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INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST

Department of the Air Force
Department of the Air Force - Agency Wide
INV COLL OPS NEXUS CENTER
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below for IMPORTANT additional information.

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as an intelligence specialist employing language skills and cultural knowledge in support of the Office of Special Investigations' (OSI) intelligence production. Supports and advises OSI missions with a focus on the Chinese Mandarin language.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
11/17/2025 to 11/21/2025
Salary
$120,579 to - $156,755 per year
Pay scale & grade
GG 13
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Quantico, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
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
9L-DCIPS-12833169-990397-JR
Control number
850043000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Area of Consideration for this position is limited to current Air Force (Internal) Civilian employees assigned to an organization that falls under the Owning MAJCOM: Pentagon. Position located at Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Investigations Collections Operations Nexus, Indo-Pacific Region Threats Branch (ICCA), Quantico, Virginia. For questions regarding this position contact the AFOSI DCIPS POC at afosi.dpc_dcips.staffingworkflow@us.af.mil.

Duties

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DUTY 1: Serves as a language enabled intelligence specialist with a focus on the Chinese Mandarin language.

DUTY 2: Presents OSI capabilities to a variety of service, national, and coalition customers within defined area of responsibility.

DUTY 3: Manages intelligence production, participates in the direction, coordination, review and evaluation of intelligence activities within OSI, and coordinates those activities with DoD and national-level agencies.

DUTY 4: Provides recommendations to functional authority on translation issues for Agency leadership.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • All new DCIPS employees are required to complete a two-year DCIPS trial period.
  • If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
  • This posn is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
  • Must be registered for Selective Service, see Legal and Regulatory Guide
  • Employee must maintain current certifications
  • Disclosure of Political Appointments
  • Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit
  • Leave accrual may be authorized upon request
  • The incumbent must undergo an internal background investigation by AFOSI and must be approved for duty by the Commander of AFOSI or the Commander's designated representative(s).
  • Polygraph: Incumbent is required to undergo a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination.
  • Mobility: Mobility is a condition of employment. The employee must sign an Air Force-wide mobility agreement.
  • Overtime may be required as workload demands and in some cases with no-notice due to urgency of time-sensitive matters. Periodic shift work may be required if assigned as a watch-standing analyst.
  • Travel by regularly scheduled commercial or military conveyance in accordance with Joint Travel regulations may be required in performance of temporary duty.

Qualifications

This is a GG-13 position in the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). The GG-13 duties for the "Professional" work category are at the "Full Performance" work level and are equivalent to those at the GS-13 level. The selectee's salary will be set within the grade equivalent to a GS/GG grade based on the selectee's qualifications in relation to the job.

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Your resume must reflect the quality level of experience which demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for successful job performance required for this position. Examples of creditable experience include knowledge of a wide range of concepts, principles, and practices in intelligence research and collection methods, techniques, and practices in order to make recommendations in developing assessments. Comprehensive knowledge of the vocabulary and grammar in the Chinese Mandarin language at a level to provide authoritative written and oral translations of very complex, foreign language materials on a wide range of scientific, technical, geo-political, and military subjects that directly affect major national-level intelligence and/or research and development programs. Knowledge of intelligence requirements that permits independent scanning of foreign language materials on a wide range of subjects and selection of information of intelligence value. Strong technical knowledge of the key concepts, terminology, and relationships in a wide range of fields to independently produce authoritative translations and reports without frequent reference to background material. Note: Creditable experience may include previous military experience, experience gained in the private sector, or experience gained in another government agency.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

  1. Knowledge of cultures, history, economics, and politics as demonstrated through education, professional experience, or residence in the region of the spoken language Chinese Mandarin.
  2. Knowledge of a wide range of intelligence research and collection methods, techniques, and practices in order to make recommendations in developing assessments.
  3. Knowledge of the national intelligence community, Joint, DoD structure, organizations, and mission/functions, inter-relationships and operations.
  4. Skill in conducting unbiased, difficult research, identify appropriate available systems/data sources, and produce assessments that answer specific tasks to link and leverage agency capabilities and to develop new methods, approaches, or procedures.
  5. Ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing, in working out solutions to problems or questions related to the work, writing clear and concise intelligence products, and delivering written and/or verbal presentations to senior level audiences for decision-making purposes.
  6. Ability to maintain control of classified material, assimilate disparate data, render knowledgeable and accurate assessments of the implication of such data estimates, and make effective recommendations under conditions of urgency and pressure.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTS CONT.
  • Special Sensitive: Position is designated special-sensitive and requires eligibility for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), other intelligence-related Special Sensitive information, or involvement in Top Secret Special Access Programs (SAP) to fully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. A non-disclosure agreement must be signed.
  • Drug Testing: This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program. Employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing. Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety.
  • Language Proficiency: This is a Language Designated Position (LDP) and requires foreign language proficiency in the following language Chinese Mandarin to perform the intelligence-related duties assigned. Incumbent must achieve a passing score in Listening-L2 / Reading-R2 / Speaking-S2 taken within the previous 12 months on the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT). Must be willing to undergo an in-person or telephone interview in the identified foreign language. NOTE: The interview is not used to evaluate work experience, only for the purpose of evaluating the language oral proficiency.
  • Position is eligible for Foreign Language Proficiency Pay (FLPP) based upon an annual validation of Chinese Mandarin language skills as verified by annual DLPT/Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) results and achievement of a minimum DLPT score of L2 (Listening) / R2 (Reading) / S2 (Speaking).

Area of Consideration limited to one of the following Employing Departments or Agencies:
AF Audit Agency
AF Cost Analysis Agency
AF Elements
AF Inspection Agency
AF Legal Operations Agency
AF Medical Readiness Agency
AF Office of Special Investigations
AF Operations Group
AF Program Executive Office
AF Public Affairs Agency
AF Review Boards Agency
AFELM and Other Dod Entities
DoD Cyber Crime Center
HQ AF Flight Standards Agency
HQ USAF and Support Elements

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcriptswith the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
This position is a Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel Systems (DCIPS) position implemented under Section 504, Title V of Public Law 99-569, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987, as codified in Sec 1601, Chap 83 of Title 10 United States Code which sets forth Air Force policies and procedures for DCIPS. This position is in the Excepted Service.

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.

For additional information on DCIPS, click here

Additional information

Employed Annuitants (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. Click here for more information.

120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

Selectees who physically reside permanently in the U.S., the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or Northern Mariana Islands, and the Possessions of the U.S., during the entire recruitment process (application, selection, and acceptance of a formal job offer) and selected for employment in the foreign area are eligible to receive certain foreign area benefits such as: Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) or government quarters, Post Allowance, Home Leave, etc. (subject to approval)

Selectees who physically reside outside the U.S., the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or Northern Mariana Islands, and the Possessions of the U.S., during any step of the recruitment process (application, selection, and acceptance of a formal job offer) will have foreign area benefits eligibility be determined on a case by case basis.

Tax Law Impact for PCS: On 22-Dec-2017, Public Law 115-97 - the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017" suspended qualified moving expense deductions along with the exclusion for employer reimbursements and payments of moving expenses effective 01-Jan-2018 for tax years 2018 through 2025. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit GSA Bulletin FTR 20-04 here for additional information.

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.

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

Your responses to the questionnaire may be compared to the documents you submit. The documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job.

Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

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