Duties

Joining the Secret Service, Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information, Protective Intelligence and Assessment Division, National Threat Assessment Center will allow you to apply a wide range of behavioral and social science research principles, concepts, and methods which are related to the prevention of targeted violence, threat assessment, terrorism, criminal behavior and protective intelligence.

The selectee will serve as a Social Science Research Specialist in the Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information, Protective Intelligence and Assessment Division, National Threat Assessment Center. Duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Performs in-depth analysis and research of broad areas associated with targeted violence, threat assessment, terrorism, criminal behavior, and protective intelligence sufficient to provide detailed recommendations regarding the application of research findings to operational policy and protocols.
• Writes reports for internal and external distribution, summarizing the research findings and implications.
• Provides technical expertise sufficient to communicate established methods and procedures used to establish or define the problem being researched, and isolate data that is pertinent to the study for analysis; develops and executes information sharing initiatives, training and consultative frameworks for diverse audiences to assist with the development of threat assessment programs.
• Uses new and innovative research techniques to evaluate, synthesize and summarize data and information to independently conduct research, training and consultative initiatives in regard to targeted violence, other types of violence, terrorism and protective intelligence.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. citizenship is required.

If selected for this position, you will be required to:

• Obtain and maintain a top secret Tier 5 clearance. For more information visit OPM Mythbuster Page .
• Submit to a polygraph examination prior to your appointment.
• Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
• Certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so, if you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959.

Qualifications

You must demonstrate at least one (1) year of the defined specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and meet the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR).

OPMs Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) is defined as:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0100/social-science-series-0101/

Basic Requirements:

Degree: behavioral or social science or related disciplines appropriate to the position;
OR
2. Combination of education and experience--that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
OR
3. Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

AND

• GS-09: You qualify for the GS-09 level (starting salary $61,947) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level performing duties such as: performing routine tasks, assignments and research that develops an understanding for the prevention of targeted violence, threat assessment, terrorism, criminal behavior, and protective intelligence; and performing research, fact-finding, analysis, and evaluation of raw data; or

-Master's or equivalent graduate degree or
-2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or
-LL.B or J.D., if related; or
-A combination of graduate education and experience. This will be calculated using your résumé and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application.

• GS-11: You qualify for the GS-11 level (starting salary $74,950) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level performing duties such as: researching, analyzing, compiling, and interpreting research results; conducting presentations on the prevention of targeted violence, threat assessment, terrorism, criminal behavior, and protective intelligence; using new and innovative research techniques to evaluate, synthesize, and summarize data collected; and summarizing the research findings and implications; or
  -Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or
  -3 full years progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or
  -LL.M., if related; or
  -A combination of graduate education and experience. This will be calculated using your résumé and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application.

• GS-12: You qualify for the GS-12 level (starting salary $89,834) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level performing duties such as: advising and administering the performance of research efforts and the development of policies and investigative procedures; researching, analyzing, compiling and interpreting research results on the prevention of targeted violence, threat assessment, terrorism, criminal behavior, and protective intelligence; and using new and innovative research techniques to evaluate, synthesize, and summarize data collected.
  
  

• GS-13: You qualify for the GS-13 level (starting salary $106,823) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level performing duties such as: providing guidance and direction to junior staff in researching, analyzing, compiling and interpreting research results; independently conducting research, training, and consultative initiatives in relation to targeted violence, terrorism and protective intelligence; and composing reports for internal and external distribution, summarizing research findings and developing standardized threat assessment techniques and implementing a wide range of behavioral and social science research principles, concepts and methods to direct others in research projects.

If you are qualifying based on education, you must submit a copy of your transcripts, unofficial are acceptable. In order for a graduate degree to meet the education requirements, courses completed as part of the graduate degree must demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA) to do the work. Please see the "How You Will be Evaluated" section for a list of the KSAs.

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.

Qualifications Must Be Met: The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the cut-off dates listed in this announcement.

Appointments may be made at the GS-09, GS-11, GS-12 or GS-13 level and the full performance level is GS-13.

Qualified applicants will be referred at each grade level for which they qualify. You are also required to submit unofficial transcripts(s) for each degree (i.e. Bachelors, Masters and Ph.D, etc.) that you possess if your qualifications will be based on education.

Education

If you are qualifying based on education, or you are qualifying based on a combination of education and experience please see the below requirements:

If you are qualifying based on education, you must submit a copy of your transcripts, unofficial are acceptable. In order for a graduate degree to meet the education requirements, courses completed as part of the graduate degree must demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA) to do the work. Please see the "How You Will be Evaluated" section for a list of the KSAs.

GS-9:
Master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR

A combination of graduate level education and experience. This will be calculated using your résumé and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application.

GS-11:
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR
A combination of graduate level education and experience. This will be calculated using your résumé and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application.

Additional information

Our team members continue a tradition of excellence - whether investigating financial crimes or protecting national and visiting foreign leaders. In the USSS we serve the country with duty, loyalty, justice, integrity, and courage.

The Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information's (SII), Protective Intelligence Division (PID), is responsible for providing producing threat assessments for USSS protected persons and facilities. In addition, the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) conducts large -scale research projects that have had a great benefit to Federal Government. The information gained through this research is directly applied to the USSS protective mission and is shared with our public safety partners. NTAC works closely with the public, municipal, state and federal partners to ensure public safety.

Apply for this exciting opportunity to conduct research, present research findings, and produce guidance on threat assessment methods and the prevention of targeted violence that poses a potential threat to communities across the country. The Social Science Research Specialist position starts at a salary of $61,947 (GS-9, step 1), with promotional potential to $138,868 (GS-13, step 10).

**Student Loan repayments, and recruitment bonuses may be available**