Duties

Summary

Joining the Secret Service, Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information, Protective Intelligence and Assessment Division will allow you to apply investigative research, analysis and assessment in relation to support of the protective and intelligence mission of the Secret Service. For more information on the Secret Service click here.

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Responsibilities

The selectee will serve as an Intelligence Research Specialist (Protective) in the Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information, Protective Intelligence and Assessment Division. Typical work assignments include:

• Performing preliminary research, fact-finding, analysis, and evaluating intelligence data, based upon such factors as relevancy and authenticity of technical details and coverage; performing developmental tasks (i.e., intelligence analysis, abstracting and disseminating pertinent protective and investigative data) from various information sources.
• Communicating with internal and external partners and personnel (i.e., exchanging information, observing intelligence operations, and assisting with oral briefings and debriefings).
• Preparing threat assessments, and assisting with developing informational presentations and products.
• Performing tasks (i.e., name and background checks, conducting information retrieval searches); and applying analytical and/or evaluative techniques to assignments.

Apply for this exciting opportunity to impact the agency's ability to perform protective intelligence research impacting the Secret Service's mission of protection. This Intelligence Research Specialist (Protective) position starts at a salary of $60,129 (GS-9 step 1), with potential to $113,362 (GS-13 step 10). For definitions of terms found in this announcement, please click here.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - May be required to travel domestically and internationally

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13 - Full Performance Level (FPL) GS-13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. citizenship is required.

Condition of Employment:

As required by Executive Order 14043 , Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination by November 22, 2021 or before appointment or onboarding with the agency, if after November 22, 2021. We will provide additional information regarding which forms of documentation will be accepted to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement.

Due to COVID-19, U.S. Secret Service is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement within 30 days. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the agency's telework policy.

If selected for this position, you must:

• Obtain and maintain a top secret Tier 5 clearance. For more information visit OPM Mythbuster Page .
• Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
• Submit to a polygraph examination prior to your appointment.
• May be required to work holidays, weekends days and/or nights.
• May be exposed to adverse conditions when performing temporary duty assignments and/or traveling domestically or internationally to provide intelligence support.
• 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

Basic Qualifications

Specialized Experience:

GS-12: You qualify for the GS-12 level (starting salary $87,198) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level performing duties such as researching, reviewing and evaluating a high volume of classified and sensitive intelligence information, determining significance as it pertains to the Secret Service protective mission; designing new or improving existing intelligence products; preparing a variety of speculative-estimative finished intelligence products based on comprehensive analysis and evaluation of current intelligence information received from multiple sources; performing open source intelligence research to identify threats and provide situational awareness for protective operations; and supporting an intelligence coordinator at domestic or foreign command post sites to provide intelligence support prior to and during the visit of a protected person.

GS-11: You qualify for the GS-11 level (starting salary $72,750) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level performing duties such as researching, reviewing and evaluating a high volume of classified and sensitive intelligence information, determining significance as it pertains to the Secret Service protective mission; preparing a variety of speculative-estimative finished intelligence products based on comprehensive analysis and evaluation of current intelligence information received from multiple sources; performing open source intelligence research to identify threats and provide situational awareness for protective operations; creating internal information bulletins on individuals or groups affecting protected interests, including facilities, events, and persons; and supporting an intelligence coordinator at domestic or foreign command post sites to provide intelligence support prior to and during the visit of a protected person.
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

GS-09: You qualify for the GS-09 level (starting salary $60,129) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level performing duties such as performing preliminary research, analysis, and evaluation of raw intelligence data based upon such factors as time span, and authenticity of technical detail and coverage; and preparing organized presentations of studies which are necessarily brief due to the uncomplicated nature of the specific intelligence, portions of larger studies as assistants to other specialists, or summaries of larger studies.
OR
• Master's or equivalent graduate or
• 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or
• LL.B or J.D., if related

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.

Time-in-Grade: Current Federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the Federal service.

Qualifications Must Be Met: The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

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.

Education

No educational requirement required.

Additional information

Building on a Tradition of Excellence and Meeting the Challenges of the Future The Secret Service is a premier law enforcement organization with two critical national security missions: protect our nation's leaders and to conduct criminal investigations. Our team members continue a tradition of excellence - whether investigating financial crime or protecting national and visiting foreign leaders. In the Secret Service, we serve the country with duty, loyalty, justice, integrity and courage. In the Secret Service, we:

• Protect the President, the Vice President, and other leaders; investigate threats against them; and safeguard their residences and other facilities
• Plan and implement security designs for National Special Security Events
• Investigate financial crimes including fraud, identity theft and computer-based attacks on banking or telecommunications infrastructure

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.

E-Verify Statement: 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.

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.

This position will require a credit check after initial job qualifications have been determined.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade and unit occur.

Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans , Peace Corps / VISTA volunteers , and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

View common definitions of terms found in this announcement.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Your application will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the duties of the position. Upon review, your resume and/or supporting documents need to reflect the one year of specialized experience requirement, in order to be considered. If the one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the next lower grade level cannot be identified in your resume, you will be considered not qualified. The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are:

• Ability to manage and lead employees in accomplishing the work of an organization.
• Knowledge of protective intelligence programs, policies, procedures, laws and regulations.
• Ability to develop, direct, manage, and evaluate protective intelligence programs.
• Ability to meet with personnel at all levels, as well as with groups and individuals in other intelligence and law enforcement agencies and organizations.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the Federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85.0 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

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

Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards as an indicator of quality of prior experience, no points will be assigned.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Top Secret

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk

Trust determination process
Credentialing , Suitability/Fitness , National security

Required Documents

In addition to addressing the vacancy specific questions, you must also submit the following documentation:

• Special Priority Selection rights under ICTAP: Submit a copy of your agency notice, copy of your most recent performance appraisal (with at least a satisfactory rating),and your most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.
• COVID-19 Vaccination Document - Please submit one of the required proofs of vaccination documents with your application: copy of the record of immunization from a health care provider or pharmacy; a copy of the COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card; a copy of medical records documenting the vaccination; a copy of immunization records from a public health or state immunization information system; or a copy of any other official documentation containing required data points (type of vaccine administered, date(s) of administration, and the name of the health care professional(s) or clinic site(s) administering the vaccine(s)). Please note that if you fail to provide proof of vaccination by the time of appointment and fail to request an accommodation from the vaccine, you will not receive consideration for employment. The agency will provide additional information regarding how you can request of the agency a legally required accommodation.