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Policy Analyst

Department of Homeland Security
DHS Headquarters
Office Of Strategy, Policy, and Plans

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans, Trade and Economic Security.

The primary purpose of this position is to utilize analytical and policy-making skills to lead and formulate trade and economic security policy for the Department. The incumbent will develop briefing documents for senior officials and conduct oral briefings to address matters impacting the Department.

Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/31/2026 to 04/06/2026
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$143,913 - $187,093 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
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
SHA-12910842-26-PLCY
Control number
863106500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens. The position(s) will be filled through the Foreign Investment and Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA), Title 17, Special Hiring Authority.

Duties

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As a Policy Analyst, GS-0301-14, your typical work assignments may include:

-Serves as an authoritative advisor for leadership about the Agency's efforts regarding trade and economic security policy.

-Conducts comprehensive research independently and in collaboration with team members and develops new policies based on the result of research and reviews to ensure effective coordination and integration with department-wide strategy.

-Serves as a subject matter expert on processes pertaining to policy planning and strategy, both on a Departmental and government-wide level.

-Provides guidance to leadership with reports on Advises the Deputy Assistant Secretary, the Assistant Secretary, DHS officials, and top management in meetings, conferences, national and international symposia, to address and resolve contentious or controversial matters impacting DHS management decisions.

-Represents Trade and Economic Security in forums with DHS, other Federal agencies, academia and the private sector as an authority in matters related to the mission of TES.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
  • You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
  • One-year probationary period may be required.
  • Must meet Time-In-Grade requirements.
  • A pre-employment drug test is required.
  • If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
  • DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
  • All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • License required: No
  • Pre-employment physical required: No
  • Bargaining Unit Position: No
  • Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses will not be paid.
  • This position is at the full performance level.
  • This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) and is covered by the Department of Homeland Security Headquarters Drug-Free Workplace Program. The incumbent is required to sign a Condition of Employment form (for certain positions identified for drug testing) and must pass urinalysis testing, as required, prior to appointment, reassignment, or transfer; and incumbent will be subject to random testing while employed with the Department in a TDP.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

GS-14: Applicant must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-13 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties:

  1. Analyzing trade policyand economic competitiveness in the United States.
  2. Developing short, medium, and long-range program goals, plans, objectives, and policies linked to international trade, customs, or other related initiatives.
  3. Creating policy products amongst multiple stakeholders related to trade policy and economic competitiveness matters. AND 4. Developing policies, in coordination with U.S. inter-agency partners, to address economic security and national security risks to trade and investment, including through use of various trade enforcement authorities, import restrictions, and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, including experience with economic security analysis/mitigation, otherwise you will be found ineligible.

Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying). Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current employees applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. NOTE: All current or former Federal employees must provide a copy of their SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one), "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility. The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure (1 or 2), and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

NOTE: 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.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for a Top Secret/SCI clearance as a condition of placement in this Special-Sensitive position. This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12654 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.

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.

Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP): This program applies to Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed, or employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet eligibility criteria for CTAP or ICTAP; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. Well-Qualified includes those applicants whose knowledge, skills, and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. For information on eligibility criteria and required documentation, go to: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp

Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).

Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online if at all possible. Applying online, through your USAJOBS account, will expedite the application process and allow you to check your application status as well as verify the documentation submitted with your application. If you utilize the Alternate Application method, your USAJOBS account will not display this application and you will not receive status updates.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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.

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

Structured Resume Review. Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume). Applicants passing the structured resume review will move on to the next phase of the assessment process.

Applicants will be evaluated on their total background including experience (paid and unpaid), education, awards, and training and self-development as it relates to the position based upon the information provided in the resume/application and any other supporting documents. All work experience should specify the length of time spent in the position. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that indicates hours per week "varies." List exact hours per week on each job experience.

This notice is being issued under the Foreign Investment and Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA), Title 17, Special Hiring Authority. Using this authority, agencies may appoint candidates directly to jobs, without regard to the provisions of Title 5 U.S.C. 3309 through 3318.

Veterans Preference: Veterans preference does not apply under Foreign Investment and Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA), Title 17, Special Hiring Authority.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the Federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. Information about ICTAP eligibility can be found by clicking here to access OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under ICTAP, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement and your resume must demonstrate possession of the following KSA/competency:

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

DHS Headquarters

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling on those who want to help protect American interests and secure our Nation. DHS Components work collectively to prevent terrorism; secure borders and our transportation systems; protect the President and other dignitaries; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters. We achieve these vital missions through a workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Headquarters is committed to hiring a highly talented and dedicated workforce. In addition to this vacancy, DHS has unique career opportunities. To view these exciting positions, please visit our USAJobs website: https://dhs-hq.usajobs.gov/

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package which may include: flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

Agency contact information

Julian Torres
Email
julian.torres@hq.dhs.gov
Address
Department of Homeland Security Headquarters
OCHCO/HRMS/MS #0170
6595 Springfield Center Drive
Springfield, VA 20598-0170
US

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Learn more about what it's like to work at DHS Headquarters, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://dhs.gov/

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