Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens. Subject position(s) will be filled through delegated examining procedures. For definitions of common terms found in this announcement: http://dhsconnect.dhs.gov/org/comp/mgmt/dhshr/hr/Documents/JOA_Common_Definitions.pdf

You will serve as an expert Counterintelligence (CI) advisor regarding cyber threats, modes, and countermeasures relative to CI support to cyber security. This involves providing guidance, advice, and recommendations on matters pertaining to the CGCIS cyber CI program.  You will also independently conduct and provide analyses of cyber intelligence threats, which involves data gathering, the analysis of findings, and the documenting and reporting of results. 

Typical work assignments include:

• Serving as a subject matter expert on cyber CI and cyber security matters, conducting cyber CI activities in support of CGCIS investigations and operations.
• Maintaining responsibility for developing and coordinating new CGCIS cyber CI policies to guide responses to unprecedented problems.
• Executing CI awareness and training programs in support of data network security for the CG and conducting additional CI activities as defined by policy.
• Providing CI support to computer incident response by conducting digital evidence collection and forensic examinations, and by analyzing malicious code.
• Developing partnerships with cyber security experts and organizations in order to help create secure information systems.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• The applicant is subject to pre-appointment and random drug testing.
• This position requires a Top Secret/SCI clearance.
• Must be able to complete a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI).
• A non-disclosure agreement must be signed.
• Must be willing to undergo CI Scope Polygraph

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. This includes Time-In-Grade requirements for current status employees applying through merit promotion procedures. Status applicants applying for a promotion must have 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for the GS-13, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level performing such duties as: 

• Serving as an expert throughout the Intelligence Community (IC) on cyber CI matters; 
• Planning, initiating, controlling, and evaluating complex and sensitive projects and programs related to cyber counterintelligence.    

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

Must be a credentialed CI agent or successfully completed a CI credentialing course.

Must have held or currently hold an active Defense Cyber Investigations Training Academy (DCITA) Computer Crime Investigator (CCI) certification or other commercially available equivalent certifications in line with DHS Policy & National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (NIST PUB 800-181), such as: Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) Certified Forensic Examiner, GIAC Certified Network Forensic Analyst, or GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst.

Within 6 months of assignment, must possess an Information Assurance Technical (IAT) Certification and an Information Assurance Managerial Level II Certification, in accordance with DoD Manual 8570.0.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.

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 résumé and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using the on-line assessment to place you in one of three categories.

The necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities to perform this job are: 

1. Knowledge of and skill in interpreting and applying CI policies and procedures, and in performing and managing CI functions (i.e., investigations, operations, collections, and CI functional services).
2. Ability to execute a multi-faceted CI program to support cyber CI and security within an organization.
3. Skill in interpreting, evaluating, and integrating intelligence information from all sources and ability to think creatively and to conduct original research.
4. Skill in oral and preparing written documents for briefings, and to participate in meetings and conferences.

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 SPFs and appropriate QRFs 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 SPFs and appropriate QRFs 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. Your resume and responses to the self-assessment questions are an integral part of the process for determining your qualifications for the position. Therefore, you must support your responses to the self-assessment questions by providing examples of past and present experience in your resume.

Veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they are 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. For information on veterans' preference, click here.