Graphics Designer

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. Learn more about this agency Duties Help NCTC's Counterterrorism Executive is seeking a talented graphic designer with strong problem-solving skills to work on a team supporting analytic and multimedia production. The officer will primarily produce visual products that convey intelligence analysis for US policymakers, law enforcement officials, warfighters, and executives charged with national security responsibilities, including the President of the United States. This officer will: Plan and coordinate highly complex graphic design projects; define project goals, scope, and requirements (i.e., audience, deadline, final product format, delivery methods) for all phases of planning and production; lead team projects and interpret customer requirements and project complexity to determine required team and technical resources needed for timely, accurate product delivery. Plan and initiate content and lead production coordination activities with the project team, including the development of new concepts and unique specialty content, such as large-scale physical displays, audiovisual editing, graphics, slides, digital signs, thumbnails, charts, publications (reports, etc.), newsletter templates, website assets, and illustrations. Plan and develop original content by researching and analyzing multimedia methodology and subject matter to develop original concepts, creating project storyboards and work plans, researching, and acquiring necessary releases, licenses, and approvals, and providing direction and guidance to project team members. Design and produce complex, highly sophisticated graphic design products, including detailed illustrations, interactive charts, photographs, interactive graphics, and graphics related to multimedia products. Plan and conduct quality control activities for your own and other designers' projects, including testing integrated content on various platforms and networks to ensure viewing, interactivity, and audio/video quality and reviewing content with customers and other stakeholders (e.g., editors, scientists, analysts, graphic designers) to ensure accuracy, completeness, and correct classification. Deliver final product and provide instructions to customers on aspects of the project, including navigation and specialized displays. Define, clarify, and communicate customers' requirements and strategies and coordinate with customers to plan projects; work closely with customers and planners, assess work order parameters on complex projects, collect information, negotiate production schedules, arrange services, and resolve difficult procedural and production problems that may arise. Work as part of an interdisciplinary team managing multiple projects. Develop and maintain skills commensurate with industry-wide and IC-wide best practices. Requirements Help 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]). 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. 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. 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. 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. Experience with designing and producing analytic visuals for classified intelligence products about counterterrorism and counternarcotics. In-depth knowledge and understanding of IC organizations, particularly ODNI, and their publication processes. Experience with ensuring that public-facing materials comply with Section 508 standards for accessibility. Experience partnering with cartographers to produce intelligence products with both visual design and cartographic components. Experience with crafting workforce-facing visual products for IC events, including digital signage and posters. Thorough knowledge of graphic design software and web, dynamic map or graphic, and/or multimedia programming/development. Thorough knowledge of graphic design methodology and techniques. Ability to apply the broad range of specialty software related to graphic design, including Adobe product suites and other complementary software. Ability to utilize innovative and creative problem-solving skills and analytical thinking to develop, organize, clarify, and enhance alternative approaches to meet the most sophisticated graphic design requirements. Ability to create high-end designs and implement projects that meet customers' requirements. Ability to work effectively and efficiently within a creative and often fast-paced project team environment and to efficiently manage time, technical, and administrative resources. Strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to interact effectively with customers, senior management, technical staff, and project team members; ability to coach and mentor others; thorough knowledge and understanding of organization mission and structure. Experience leading conceptualization sessions and advising authors on how to most effectively communicate their analytical story in a visual. Thorough knowledge of organizational guidelines and processes for publications and multimedia production; thorough knowledge of formats, standards, and production resources for print and electronic media. 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. Help 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.