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Intelligence Operations Specialist

Department of Defense
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Office of the Under Secretary of War for Intelligence and Security (OUSW(I&S))

Summary

This position is located in the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Intelligence and Security (OUSW(I&S)) Strategic Competition Office and Office of the Secretary of War (OSW) Red Team. The incumbent of this position provides expert advice regarding strategic competition and intelligence matters related to the Department's adversaries.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/13/2026 to 03/18/2026
Salary
$143,913 to - $187,093 per year
Pay scale & grade
GG 14
Location
Many vacancies in the following location:
Pentagon, Arlington, VA
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
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
DE-12904646-26-CEM
Control number
861053700

Duties

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This Position is a Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) position in the Excepted Service under 10 U.S.C. 1601

If selected, Federal employees currently serving in the competitive service must acknowledge that they will voluntarily leave the competitive service by accepting an offer of employment for a DCIPS excepted service positions.

If selected, non-DCIPS candidates must acknowledge that the position they have been selected for is in the excepted service and covered by DCIPS.

For more information see
https://dcips.defense.gov/

Incumbents typical work assignments may include the following:

  • Provides expert insights on target strategy, decision-making, force structure, weapons systems, political, institutional and bureaucratic processes, as well as the U.S. intelligence processes and support requirements that support such insights.
  • Supports and provides feedback on U.S. activities from an adversary perspective ("red teaming") and representation of potential adversary decision-making processes.
  • Identifies developments and potential adversary actions that may affect DoW strategies, activities, and programs.
  • Evaluates, integrates, and analyzes all available information and intelligence.
  • Works to ensure the compliance of specific programs and operations with all applicable laws, directives and policies while permitting maximum operational flexibility with due consideration for DoW equities.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
  • Selectee might be required to successfully complete a two-year trial period
  • Must be determined suitable for federal employment
  • Required to participate in the direct deposit program
  • This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing
  • Selection under this appointment authority does not confer civil service competitive status.
  • The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with SCI and SAP. A Special Background Investigation (SBI) is required with favorable adjudication by a determining authority.
  • This position may require up to 25% occasional travel away from your normal duty station for official business on military or commercial aircraft in CONUS and OCONUS.
  • The incumbent must consent to a random polygraph examination.
  • The incumbent may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or overtime. (See Additional Information)

Qualifications

The DCIPS occupational structure provides the foundation for managing the DCIPS pay structure. It consists of the following elements: mission categories, occupational groups, and work categories, work levels, pay band (for those DCIPS Components operating under the DCIPS pay banded structure using pay plan IA) and grades (for those DCIPS Components operating under the GG graded structure using pay plan GG), job titles, and competencies.

You may qualify at the GG-14 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement:
Applicant must have directly applicable experience that demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies necessary for immediate success in the position. Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience is typically in or directly related to the work of the position to be filled. Qualifying experience would be demonstrated by 1) Researching intelligence matters relating to adversaries which identifies developments and potential adversary actions; 2) Providing guidance to support and enhance intelligence and national security activities; and 3) Preparing written and oral products to support senior-level decision making.


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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. It is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the length of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.

Your resume may not exceed two (2) pages
. For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.

Read more about what should I include in my federal resume? at https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/

ACTIVE-DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active-duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible". Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience.

Additional information

Additional Conditions of Employment:
The incumbent may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or overtime. Due to emergency recall to duty during non-duty hours employee is required to be able to be contacted by telephone 24 hours a day.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Other priority consideration programs will continue under their current operating procedures.


Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing an online application, you may request an alternative application. Please send an email to the following address for information on how to obtain an alternative application: whs.job.application.assistance@mail.mil


Reemployed Annuitants: Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. /www.esd.whs.mil/DD/DoD-Issuances/140025/

Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office. Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative.

Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans' preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must submit documents verifying your eligibility with your application package.

Your application (resumes and supporting documentation) will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required as listed in this announcement. Qualified candidates should demonstrate the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics) in their resume:

  • Collection Systems Capabilities
  • Communication
  • Security
  • Written Communication



DOD PPP candidates using Application-Based Procedures:

Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-3) to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician preference.

Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians Receiving Disability Retirement PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians receiving disability retirement PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-2) to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability preference.

Retained Grade PPP Eligible: Retained Grade PPP applicants, must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-1) to verify your eligibility for Retained Grade preference.

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