Intelligence Operations Specialist

Summary See QUALIFICATIONS and EDUCATION for important information about this position. Responsible for complex assignments involving defensive counterintelligence (CI) and information coordination with a broad set of Communities of Interest (COIs) to establish and maintain SSA's defensive CI operations, collaboration and intelligence and information sharing missions which support homeland security. See DUTIES for additional responsibilities of this position. Responsibilities At the full performance level, develops and executes a program implementation plan, establishes related CI policies and metrics and creates an outreach strategy to engage elements of the Intelligence Community (IC) focused on CI and law enforcement. Develops and maintains a response protocol for resolving CI information that presents a credible threat to SSA. Develop a CI awareness strategy for use by all agency stakeholders. Develop training programs and presentations to support SSA’s Defensive CI program. Generates written products and provides oral presentations to senior officials. In support of agency participation in continuity exercises, conducts CI analysis, provides CI products and develops intelligence-related exercise scenarios as required to drive exercise activity. Develops recurring CI reports that contain analysis of information, events and trends involving threats with the potential of damaging SSA’s critical assets or impairing its service to the public. Monitors public sources of information (such as the internet, broadcast media and print media) as well as classified and unclassified government systems for relevant threat information. The GS-09 and GS-11 levels are developmental / career-ladder positions leading to GS-12. At these levels, assignments are not as broad and/or inclusive as assignments at the full performance level. The supervisor or higher-graded analysts provide general instructions on new assignments, furnish advice and guidance, answer questions and assist in solving problems that may arise. Work is reviewed upon completion for adequacy and compliance with policies, guidelines and procedures. The extent of guidance and review gradually decreases as the employee develops. Consideration for career-ladder promotion is at the manager’s discretion and is based on the existence of higher-level work, your ability to perform that work, administrative requirements and current agency and/or organizational restrictions. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this Intelligence Operations Specialist position, you must demonstrate: (1) at least 52 weeks of Specialized Experience OR (2) Optional Education (GS-09 and GS-11 ONLY) OR (3) Combination of Specialized Experience and Optional Education (GS-09 and GS-11 ONLY) Minimum Qualifications for GS-09: (1) SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE must have been gained in a federal position at or above GS-07 OR (if your position is on another federal pay scale OR outside of federal service) by performing duties at a level of responsibility and difficulty equivalent to GS-07 or above. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is work that primarily consists of conducting defensive counterintelligence research and coordinating information with a range of communities of interest to support intelligence and information sharing missions for homeland security. Specialized Experience can be demonstrated by: (a) conducting basic research and analysis for defensive counterintelligence operations; (b) coordinating and sharing intelligence information with different groups and agencies and/or (c) preparing reports or summaries of findings and responding to requests for information **If you have experience performing this type of work, it must be clearly described in your resume, or it cannot be considered. (2) Optional Education: you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree OR successful completion of at least 2 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree. (3) Combination: you must have a portion of Specialized Experience (i.e., less than 52 weeks performing qualifying duties as described above) and a portion of qualifying Optional Education as described above that can be combined to meet the full requirement. Only graduate credits beyond the first year can be used in combination with specialized experience. (HR will determine if your combination of experience and education meets the full requirement.) SEE EDUCATION SECTION BELOW ***************************************** Minimum Qualifications for GS-11 (1) SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE must have been gained in a federal position at or above GS-09 OR (if your position is on another federal pay scale OR outside of federal service) by performing duties at a level of responsibility and difficulty equivalent to GS-09 or above. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is work that primarily consists of managing defensive counterintelligence projects and activities and coordinating information sharing with multiple communities of interest to support homeland security missions. Specialized Experience can be demonstrated by: (a) managing defensive counterintelligence projects or activities within a defined area; (b) evaluating and interpreting intelligence findings to support information sharing and collaboration; (c) preparing parts of complex reports, manuals, or instructions for counterintelligence operations and/or (d) participating in meetings or committees to coordinate intelligence operations with other agencies. **If you have experience performing this type of work, it must be clearly described in your resume, or it cannot be considered. (2) Optional Education: you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or successful completion of at least 3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. (3) Combination: you must have a portion of Specialized Experience (i.e., less than 52 weeks performing qualifying duties as described above) and a portion of qualifying Optional Education as described above that can be combined to meet the full requirement. Only graduate education beyond the second year can be used in combination with specialized experience. (HR will determine if your combination of experience and education meets the full requirement.) SEE EDUCATION SECTION BELOW ***************************************** Minimum Qualifications for GS-12 (1) SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE must have been gained in a federal position at or above GS-11 OR (if your position is on another federal pay scale OR outside of federal service) by performing duties at a level of responsibility and difficulty equivalent to GS-11 or above. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is work that primarily consists of leading complex defensive counterintelligence assignments and developing methods for information coordination and sharing with a broad set of communities of interest to support homeland security. Specialized Experience can be demonstrated by: (a) leading complex or strategic defensive counterintelligence assignments; (b) developing methods and plans for counterintelligence and information sharing; (c) preparing and reviewing detailed intelligence reports, collection plans and guidance documents and/or (d) advising others and coordinating intelligence operations with multiple agencies. **If you have experience performing this type of work, it must be clearly described in your resume, or it cannot be considered. *Education cannot be used in lieu of or in addition to Specialized Experience to meet Minimum Qualifications at this grade level. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (Specialized Experience and/or Optional Education) must be met by the closing date of this announcement. To be eligible for promotion, applicants with federal status must demonstrate at least 52 weeks at GS-07 (or other federal equivalent) for promotion to GS-09 at least 52 weeks at GS-09 (or other federal equivalent) for promotion to GS-11 at least 52 weeks at GS-11 (or other federal equivalent) for promotion to GS-12 Time in grade requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Education Applicants without the full amount of Specialized Experience can meet Minimum Requirements for GS-09 and GS-11 with Optional Education (see QUALIFICATIONS above). You must submit transcripts that fully support your claim or your education cannot be considered. Your transcript(s) must show your name, the name of the school, the program in which you were enrolled and the degree you earned. If you have attended more than one college or university, submit transcripts for all schools attended. TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE LEGIBLE DO NOT SUBMIT A DIPLOMA IN LIEU OF A FULL TRANSCRIPT THAT SHOWS THE REQUIRED INFORMATION. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Unofficial transcripts or screenshots of electronic/web transcripts with the required information will be accepted at the time of application. CHECK YOUR UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT TO CONFIRM IT SHOWS THE REQUIRED INFORMATION. You must submit your transcripts according to the application submission details of this announcement. Documents will not be accepted via email or regular mail. Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the education requirement, but you must also provide documentation that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in a conventional/accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. If selected, you may be required to provide your official college transcripts prior to the effective date of your appointment. Additional Information WHO MAY APPLY: (1) ICTAP/CTAP :Career Transition Guide) (2) Current Competitive Service / permanent OR conditional tenure (3) Former Competitive Service -- resigned or retired with (a) permanent tenure (separation at any time) (b) conditional tenure (separation within previous 3 years) OR (c) conditional tenure AND vet preference (separation at any time) (4) Current Excepted Service: (a) agency with competitive service compatibility (Foreign Service, US Postal Service, etc) (b) agency with Interchange Agreement (c) Schedule A -- block 5 of APPOINTMENT action shows Reg 213.3102(u) -- must work in competitive service agency, agency with competitive service compatibility or agency with Interchange Agreement (d) not described above but can demonstrate prior Competitive Service OR vet status (5) Former Excepted Service - must have prior Competitive Service (permanent or conditional tenure) OR vet status (6) Military Spouse -- see USAJOBS Help Center | Military Spouses (7) VEOA -- see USAJOBS Help Center - Veterans -- if you have non-qualifying Excepted Service and are an eligible veteran, you may use VEOA as your eligibility, but still must provide documents demonstrating your Excepted Service status (e.g., current SF-50 / performance appraisal or separation SF-50). Eligibility as VEOA or Military Spouse cannot be used to circumvent other requirements. VEOA and Military Spouse applicants with federal status must provide the documents required for all other current and former federal employees.. If you are a federal contractor, do not identify yourself as a federal employee. OTHER NOTES: See QUALIFICATIONS and EDUCATION for information on qualifying for this position. See HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED and REQUIRED DOCUMENTS for information on applying for this position. This is a non-bargaining unit position to be filled under the provisions of the Management Officials Promotion Plan. The best-qualified list for this vacancy may be used to fill the same or similar positions in this office. Additional selections may be made within 6 months of the date the best qualified list is issued. This position is on a full-time, flex-time schedule and may be eligible for an Alternate Work Schedule (AWS); telework may be approved after all conditions for telework have been met. This position is not authorized to be filled virtually or through outstationing. The Official Duty Station (ODS) for this position is Woodlawn, Maryland. To participate in telework (when authorized), you must reside within a 2-hour commute to this ODS. Relocation expenses will not be paid; salary will be set in accordance with locality pay provisions. Travel to other federal/state agencies or private sector organizations is required. *You must have (or be able to obtain) and maintain a Top-Secret Security Clearance (TS-SCI) * Successful performance of work in this position and adherence to conditions of this position will be assessed during the 1-year probationary period served that may be served by new appointees (e.g., new to SSA and/or new to this series). This is a special-sensitive / high-risk position. You may be required to complete SF-86 (Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions) to have the appropriate investigation conducted. Position is assigned to: SSA Headquarters / Woodlawn, Maryland Security and Resiliency Physical Security