Intelligence Research Specialist

About the role

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is the Nation's risk advisor, working with partners to defend against today's threats and collaborating with industry to build a more secure and resilient infrastructure for the future.

What you will do

• Identifying threat vulnerabilities, threat tactics, and methodologies.
• Producing timely, fused, all-source cyber operations intelligence and/or indications and warnings intelligence products (e.g. threat assessments, intelligence studies, country studies).
• Establishing innovative research methodologies to solve analytical problems.
• Providing evaluation and feedback necessary for improving intelligence production, intelligence reporting, collection requirements, and operations.
• Providing information and assessments for the purposes of informing leadership and customers.
• Conducting intelligence short- and long-term planning, projection and revision of estimates with respect to identifying vulnerabilities and protection requirements of critical infrastructure to evaluate the actual and potential risk to the Nation's critical infrastructure.
• Developing and maintaining coordination and liaison with counterparts and colleagues throughout the infrastructure protection, intelligence and security community.
• Military Spouses & Foreign Service Spouses Only: This position is remote work and telework eligible consistent with the Agency's telework and remote work program policy.
• Applicants who live within the local commuting area (i.e., a 50-mile or less radius from Glebe Road, Arlington VA (not driving distance)) are eligible for 100% telework in accordance with agency policy.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen.
• Complete the initial online assessment and USA Hire Assessment, if required.
• Selective Service - Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service see *** All Federal employees are required to participate in Direct Deposit/ Electronic Funds Transfer for salary payments.
• 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.
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance suitable for Federal employment as determined by 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.
• Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements.
• This position may be designated as essential personnel.
• Essential personnel must be able to serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of liberal leave or government closures due to weather, protests, and acts of terrorism or lack of funding.
• Failure to report for or remain in this position may result in disciplinary or adverse action in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations (5 U.S.C.
• 7501-7533 and 5 CFR Part 752, as applicable).
• This position has been identified as a drug testing designated position (TDP) for purposes of the CISA's Drug-Free Workplace Program.
• All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to a drug test to screen for illicit/illegal drug use prior to receiving a final offer of employment.
• A final offer of employment is contingent upon a negative drug test result.
• After appointment, you may be subject to periodic random drug testing.

Education

Education may not be substituted for experience.

You must meet the qualification requirements specified in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. For Competitive Merit Promotion and Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) Applicants: The highest rated candidates will be referred to the hiring agency. For Non-competitive Appointment Eligibles: All qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring agency.

Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (I/CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not I/CTAP eligible. View information about I/CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well-qualified under I/CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position.

In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement. Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veteran must 1) be a preference eligible; or 2) be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

(Note: Veteran's preference does not apply under Merit Promotion procedures.) 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. To preview the application questionnaire, click here: ***

Documents you must provide

• All documents, including transcripts, must be in English.
• RESUME: Limit your resume to no more than two pages.
• The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.
• Be clear and specific in describing your job-related qualifications, as HR cannot make assumptions regarding your experience.
• For qualification determination, you MUST include dates of employment (month and year) and hours worked per week.
• For Federal civilian service, you MUST include your series and grade.
• Do NOT include photographs, social media links (e.g., LinkedIn, GitHub), inappropriate content, or other personal or sensitive information such as date of birth, social security number, gender, religious affiliation.
• IF INCLUDED YOUR RESUME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
• COMPLETE APPLICATION QUESTIONNAIRE AND ONLINE USA HIRE ASSESSMENTS If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation for the USA Hire Assessments, submit a Reasonable Accommodation Request and provide documentation to support your request.
• OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS (only submit if applicable): CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE: Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action which shows the grade, step, tenure (block 24) "1" (Career) or "2" (Career-Conditional), and position occupied (block 34) "1" (Competitive Service).
• Schedule Policy/Career employees submit a copy of your initial appointment SF-50 and proof of competitive status.
• Provide proof of permanent appointment if applying based on an Interchange Agreement.
• If applying for a higher grade, provide a SF-50 which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade or promotion potential held.
• You may need to provide more than one (1) SF-50, if your SF-50 does not clearly demonstrate that you meet the one-year time-in-grade requirement (examples of appropriate SF-50s include Appointment/Conversion, Within-Grade/Range Increases and Promotion actions).
• NOTE: Pay adjustments and awards are NOT acceptable.
• VETERAN DOCUMENTATION: Submit a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4 or equivalent).
• ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date on the certification.
• This must indicate your dates of active service, rank/grade, expected character of service (i.e., honorable or general) and type of separation (i.e., separation or retirement).
• NOTE: The VOW Act provides tentative preference.
• If selected, a DD-214 must be provided prior to appointment.
• 10-POINT VETERANS' PREFERENCE: Submit a SF-15 and provide an official document from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying your overall compensable service-connected disability rating (NOTE: Your overall percentage must be clearly shown), and/or any other associated documentation based on your preference.
• NONCOMPETITIVE OR SPECIAL HIRING AUTHORITIES: (e.g., Military Spouses, Individuals with Disabilities, Peace Corps & AmeriCorps VISTA, Land Management, Former Overseas Employees, etc.) Submit documentation of proof that supports your eligibility.
• INTERAGENCY/CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (I/CTAP): Submit a copy of the following: Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice, notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate, notice of disability annuity termination, or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement; SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action'', documenting your RIF separation, noting your position, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through reemployment priority list (RPL), etc.; Latest performance appraisal including your rating; AND Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
• CURRENT OR FORMER POLITICAL SCHEDULE A, SCHEDULE C, NON-CAREER SES OR PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEE EMPLOYEE: Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title; Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee); Agency; AND Beginning and ending dates of appointment.

What to expect next

Your status will be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. We expect to make a job offer within 30-60 days after the deadline for applications. If you are determined qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an in-person or phone panel interview.

If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

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. Notice to Applicants - The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is subject to the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019.

Unless excluded by law, all CISA hiring officials and agency representatives are statutorily prohibited from asking applicants to disclose their criminal history record information prior to receiving a conditional offer of employment.

Applicants may submit a complaint, or any other information, to the CISA Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer Human Capital Policy and Programs Subdivision at email *** within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged non-compliance by a CISA hiring manager or agency representative.

Thank you for your interest in the Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency!

Additional information

Other incentives may be authorized. 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. Additional vacancies may be filled with this announcement. A one-year probationary period may be required during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.

We may consider your performance and conduct, the needs and interests of the agency, whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government, and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Military Spouses & U.S. Foreign Service Spouses Only: The actual salary will be adjusted based on the grade, step, and locality for the selectee's geographic location.

The remote worker's locality pay is based on the location of the employee's residence. General Schedule (GS) locality pay tables may be found at Salaries & Wages.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.

Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.

If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.

You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. 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.