As a Specialized Skills Officer (SSO) for the CIA, you will join a cadre of results oriented professionals who accept significant responsibilities and embrace accountability for results.
Summary
As a Specialized Skills Officer (SSO) for the CIA, you will join a cadre of results oriented professionals who accept significant responsibilities and embrace accountability for results.
SSOs conduct and/or directly support CIA operations by leveraging technical skills in either specialized military fields and/or experience in media, communications, marketing, advertising, issue advocacy, crisis management, or technology development. These skills and experiences often include aviation, maritime, psychological operations, civil affairs and information operations. SSOs are a distinct occupation in the Directorate of Operations (DO) and play a unique role in support of intelligence operations for US policymakers, support to Covert Action programs at the direction of President of the United States, and facilitate CIA's Covert Action infrastructure.
All Directorate of Operations (DO) officers are hired at an entry level and train as they are expected to work - as one team. Operations Officers begin their careers spending one to two years learning the foundations of clandestine operational tradecraft via classroom training, practical exercises, and on-the-job experience gained through a series of interim assignments. Following successful completion of the foundational training, each DO officer will transition into advanced training activity to prepare them to serve effectively in their respective career occupational specialty.
This position requires a 5-year Contract Term Agreement.
US citizenship required (dual national US citizens are eligible).
All positions require relocation to the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
All applicants must successfully complete a thorough medical and psychological exam, a polygraph interview, and a comprehensive background investigation.
All applicants must generally not have used illegal drugs within the last twelve months. The issue of illegal drug use prior to twelve months ago is carefully evaluated during the medical and security processing.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution (applicants within one year of earning a four year degree will be considered); there is no preferred major or program of study (degrees from foreign academic institutions are accepted, but you are responsible for obtaining and providing CIA with a credential evaluation from an accredited firm confirming that the foreign degree is the equivalent of a BA/BS and/or MA/MS degree conferred by a US college or university).
GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4-point scale is preferred.
Personal integrity.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written)-Action and results oriented.
Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently.
Flexibility, adaptability, and commitment to the mission of the CIA and the Directorate of Operations.
Desired Qualifications:
Competitive Specialized Skills Officer applicants have knowledge and/or experience in any one of the following categories:
Social media, marketing, advertising, public relations, issue advocacy, crisis communication, or technology development.
Business, finance, or legal fields- Military psychological operations and/or civil affairs.
Merchant Marine/Commercial Maritime industries and/or military nautical experience.
Commercial and/or military diving and underwater experience- Military aviation career fields such as:
Pilot (fixed wing, rotary wing, manned/unmanned).
Navigator.
Flight engineer.
Crew chief/mechanic.
Maintenance.
Avionics technician.
Mission sensor operator.
Forward air controller.
Para-rescue.
Special tactics squadron.
Aviation foreign internal defense.
Counterintelligence.
Education
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution (applicants within one year of earning a four year degree will be considered); there is no preferred major or program of study (degrees from foreign academic institutions are accepted, but you are responsible for obtaining and providing CIA with a credential evaluation from an accredited firm confirming that the foreign degree is the equivalent of a BA/BS and/or MA/MS degree conferred by a US college or university).
GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4-point scale is preferred.
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.
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.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications of the specific position to which you are applying.
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.
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.
The following items must be attached to your on-line application (PDF format preferred):
Unofficial transcripts for all degrees
Cover letter: please describe your knowledge, skills, abilities, and aspirations not evident from your resume, that make you a good candidate for the Directorate of Operations (1 page)
Qualifications Supplement - in a separate PDF attachment address the following questions:
Why does a career in public service appeal to you (1 paragraph)
Why do you wish to work for the Directorate of Operations (1 paragraph)
Other than the Directorate of Operations, what other career options are of interest to you (1 paragraph)
Describe one thing from your academic, military, or professional background that has prepared you for success in the Directorate of Operations (1 paragraph)
Complete this thought: "I do my best work when..." (1 paragraph)
Describe a time when you did not succeed, professionally or academically, and what you learned from that experience (2 paragraphs)
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Central Intelligence Agency
Mail Not Accepted
Washington, DC 20505
US
Next steps
Our goal is to respond to each applicant within a 45 day period. However, the CIA receives thousands of applications each month and, unfortunately, we are not able to contact everyone within that timeframe. If you have not heard from us within 45 days, we will not be offering you a position at this time.
If there is interest in your application, CIA recruiters will initiate contact with you by phone or email. Emails from CIA recruiters will have a .gov extension. Please check your email spam filter settings or spam folder to ensure receipt of these emails.
Be prepared to undergo a thorough background investigation examining your life's history, your character, trustworthiness, reliability and soundness of judgment. We also examine your freedom from conflicting allegiances, potential to be coerced, and willingness and ability to abide by regulations governing the use, handling and the protection of sensitive information. The Agency uses the polygraph to check the veracity of this information. The hiring process also includes a thorough mental and physical medical examination in relation to performing essential job functions.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
The following items must be attached to your on-line application (PDF format preferred):
Unofficial transcripts for all degrees
Cover letter: please describe your knowledge, skills, abilities, and aspirations not evident from your resume, that make you a good candidate for the Directorate of Operations (1 page)
Qualifications Supplement - in a separate PDF attachment address the following questions:
Why does a career in public service appeal to you (1 paragraph)
Why do you wish to work for the Directorate of Operations (1 paragraph)
Other than the Directorate of Operations, what other career options are of interest to you (1 paragraph)
Describe one thing from your academic, military, or professional background that has prepared you for success in the Directorate of Operations (1 paragraph)
Complete this thought: "I do my best work when..." (1 paragraph)
Describe a time when you did not succeed, professionally or academically, and what you learned from that experience (2 paragraphs)
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Central Intelligence Agency
Mail Not Accepted
Washington, DC 20505
US
Next steps
Our goal is to respond to each applicant within a 45 day period. However, the CIA receives thousands of applications each month and, unfortunately, we are not able to contact everyone within that timeframe. If you have not heard from us within 45 days, we will not be offering you a position at this time.
If there is interest in your application, CIA recruiters will initiate contact with you by phone or email. Emails from CIA recruiters will have a .gov extension. Please check your email spam filter settings or spam folder to ensure receipt of these emails.
Be prepared to undergo a thorough background investigation examining your life's history, your character, trustworthiness, reliability and soundness of judgment. We also examine your freedom from conflicting allegiances, potential to be coerced, and willingness and ability to abide by regulations governing the use, handling and the protection of sensitive information. The Agency uses the polygraph to check the veracity of this information. The hiring process also includes a thorough mental and physical medical examination in relation to performing essential job functions.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
