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Intelligence Research Specialist

Department of Homeland Security
Customs and Border Protection
Office of Intelligence
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Intelligence, National Border Security Intelligence Center Directorate (NBSIC) located in multiple locations.

Limiting Number of Applicants: It is recommended that you apply as soon as possible in order to receive consideration as this announcement will close on 05/26/2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET or on the day we receive 150 applicants (whichever comes first.)

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
05/22/2023 to 05/24/2023
This job will close when we have received 150 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$69,107 to - $107,680 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Location
Many vacancies in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
OI-SMP-11967060-RLL
Control number
726484800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Current Federal employees with competitive status; Current and former Federal employees who meet the established criteria in an Office of Personnel Management Interchange Agreement; Current and former Federal employees with reinstatement eligibility; Individuals who are eligible under Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA); Individuals who are eligible under a noncompetitive special hiring authority.

Duties

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This position starts at a salary of $69,107.00 (GS-11, Step 1) to $107,680.00 (GS-12, Step 10) with promotion potential to $128,043 (GS-13, Step 10).

Salary: Salary listed reflects the rest of U.S. scale and, if applicable, will be adjusted to meet the locality pay or cost of living expenses of the duty location upon selection.

In this Intelligence Research Specialist position you will be providing the CBP Intelligence Enterprise and operational stakeholders with intelligence products that inform and enhance their ability to make strategic, operational of tactical decisions in support of CBP operations directed at threats to border security. Major duties for this position include but are not limited to:

  • Identifying, reviewing, and evaluating large volumes of sensitive and complex information in support of strategic, operational, or tactical operations.
  • Communicating effectively orally and in writing to the highest levels of Intelligence Enterprise (IE).
  • Engaging in complex research and analyses to develop and publish finished tactical, operational and strategic level intelligence products and selecting the proper methods of dissemination, and coordinates dissemination of intelligence products.
  • Contributing to short and long term planning through in-depth research and analysis regarding threats to border security.
  • Using established intelligence techniques to analyze data from a variety of sources to develop targets, trends, patterns, profiles, estimates, and studies in support of CBP operational and mission success.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
  • Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
  • You may be required to pass a background investigation
  • CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
  • As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.

Location Negotiable After Selection- Applicants may identify two location preferences in their application:
  • Tucson, AZ
  • San Diego, CA
  • Anchorage, AK
  • Portland, OR
  • Laredo, TX
  • El Paso, TX
  • Atlanta, GA
  • Baltimore, MD
  • Selfridge ANGB, MI (Detroit)
  • Chicago, IL
  • Doral, FL
  • Washington, DC
  • Los Angeles, CA

Qualifications

Experience GS-11: You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

  • Collecting, analyzing, and disseminating baseline intelligence information using a variety of intelligence-gathering methods to include: link analyses, visual investigative analyses, crime mapping, and telephone toll record analyses to support operations.
  • Extracting, compiling, and analyzing raw data and reporting to draft intelligence reports containing original analyses, assessments and recommendations under direct supervision and guidance.
  • Brainstorming innovative methods using structured analytic techniques to determine validity to assess veracity of intelligence information.
  • Preparing baseline intelligence products and collection support products under direct supervision.
  • Presenting and briefing to internal peers a variety of intelligence topics and provides feedback to internal partners to close intelligence gaps in support of intelligence collection operations and analysis.
Experience GS-12: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:
  • Serving as a technical consultant on intelligence issues to ensure awareness of potential threats and common operating picture;
  • Collecting and evaluating intelligence information from multiple sources conducting research and analysis of complex issues to inform stakeholders at all levels;
  • Analyzing and interpreting specialized datasets or other intelligence regarding a target's technological capabilities and produces intelligence assessments that explain their impact on agency operations;
  • Maintaining collaborative working relationships for operational coordination, information sharing, and other matters of mutual or multi-jurisdictional interests with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Encompassing intelligence disciplines to support network development or finished intelligence products in support of operational initiatives or proposals to management with little supervision.
NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.

Education Substitution: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.M. degree may substitute for experience required at this level. This education must demonstrate the skills necessary to do the work. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise three years of graduate study. If that information is not available, use 54 semester or 81 quarter hours.

Combining Experience and Education: To combine your education and experience, convert each to a percentage and then add the percentages. If your education is currently described in quarter hours, multiply by the fraction 2/3 to convert into semester hours then divide the semester hours by 18. To determine your percentage of qualifying experience, divide your total months of experience by the required number of months of experience. Add your percentages together. The total must equal at least 100% in order to qualify. More information on this qualification standard is located here.

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.

You must:
  • Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and
  • Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 05/26/2023.

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.

Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information, review the following links: Background investigation and the e-QIP process.

Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:
  • Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
  • A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
  • Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
  • Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government
Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.

Additional information

Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.

Security Clearance: You will be required to obtain a TS/SCI level clearance for this position.

Shift Work/Overtime: You will be required to perform work on a shift and rotational basis. You must be available to work overtime on a scheduled or unscheduled basis.

Travel: Overnight travel may be required on a regular and recurring basis.

Special Appointing Authority: See "THIS JOB IS OPEN TO" section for what Special Appointing Authorities may apply. Veterans, military spouses, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and people with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility and to understand what documentation would be required with your application, please click on the appropriate link below. You must provide documentation supporting your eligibility prior to the closing date of this announcement. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, please contact the CBP Hiring Center via the contact information listed at the end of this job opportunity announcement.


Positions with known promotion potential do not guarantee promotion, nor is the promise of promotion implied.

Telework may be available on a regular recurring or situational basis.

Training: This position has a training requirement. Selectee(s) are required to attend and successfully complete paid mandatory training. Courses currently include (but are not limited to) the Intelligence Foundations Course, Systems Exploitation Training, and the CBP Intelligence Support to Operations Course. The location will be determined at the time of training. You may be required to successfully complete the training requirement as a condition of employment. Failure to successfully complete the required course(s) of training in accordance with CBP standards and policies will result in placement into either a former or different position, demotion, or separation as determined by management and appropriate procedures.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants will only be considered for the Eligibilities for which they claim in the job questionnaire AND must provide the supporting documentation. Applicants will not be considered for Eligibilities for which they did not claim, regardless of the documentation submitted with the application. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11967060

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 an assessment questionnaire.

The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are:

  • Knowledge of research tools, techniques and procedures used to support analysis and production of intelligence products, and establish trends, patterns, and estimates that enhance situational awareness of decision makers and operators.
  • Skill in producing finished intelligence products that cover specific threat topics and portfolios.
  • Knowledge of intelligence community directives covering analytical tradecraft and properly sourcing information
  • Ability to manage competing priorities; work on multiple projects within a team environment and independently to meet project deadlines.
  • Ability to develop working relationships across the intelligence community and U.S. Government to build a network in support of analytical production.
If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be contacted for an interview. As a part of the interview process, additional selection criteria may be administered by the hiring manager. Preview the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11967060

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibilityon OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement.

DHS uses E-Verify, an internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.

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