Field Intelligence Oversight Officer

Duties

The incumbent of this position serves as the Field Intelligence Oversight Officer (FIO) and assists the I&A Privacy and Intelligence Oversight Officer in providing oversight of all DHS field intelligence activities undertaken to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, policies, and standards of propriety. The incumbent will be embedded in the field and will need to travel to various locations at least 40-50% of the time in their oversight duties. Areas of responsibility include identifying the need for, developing and issuing oversight policy, guidance and training for I&A field intelligence components; ensuring that I&A field intelligence professionals are trained on Intelligence Oversight (IO), civil liberties and privacy standards, including those specific to DHS; establishing compliance programs for I&A's Field Intelligence Directorate (FID), to include in-person audits, reporting and tracking; and monitoring FID's compliance with applicable laws, Executive Orders, regulations, and policies through rigorous and independent evaluations. The focus of these activities is protecting the privacy rights and civil liberties of U.S. persons while FID conducts authorized intelligence activities.

MAJOR DUTIES

• Provides senior-level policy and analytical support to the I&A Privacy and Intelligence Oversight Officer and to the Director of TOPO and other senior officials by assisting in the oversight of all I&A field intelligence, to include counterintelligence and intelligence-related activities, as required by the National Security Act of 1947, as amended, and E.O. 12333, as amended.
• Evaluates procedural and automated mechanisms established for the control and fusing of intelligence, counterintelligence, and law enforcement data, and in turn, review the sharing of this fused information with numerous recipients to ensure compliance with Intelligence Oversight (IO) authorities.
• Analyzes, assimilates, and evaluates all available public and non-public data and regularly develops new sources of information.
• Prepares reports and oral briefings.
• Functions as a technical expert on sensitive issues concerning important intelligence activities, national security systems, and/or trends and patterns associated with the conformity to and compliance with laws and regulations governing I&A field intelligence components and associated and related entities and individuals. This requires examining, evaluating, and analyzing both field intelligence components and related entities for conformity with laws and regulations, and performing other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities.
• The supervisor provides only general administrative direction or guidance in terms of broadly defined missions or functions. The incumbent is responsible for independently planning, designing, and carrying out programs, projects, studies, and other work. Incumbent exercises near complete autonomy in initiating necessary actions to accomplish the mission within the assigned area of responsibility. The incumbent informs the supervisor of potentially controversial findings, issues, or problems with widespread impact. Completed work is reviewed by the supervisor for effectiveness and compatibility with current mission objectives and success in obtaining acceptance of recommendations by leadership.
• Recognizes the need to alert higher-level supervisor of information requiring further examination. Responsible for researching and analyzing identified vulnerabilities.
• Collects, evaluates, and analyzes the information being reported and provides timely actionable and/or predictive analyses to leadership from which they can make informed decisions related to compliance with laws and policies governing intelligence oversight, privacy, civil liberties and other related areas of law and policy.
• Acts as an expert on special projects, advising management on major office issues.
• Leads, conducts or participates in complex studies and reviews, particularly those with significant effect upon compliance with Intelligence Oversight and other related laws, regulations and policies.
• Serves as an expert in the detection and development of information to uncover violations of I&A's IO Guidelines or other violations of related law, regulation, and policy.
• Devises new concepts, guides, and methodologies for solving unprecedented problems.
• Analyzes current and proposed operating procedures to assure consistent compliance with IO Guidelines and other related laws, regulations, and policies, and to streamline or improve operations. Keeps abreast of cutting-edge intelligence technologies and best practices. Participates in the planning, development, enhancement, and testing of information systems used to inform regulatory, legal, and program compliance actions.

MAJOR DUTIES CONTINUED BELOW

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be able to hold a TS/SCI Security Clearance.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) and is covered by the Department of Homeland Security Headquarters Drug-Free Workplace Program.

Qualifications

MAJOR DUTIES CONTINUED:

• Assists the I&A Privacy and Intelligence Oversight Officer and Director of TOPO, as appropriate, by identifying evolving policy matters directly related to I&A field intelligence activities. Evaluates the impact of changing national security and homeland security threats, new legislation, technologies, capabilities, mission, requirements, objectives, operations, and organizations.
• Extracts and organizes statistical, financial, industrial, and immigration data to inform oversight decisions in accordance with ODNI requirements. Where current policy does not address an evolving function or operation, assists the I&A Privacy and Intelligence Oversight Officer and the Director of TOPO, as appropriate, in developing policy recommendations for the Undersecretary of Intelligence and Analysis/Chief Intelligence Officer (USIA/CINT).
• Develops IO training programs and ensures annual IO training is provided to all I&A personnel who are assigned to a field intelligence element or performing intelligence functions and provides compliance assistance to all I&A personnel performing field intelligence-related functions.
• Performs fact-finding research, data queries and verification, quantitative and/or qualitative analysis and preparation of correspondence concerning policies and programs as they relate to compliance, including preliminary inquiries and audits.
• Disseminates data through reports on compliance reviews and audits. Works independently, establishes work procedures, exercises judgment in applying information gathering techniques, and evaluates validity and pertinence of data.
• Reviews reports and allegations from a variety of sources, which suggest questionable activities or improprieties by or within I&A's field intelligence elements or other related entities or individuals.
• Plans and conducts visits or initiates other contacts to assess the validity and seriousness of such reports or allegations.
• Studies and evaluates the circumstances incident to the case and recommends courses of action to the I&A Privacy and Intelligence Oversight Officer and/or the Director of TOPO, as appropriate.
• Collects and compiles information as required for transmittal to the President's Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB), with its component Intelligence Oversight Board (IOB).
• Assists the I&A Privacy and Intelligence Oversight Officer and Director of TOPO, as appropriate, in leading study groups, task forces, and working committees across the spectrum of the IC and the DHS Intelligence Enterprise.
• Helps coordinate DHS-wide IO efforts through frequent contact and interchanges of information with key managers of DHS and other appropriate agencies. In conjunction with other related entities, represents PIOB/TOPO in meetings and discussions with representatives of the regulatory and law enforcement communities, interdivision and interagency advisory committees and a variety of other organizations.
• Represents PIOB/TOPO in meetings with senior-level managers of the IC, DHS, other Federal agencies, and State and local governments for the purpose of policy formation and conflict resolution.
• Maintains a continuous liaison between FID components across the United States and PIOB/TOPO, as well as with the DHS Office of General Counsel/Intelligence Law Division (ILD), other DHS organizations and subordinate offices/organizations.
• Works with functional counterparts in response to legislative directions, policy changes, and the impact of these changes.
• Represents I&A with a variety of organizations.
• Establishes, develops, and maintains effective working relationships with a variety of high-level offices. Works requirements as a result of proposed congressional inserts on all related programs.
• Meets with key customers and coordinating officials to assess customer satisfaction, explain organization policy and procedures, and resolve significant problems.
• Prepares and presents briefings.
• Prepares and analyzes reports; responses to queries, justifications and background papers on the technical aspects of areas of expertise and assignment.
• Researches and determines or recommends appropriate actions or interpretation of issues impacting the organization. Serves as the independent technical consultant for the organization.
• Represents the organization on working groups; steering groups; or other meetings, conferences, seminars, etc. May chair such groups or meetings when the meeting is in the incumbent's area of assignment.
• Promotes interchange of information on requirements, capabilities, deficiencies, and technology applications of specialization. Writes clear and succinct memos and other deliverables explaining why a particular set of facts does or does not meet legal, compliance, regulatory or program requirements.
• Develops and communicates recommendations on highly complex and sensitive oversight and compliance issues and policies to senior leadership.
• Defends recommendations to higher levels of management as necessary.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:

To qualify for the GS-14 grade level, you must possess one year of specialized experience at the GS-13 grade level in the federal service, or comparable experience not gained in the federal service by having expert experience in developing and issuing intelligence oversight policy and guidance to DHS intelligence components; conducting rigorous and independent evaluations of DHS organizations that engage in intelligence activities; developing Intelligence Oversight training programs; expert knowledge of homeland security intelligence and/or counterintelligence operations and processes; and mastery knowledge of the National Security Act of 1947, as amended; E.O. 12333, as amended; other authorities addressing intelligence collection, processing and analysis; Congressional IO procedures; DHS policy; and applicable case law.

Additional information

This is a permanent appointment position that is classified in the Excepted Service under Title 50 and will be filled on a full-time permanent basis. Employees hired under an Excepted Service appointment may be required to serve a two (2) year trial period.

Anyone interested in this opportunity should submit their work history showing current grade by COB 01/17/2025

Note: One or more positions may be filled using this vacancy announcement.

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, and genetic information, and age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements.

If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using a job questionnaire based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills and abilities needed to perform this job:

• Critical thinking skills
• Proficient oral and written communication skills
• Writing and editing skills

If you are amongst the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you will be removed from consideration.

Required Documents

1. Your resume.
2. Your cover letter. Not to exceed two pages describing qualifications and interest in the position.
3. Your most recent performance evaluation.

You may be asked to submit additional documents during the resume review process (e.g., writing samples, or ask applicants to complete questionnaires or assessments). Applicants also may be asked for references during the selection process. Incomplete packages will not be referred to the Hiring Manager.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must submit your resume, a complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 01/17/2025.

To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login , select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Agency contact information

DHS INTEL ICAG Support

Email DHS.INTEL.ICAG@hq.dhs.gov

Address IC - DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis Customers
3801 Nebraska Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016
US

Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once the application window closes, all application packages will be reviewed for completion prior to referral to the selecting official.

Please address questions regarding application procedures to DHS.INTEL.ICAG@HQ.DHS.GOV.

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request