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