Duties

The Artificial Intelligence Senior Science Advisor serves as a technical thought leader to shape S&T's RDT&E strategies and advises S&T managers on projects and/or initiatives related to artificial intelligence and machine learning. The incumbent works directly with senior management, scientific, and technical personnel throughout the Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE) including program managers, DHS agencies, other Federal agencies, international partners, the private sector, and public interest groups to guide artificial intelligence and machine learning RDT&E initiatives and investments to enable the Department to protect and advance its mission.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Responsible for setting a vision and providing strategic and technical leadership for RDT&E initiatives and investments in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) capabilities to meet Departmental needs.
• Provides expert advice and counsel on varying projects related to the advancement of artificial intelligence algorithms, machine learning models, and training data for AI/ML capabilities within the Science and Technology Directorate's portfolio that are high priority, addressing Congressional, White House, Secretarial, and Under-Secretarial initiatives.
• Sets the strategic vision of how advancements in AI/ML can be applied to protect and advance the DHS mission, as well as forecasting S&T's 3 to 5-year research agenda in the AI/ML domain.
• Serves as a subject matter expert and advising on the shaping of program goals, technical approaches, methods and strategies for advancing programs and understanding in the total advanced computing field, and the recommended approaches for integrating the planned activities of numerous scientists, researchers, and/or engineers in other Government agencies, foreign-allied government/defense research establishments, academic institutions, and/or private industry.
• Interprets the impact of scientific and technical advancements within the artificial intelligence domain on broad DHS missions and requirements.
• Provides technical leadership in understanding and conveying implications and influence of global strategies, DHS policies, and technical planning on behalf of S&T and DHS in interagency, international, industry, and academic arenas.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a US citizen to apply for this position
• Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/
• 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.
• You must be able to obtain/maintain a Top Secret Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance.
• You must submit to a drug test and receive a negative test result prior to appointment to this position.
• Selectee may be required to serve a one-year probationary period
• Selectee may be required to serve a one-year supervisory probationary period.
• Selectee will be required to complete an OGE 278, Executive Personnel Financial Disclosure form.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must possess all of the mandatory Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs). These qualifications would typically be acquired through education, experience, and training which reflect progressive development and achievement in leading teams and/or projects for a comprehensive business program in a complex organization. Typically, experience of this nature is gained at or above the GS-15 grade level in the Federal service, or its equivalent with state or local government, the private sector or nongovernmental organizations. An individual's total experience and education must demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of the position.

All applicants must show evidence of the following PTQs below in order to meet basic qualifications for this position. Please label and include your name on each page. Please give examples and explain how often you used your skills, the complexity of the knowledge possessed, the level of people you interacted with, the sensitivity of the issues you handled managing a large public or private sector organization that administers complex, rules-based benefits or services, etc. It is recommended that you draft your PTQ(s) in a word document and then upload into the system. You must address each PTQ separately, and you should not exceed 2 pages per PTQ. You are required to respond to all PTQs. If you fail to do so, you will be rated as 'ineligible.'

Mandatory Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQ):

PTQ 1:
Demonstrated contributions to the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning and demonstrated senior-level experience in applying expertise of artificial intelligence and machine learning disciplines to operational uses.

PTQ 2:
Demonstrated senior-level experience in setting vision for and developing Research and Development (R&D) strategies and plans.

PTQ 3:
Demonstrated leadership skills in Federal government and private sector with strong interpersonal skills and experience in building partnerships internally to an organization as well as with external organizations, federal agencies, or international entities.

You must submit THREE written PTQ narrative statements that clearly and concisely document specialized experience.

Note: Responses to PTQs must not exceed 2 pages per PTQ, for a total of 6 pages.
Do not enter "Refer to Resume" to explain your answer. Applications directing the reader to search within the application or to "See Resume" are considered incomplete and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Failure to submit a narrative statement or address any of the PTQs is also considered incomplete and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. As a result, you will be rated as "INCOMPLETE."

Education

This position has mandatory education requirements. You must meet the education requirement for at least one of the series listed. You must certify that you have qualifying education by including an unofficial transcript or a list of course work, including semester hours earned and grade received. Education will be verified upon appointment. If you are a current Federal employee in one of these occupational series, you may include a copy of a personnel action in lieu of a transcript.

• Computer Science Series, 1550 https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1500/computer-science-series-1550/
• Mathematics Series, 1520 https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1500/mathematics-series-1520/

You must submit a copy of your college transcript OR a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify education. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage .

Additional information

Recruitment/Relocation/Retention Incentive may be authorized at Management's discretion.

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 Top Secret/ Sensitive Compartment Information 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.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U. S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U. S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

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.

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, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

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.