Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens

As a Intelligence Operations Specialist, GS-0132-7/9/11/12/13, your typical work assignments may include:

• Working with DHS IE component partners to create an information-sharing environment that serves stakeholders' needs and builds interoperability horizontally and vertically by serving as an interface in sharing information between Intelligence Community (IC) members, DHS IE components, field activities, and the National Intelligence/Law Enforcement community.
• Ensuring specialized needs are met through consideration of risk factors pertaining to DHS IE targeted audiences.
• Representing I&A as a recognized subject matter expert on the organization, personnel, activities, and capabilities of intelligence entities.

All DHS-HQ announcements have a 5 business day open period due to the number of applications received. This announcement will be open for 5 business days OR until the first 100 applications have been received, whichever happens first.

View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must submit to a pre-employment drug test.
• You may be required to serve a two-year trial period.
• Acceptance of an excepted service appointment from applicants in the competitive service will require a written statement of understanding when voluntarily leaving the competitive service.
• Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
• Overtime may be required in response to a significant events.
• Telework is allowed per agency policy and supervisor approval (between 10-30% or situational based on position) 100 % remote is not allowed.
• Employee will be required to work other than normal duty hours which may include evenings, weekends and/or holidays and/or overtime and/or 24/7 shift schedules and/or on-call and stand-by duty status.
• Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft.
• Must obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance.

Qualifications

You qualify for the GS-07 grade level if you possess one (1) of the following:

Specialized Experience
One (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in Federal service, that demonstrates the following:

• Ability to perform quality control checks of completed papers prior to publishing to ensure consistency of content.
• Building and maintaining relationships within the organization and with counterparts outside the organization to share and implement best practices related to technical editing, formatting, and style of finished intelligence production.

-OR-

Substitution of Education for Experience
A bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement, which is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership:

1. Class standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
2. Grade-point average (GPA.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of:
   • 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or
   • 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.
3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.

-OR-

• One (1) full year of graduate level education at an accredited or pre-accredited college or university

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience
A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application.

You qualify at the GS-09 grade level if you possess one (1) of the following:

Specialized Experience
One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in Federal service, that demonstrates the following:

• Ability to assist in the creation and maintenance of product templates and ensuring changes are made when appropriate while still conforming to a Departmental guide.
• Applying interpersonal skills to maintain effective working relationships with both internal and external customers.

-OR-

Substitution of Education for Experience
You may substitute your education for your experience if you possess one of the following:

• A master's or equivalent graduate degree.
• Two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree
• LL.B. or J.D., if related.

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience
A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above that, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application.

NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of the first year may be used to qualify for the GS-09 level.

You qualify at the GS-11 grade level if you possess one of the following:

Specialized Experience
One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in Federal service that demonstrates the following:

• Proofreading and editing product drafts, including assessments, for senior officials.
• Applying knowledge of Intelligence Community policies, programs, and research findings to review of finished publications.

-OR-
Substitution of Education for Experience
You may substitute your education for your experience if you possess one of the following:

• A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree
• Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree
• LL.M., if related

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience
A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above that, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application.

NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of the first two years may be used to qualify for the GS-11 level.

You qualify for theGS-12 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal government that demonstrates the following:

• Performing duties such as: performing quality control checks of completed papers prior to publishing to ensure consistency of content and sources and compliance with policies and procedures.
• Performing a full range of technical editing duties, applying an expert knowledge of intelligence production processes and standards, as well as editing and formatting expertise, to address highly complex projects and issues.

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

You qualify for theGS-13 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal government that demonstrates the following:

• Developing new approaches, policies, or guidelines to support production operations.
• Preparing and analyzing reports, responses to queries, justifications, and background papers on the technical aspects of areas of expertise and assignment.
• Preparing and presenting briefings.

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.

This is a permanent appointment in the Excepted Service and will be filled on a full-time permanent basis. Employees hired under an Excepted Service appointment may be required to serve a two (2) year trial period. This position does not confer non-competitive conversion to the competitive service. Acceptance of an excepted service appointment from applicants in the competitive service will require a written statement of understanding when voluntarily leaving the competitive service.

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 basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using a job questionnaire that is based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills and abilities needed to perform this job: Oral Communication, Planning and Evaluating, and Technical Competence

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

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 assessment questionnaire.

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 assessment questionnaire.

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 assessment questionnaire.

If you are amongst the 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 https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12006739

Interviews are required for this position. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

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

Consideration may be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards as an indicator of quality of prior experience.