As a Photographer GS 1060 12, your typical work assignments may include:

• Providing photographic services as required to accurately document the activities of the Department of Homeland Security, its people, and its mission.
• Using highly specialized photographic equipment to perform a variety of specialized still photography requirements
• Keeping up to date with the latest trends and development in the field of photography and DSLR videography through the professional society
• Performing precise photographic operations with electronically timed high speed cameras and exposures
• Working with principles and subjects to position scenes to maximize photographic impact.
• Managing and cares for photographic equipment, supplies, and materials
• Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources

Conditions of employment

• U. S. Citizenship Required
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service
• You must be able to obtain a Top Secret Security Clearance
• You must submit to a pre-employment drug test
• You may be required to serve a one year probationary period
• You may be required to work other than normal duty hours
• Work may require travel on military or commercial aircraft
• You may be required to be on call 24 hours a day

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for a Top Secret clearance as a condition of placement in this Critical Sensitive position. This review includes 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.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12654 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.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience:
You qualify for the GS-12 grade level (starting salary $79,720) if you possess one year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level performing duties such as demonstrating a thorough understanding of the principles, practices and techniques of photography, image processing and image management.

Note: Experience in operating standard and specialized camera and film processing equipment related to the position to be filled. Knowledge of the subject-matter being photographed may also be required for some positions. For positions that require a high degree of artistic or creative ability, samples of work or other suitable evidence of technical competence may be required. Unpaid experience that is pertinent should be credited based upon its relevance to the work of the particular position to be filled.

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.

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.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using a job questionnaire based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills and abilities needed to perform this job:

• Customer Service
• Photographic Equipment

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:

1. Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF) and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) as determined by the job analysis.
2. Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors as determined by the job analysis.
3. Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors as determined by the job analysis.

If you are 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 here https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10074117

Delegated Examining Procedures certifies all applicants utilizing the Category Rating method with associated cut-off scores.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you will be removed from consideration or your score will be lowered.

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. (This position is not considered scientific/professional.) Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on veterans' preference.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under ICTAP, you must be placed in the well-qualified category for this position, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.