Clarification from the agency

Current DHS employees serving under a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service. You must submit an SF-50 that shows you currently work for DHS.

The primary purpose of this position is to advise and support senior officials by coordinating Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats (CTET) special projects.

As a Senior Policy Analyst, GS-0301-14, your typical work assignments may include:

• Developing and evaluating policies in counterterrorism and the emerging threats of foreign influence and misinformation/disinformation, takes necessary actions to achieve organizational objectives and recommends program objectives and improvements for the future.

• Reviewing and analyzing relevant intelligence and policies on counterterrorism and emerging threats and synthesize that information in order to inform leadership and policy development.

• Building and maintaining collaborative relationships with a range of stakeholders. Represent the office at engagements with the National Security Council, Departments and Agencies, and other stakeholders to inform the development and implementation of CTET policies, plans, and strategies.

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. Random drug testing is required as this position is drug testing designated.
• You must meet time-in-grade requirements.
• You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience GS-14:

You must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal Service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service, that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. For this position, specialized experience is defined as: Analyzing Counter Terrorism and Emerging Threats (CTET), specifically countering foreign influence and misinformation/disinformation, or other national security issues to support the development and implementation of policies, plans, and strategies to address these issues and either orally or in writing present these options to senior officials.

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.

Time-in-grade: Current General Schedule (GS) federal employees, and those that have served in GS positions within the last 52 weeks, must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade, or a combination of the next lower grade level and an equivalent band in the federal service by the closing of this announcement.

Note: Current or former Federal employees MUST submit a copy of their SF-50 Form which shows competitive service appointment ("position occupied" block 34 on the SF-50 should show a "1"), tenure group (block 24 should show a 1 or 2), grade, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 Form which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, With-in Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s dated a year apart within the same grade/job). If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof. IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CONSIDERATION AS A STATUS CANDIDATE.

National Service Experience: 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.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

How you will be evaluated

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

Structured Resume Review. Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume). Applicants passing the structured resume review will move on to the next phase of the assessment process.

Applicants will be evaluated on their total background including experience (paid and unpaid), education, awards, and training and self-development as it relates to the position based upon the information provided in the resume/application and any other supporting documents. All work experience should specify the length of time spent in the position. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that indicates hours per week "varies." List exact hours per week on each job experience.

If you are 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/12924954

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.

Due weight will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3).

Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the Department of Homeland Security, you are not CTAP eligible. View information about CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

Interviews are required for this position. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

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/12924954
3. Your competed and signed Optional Form 306, Declaration of Federal Employment.
4. Are you current DHS employee? Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 showing your current grade and tenure; An SF-50 showing highest (permanent) grade ever held, if different from your current grade. Please note: Performance award, Details, and Realignments are not acceptable SF-50s. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide an SF-50 or SF-50s which show the length of time in the current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF50s include promotions, With-in Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s dated one year apart within the same grade/job) to support meeting time-in-grade requirements.
5. Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the DHS Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)? 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 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,
   • Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
7. You may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards.

Next steps