Intelligence Operations Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Intelligence and Analysis, Homeland Identity Intelligence Center (HI2C).

The primary purpose of this position is to perform multifaceted DOMEX Technical Exploitation customer support and community access to forensically found data, and use of data, from customers and other sources in order to produce intelligence.

Non-BU : This is a non-bargaining unit position.

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Duties

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

• Research, analyze, and exploit DOMEX data: Researches and analyzes DOMEX data in DHS holdings.
• Research, analyze, and exploit DOMEX data: Produces actionable intelligence products.
• Research, analyze, and exploit DOMEX data: Responds to requirements from DHS and external partners.
• Process and manage digital/physical data: Processes, cross-checks, and validates physical media and digital data.
• Process and manage digital/physical data: Ingests data for exploitation missions.
• Process and manage digital/physical data: Maintains data integrity and compliance with oversight guidelines.
• Plan and manage workflow and production: Prioritizes and manages analytic workflow and requirements.
• Plan and manage workflow and production: Coordinates with DOMEX teams for processing and ingestion.
• Plan and manage workflow and production: Supports production metrics and consolidated reporting for leadership.
• Liaise and collaborate with partners: Liaises with IC and law enforcement partners.
• Liaise and collaborate with partners: Ensures effective information sharing and operational support.
• Liaise and collaborate with partners: Maintains compliance with legal, policy, and oversight guidance.
• Communicate analytic results: Prepares and delivers briefings and written reports.
• Communicate analytic results: Presents findings to internal teams, external partners, and leadership.
• Communicate analytic results: Provides actionable recommendations and supports decision-making.
• Support special projects and team development: Participates in special projects and process improvements.
• Support special projects and team development: Contributes to studies and initiatives to improve analytic processes.

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.

Requirements

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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 targeting methodologies in a comprehensive range of intelligence research and collection methods, dissemination applications and methodologies
  that include the evaluation of many diverse sources of information utilizing multiple intelligence information systems in order to drive intelligence output and dissemination.
• Knowledge of the operations of DHS I&A and related legal issues.
• Knowledge of US intelligence community policies, entities, missions, resources, operations,
  capabilities, databases, and requirements to target analysis, and other intelligence collection methodologies to enable targeting activities.
• Knowledge of intelligence operations and analytical principles as well as threats to Homeland Security to gather, analyze and evaluate intelligence information.

-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:

• Skilled in applying targeting methodologies in a comprehensive range of intelligence research and collection methods, dissemination applications and methodologies that include the evaluation of many diverse sources of information utilizing multiple intelligence information systems to drive intelligence output and dissemination.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the operations of DHS I&A and related legal issues. Knowledge of US intelligence community policies, entities, missions, resources, operations, capabilities, databases, and requirements to target analysis, and other intelligence collection methodologies to enable targeting activities.
• 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.

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 skilled in applying targeting methodologies in a comprehensive range of intelligence research and collection methods, dissemination applications
  and methodologies that includes the evaluation of many diverse sources of information utilizing multiple intelligence information systems to drive intelligence
  output and dissemination.
• Demonstrate expert knowledge of the operations of DHS I&A and related legal issues. Knowledge of US intelligence community policies, entities, missions,
  resources, operations, capabilities, databases, and requirements to target analysis, and other intelligence collection methodologies to enable targeting 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).

Education

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; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website:

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

Additional information

Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses will not be paid.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.

This position may be filled at the GS-11, GS-12 or GS-13 level. If selection is made at the lower level, promotion to the higher level may occur without further competition.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration of Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation for Top Secret/SCI with a Polygraph as a condition of placement in this Special Sensitive level position. This review may include financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

This is a permanent appointment in the Excepted Service and will be filled on a full-time permanent basis. Employees hired under an Excepted Service appointment may be required to serve a two (2) year trial period.

This position does not confer non-competitive conversion to the competitive service. 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.

Veterans Preference: Veterans preference does not apply under Title 50 appointment authority.

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.

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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.

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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.