Investigative Specialist

About the role

This position is located in the Office of Counterintelligence, Domestic Operations Directorate, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS/DO/CI). The Office of Counterintelligence works to detect, deter, and neutralize the efforts of foreign intelligence services targeting Department of State and foreign affairs community personnel, facilities, and missions worldwide.

For more information about the Bureau, visit: DS

What you will do

• Conducts counterintelligence (CI) vetting assessments to provide oversight in the screening, review, evaluation, and adjudication of security clearance cases involving foreign influence and foreign preference factors that pose potential CI risks.
• Establishes liaisons with counterparts in other Federal agencies in the intelligence and law enforcement communities.
• Prepares and conducts defensive CI briefings to DS Bureau and Department management and personnel as well as U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC) partners.
• Drafts written products, ensuring through quality control/assurance checks that division level CI assessments and recommendations conform with legal authorities, Department policy, and standard office procedures.
• Assesses threats, incidents, and incoming intelligence reports to develop defensible conclusions, findings, judgments and recommendations on critical CI matters.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

How you will be evaluated

The evaluation process consists of the ApplyGov Competency Based Assessments and a crediting plan for which applicants will be assigned a score between 70 and 100. A resume review will be conducted for minimum qualification requirements, as described in the “Qualifications” section of this announcement, of the top qualified candidates based on combined total score.

Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further. Responses to questions that are not fully supported by your resume may result in a rating adjustment.

You will be assessed on the following job-related competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Non-Supervisory: Oral Communication, Writing, Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, Teamwork, Technology Orientation, Customer Service, Attention to Detail and Self-Management.

Set aside at least 2 hours to take the external assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. There are timed sections that must be completed within the allotted timeframe.

Your score from the Non-supervisory assessment will remain on file for 180 days, allowing you to apply for multiple DOS-announced positions without needing to retake the assessments. Top applicants may be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration.

The assessment is used to measure the degree in which your background matches the competencies and KSAs required for this position. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies: Knowledge of intelligence laws, practices, philosophies, and methods. Knowledge of current and anticipated international counterintelligence issues.

Skill in conducting counterintelligence vetting assessments. Ability to advise on the human intelligence (HUMINT) operations cycle. Ability to liaise with others.

Ability to provide advice and guidance, both orally and in writing. Applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview.

Qualified non-competitive candidates must be deemed best qualified based on the applicant assessment in order to be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We do not make assumptions regarding your experience.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application may result in your removal from consideration. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Documents you must provide

• All required documents listed below, that are applicable to you, must be submitted to our automated system by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement.
• Resume limited to 2 pages showing relevant work/volunteer experience, education and training.
• Include the start and end dates (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours per week worked/volunteered.
• Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must support your answers to the completed online assessment questions.
• Resumes longer than 2 pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further.
• Other Qualification Documentation (e.g., transcripts, certificates, certifications, etc.), if applicable.
• Performance appraisal, if applicable.
• Most recent (i.e., usually within the last 18 months) final (not a mid-year review) official (i.e., signed by the rating official and in original format) annual performance appraisal must be submitted by reinstatement eligible applicants applying to a position with a higher grade or more promotion potential than previously held and current or former Land Management employees.
• All other current and former Federal employees are strongly encouraged to submit their performance appraisal for the hiring manager's consideration.
• If not available, you may provide a statement from you and/or your supervisor with an explanation along with your servicing HR Office contact information.
• You may be requested to provide an appraisal to the hiring official if one was not provided with your application.
• To receive a promotion, the current Federal employee's most recent performance rating must be “fully successful” or an equivalent level or higher.
• Employees who are tentatively selected to receive a promotion will be required to provide performance documentation within 2 business days of request.
• Servicing HR Offices may be contacted to verify performance ratings.
• Most recent SF-50s (Notification of Personnel Actions), if you are a current or former Federal employee (including those applying under a non-competitive, special hiring authority, or ICTAP/CTAP eligibles).
• The SF-50s must show: effective date, position title, series, grade, salary, tenure, position occupied, full promotion potential, and name of agency.
• Multiple SF-50s may be needed to show all required information (e.g., promotion, within-grade increase, and separation SF-50s).
• Award SF-50s often do not show the required information.
• Veteran Documentation, if applicable.
• Veterans who are preference eligible OR who have been separated from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions (honorable or general discharge) after 3 or more years of continuous active service may apply under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA).
• You must submit a DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4 preferred) showing the dates you served as well as your type of discharge and qualifying service campaign medals OR if you are still on active duty, you MUST submit a certification on letterhead from your military branch which contains your military service dates, expected date of discharge or release, and the character of service to show that your military service was performed under honorable conditions.
• The expected date of discharge or release must be no later than 120 days after the certification is submitted for consideration for this job announcement.
• Current Federal employees applying under the VEOA must submit a qualifying SF-50 to show time-in-grade requirements.
• If you are applying as a preference eligible with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more, you must submit the documentation required by the SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference) to support your claim (e.g., DD-214, official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs).
• For applicants claiming 10-point derived veterans' preference (i.e., spouses, widows/widowers or mothers of veterans), a completed SF-15 must be submitted with the application with all required supporting documents listed on the form.
• For more veterans' preference information, visit the USAJOBS Help Center.
• Non-competitive or special hiring authority eligibility documentation, if applicable.
• (e.g., Schedule A individuals with disabilities, RPCV or AmeriCorp VISTA volunteer, Fulbright/Gilman/CLS alumni, etc.) 7.
• ICTAP/CTAP documentation, if applicable (e.g., reduction-in-force (RIF) separation notice, RIF separation SF-50 personnel action (ICTAP only, if available), most recent SF-50 (CTAP/ICTAP), certification of expected separation, etc.) In addition, submit a copy of your current or last performance rating of record which must be at least fully successful or equivalent and submit all required documents listed above that apply to you.
• Current or Former Land Management Employee documentation, if applicable.
• Visit the Forest Service's site for required documentation.

What to expect next

After all application packages are received, we will review applications and evaluate applicants' qualifications. Then, in approximately two weeks after this announcement closes, we will refer candidates, as described in the “How You Will Be Evaluated” section, to the hiring manager for selection consideration.

Your application status will be updated up to four times during the following hiring phases: After applications are received. After applications are assessed to determine qualifications. After candidates are referred to the hiring manager.

After a selection is made. For the selected candidates who receive a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability review and/or security background investigation that generally takes an average of at least two to six months.

Additional information

To request a reasonable accommodation for additional time on the timed sections of the assessment, please submit your request using the “Request a Reasonable Accommodation” button within the Assessment Application. For all other reasonable accommodations at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations (OAA) at ***.

OAA is responsible for reviewing and adjudicating reasonable accommodation (RA) requests for the Assessment Battery being used for this announcement. The following applies to all RA requests: RA requests cover additional time on timed sections only. Applicants submitting a RA request MUST attach supporting medical documentation signed by a licensed, treating medical provider.

The documentation should describe the nature, severity, and expected duration of the condition, identify the relevant medical condition or diagnosis, and explain the basis for the requested extension. RA requests that do not contain supporting medical documentation attachments at the time of initial request may be subject to further review.

Note: the following documents do not, on their own, qualify for automatic approval of the RA request: Schedule A letters, VA benefits letters, or SSA letters.

Applicants MUST submit their application before the vacancy closes, even if pending an accommodation decision.

Applicants are encouraged to carefully follow instructions related to medical documentation provided in the vacancy announcement prior to beginning the RA process. Applicants will have 48 hours after their RA request is adjudicated to complete the assessment battery.

Scores generated after the allotted timeframe will not be admissible and the applicant will not be considered further for the vacancy. If a different type of RA is needed, please contact OAA directly at ***. If eligible, situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval.

Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days and may require a higher or lower security clearance. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.

Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP): View OPM's CTAP & ICTAP eligibility website for more information.

You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority consideration.

To be considered Well-Qualified applicants must: score an 85 or above, meet Minimum Qualifications, and demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all major aspects of the position.