Division Chief

Summary

The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) leads the nation's effort to protect the United States from terrorism by integrating, analyzing and sharing information to drive whole-of-government action and achieve our national CT objectives.

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Duties

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Manage a professional staff in the planning and production of a broad range of finished intelligence products in support of United States (US) foreign policy and national security objectives and serve as an expert* within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).

Manage a professional staff in the development and implementation of research strategies that result in the acquisition of key, highly complex, all-source information in support of US interests and policy objectives

Provide substantive guidance and leadership to staff in the identification and analysis of a broad array of source materials to ensure that the information is synthesized into sophisticated, complex intelligence products on sometimes controversial or difficult issues

Manage staff in the development and implementation of strategies to identify gaps in highly complex analytical information and assess source information for accuracy, validity, relevance, and timeliness

Manage, initiate, cultivate, and maintain cooperative and productive relationships with individuals in the US Government (USG), Intelligence Community (IC), and ODNI that inform and contribute to high-quality and complex analyses of interest to the USG and serve as a subject matter expert on regional and/or functional areas or issues for the ODNI

Plan, develop, utilize, and refine methodological tools and approaches to gain a comprehensive understanding of complex and significant analytic issues and incorporate insights and findings into well-crafted, sophisticated targeting analysis products

Plan and prepare written and oral briefings and present them to the most senior internal and external customers on key regional or functional areas or issues; explain the most complex concepts to non-expert customers and tailor products to correspond to customer needs.

Guide the development of methodological tools and approaches to better understand complex analytic issues and oversee the incorporation of insights and findings into well-crafted, sophisticated targeting intelligence products; be able to explain effectively these highly complex approaches and the results to non-expert customers.

Lead a team of professional staff and assess performance, collaborate and oversee goal setting, and provide feedback on personal development.

Ensure personnel are appropriately challenged, rewarded, and given the support, tools, training, and opportunities they need to develop and succeed.

Recruit, develop, and retain a diverse and highly qualified workforce; cultivate an inclusive environment that fosters the development of all officers to their full potential.

Requirements

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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

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.

Required Qualifications

Demonstrated ability to effectively plan and manage the development of high-quality, complex analyses, studies, projects, assignments, and briefings on key US foreign policy and national security objectives focused on a specific regional area and/or functional issue for IC consumers and policymakers at the highest levels of government.

Extensive knowledge of foreign military, economic, intelligence, technical, geographic, political, cultural, and/or social aspects of a specific country, region, or transnational issue

Demonstrated ability to apply detailed knowledge of ODNI, IC organizations, and relevant customer organizations or operations, in order to effectively translate their requirements and provide appropriate output or responses to meet customer needs

Extensive knowledge of IC policy and procedures and demonstrated knowledge of analytic tradecraft

Demonstrated ability to manage and promote the development and use of a broad range of methodological tools and approaches to research, analyze, and present information

Demonstrated ability to remain open-minded, flexible, and change opinions on the basis of new information and requirements; superior ability to support group decisions and solicit opinions from coworkers

Demonstrated ability to oversee and manage information sharing programs and promote information sharing practices across the ODNI and IC

Demonstrated analytic and critical thinking skills, including the ability to think strategically

Demonstrated interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to work effectively both independently and in a team or collaborative environment and mentor junior colleagues; creative problem-solving skills and superior ability to provide leadership in carrying out mission responsibilities

Demonstrated ability to direct taskings, assess and manage performance, collaborate on goal setting, and support personal and professional development of all levels of personnel

Demonstrated ability to manage performance and support professional development, effectively and efficiently addressing employee performance shortcomings and taking measurable steps to increase proficiency.

Demonstrated analytic and critical thinking skills, including superior ability to problem-solve and think strategically; superior ability to effectively express complex, multi-discipline ideas and insights verbally and in writing to a variety of audiences up to and including senior leadership.

Demonstrated ability to use link analysis and call-chain tools, and demonstrated ability to lead and promote the development and use of a broad range of methodological tools and approaches to research, analyze, and present data (modeling, SATs, social network analysis, etc.).

Minimum Qualifications

Generally, ten years of related work experience

Bachelor's degree in subject matter area, or closely related discipline

Depending upon assignment, may require Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR) Certification

Education

Do NOT submit transcripts.

Additional information

JOB INTERVIEW TRAVEL

Candidates from outside the Washington Metropolitan Area (WMA) may be selected for a telephone, teleconference, or in-person interview.

SALARY DETERMINATION

The ODNI uses a rank-in-person system in which rank is attached to GS employees on the basis of individual qualifications, experience, and performance. Individuals whose current GS grade is equivalent to the grade of the advertised position will retain their current grade and step. Individuals who transfer to the ODNI from a non-GS pay scale will have base pay converted to the appropriate GS grade and step as determined by the Chief of Human Resource Management.

In some cases when a current federal civilian employee applies for an ODNI position that is a lower grade than his or her personal grade, the candidate's personal grade will be downgraded to the grade of the advertised ODNI position and pay will be set at the step that is closest to, and not less than, the employee's current annual base rate of pay, not to exceed the maximum step rate of the GS grade to which assigned.

RELOCATION EXPENSES

For new ODNI employees, reimbursement for relocation is discretionary based on availability of funds.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

The ODNI provides reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Reasonable Accommodations Office Representative by email at View email address on click.appcast.io, by telephone at View phone number on click.appcast.io or by FAX at View phone number on click.appcast.io. Your request for reasonable accommodations will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION TO THE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION EMAIL ADDRESS. THIS EMAIL IS FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS ONLY.

The ODNI is an equal opportunity employer and abides by applicable employment laws and regulations.

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.