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Targeting Analyst

Office of the Director of National Intelligence

Bethesda, MDFull-time$144–187K/yrPosted today

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At a glance

Compensation
$144–187K/yr
Location
Bethesda, MD
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Bachelor's degree

Job overview

The Targeting Analyst leads counterintelligence targeting and analysis for the National Counterintelligence and Security Center. The role develops intelligence products and briefings for senior policymakers and Intelligence Community partners, coordinates operational leads with national, defense, and domestic authorities, and supports information sharing across agencies. It also guides junior targeters and helps shape analysis and priorities supporting U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Analytic TargetingData ExploitationData WranglingIntelligence AnalysisAnalytic TradecraftInformation SharingIntelligence ProductionModelingLink AnalysisStrategic ThinkingCritical ThinkingInterpersonal SkillsOrganizational SkillsProblem-SolvingMentoringCommunication

Qualifications

Bachelor's DegreeGS-14 or One Level BelowCurrent Federal EmployeeSF-50 Documentation

Benefits

Relocation Assistance

Full job description

Summary

Lead proactive counterintelligence and security activities across the United States government, integrating the instruments of national power to detect, report, deter, disrupt, investigate, exploit, and defeat foreign intelligence threats.

Duties

The National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) is dedicated to leading the U.S. Counterintelligence and Security communities, countering all threats posed by adversarial foreign intelligence affiliated threats and enhancing our national security posture at every level. We will serve as the head of U.S. counterintelligence and integrate the instruments of national power to counter foreign intelligence threats. NCSC will be the "center of gravity" to support the counterintelligence and security efforts of the entire U.S. interagency, and public sector initiatives to protect our nation from adversarial efforts to exploit the United States and victimize the American people. Plan, research, develop, and communicate in-depth analyses of complex and significant national, regional, and/or global issues for senior policymakers and key components in the Intelligence Community (IC), law enforcement, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Apply strategic collection capabilities and coordinate with national, defense, and domestic authorities on operational leads and targeting to ensure alignment with national-level counterintelligence priorities. Guide and collaborate on targeting leads and counterintelligence activities by planning and engaging with internal and external partners following information sharing guidelines, and communicating timely and relevant intelligence leads. Guide training and professional development of junior targeters by identifying relevant courses consistent with the officer's skills, career path, and the team's mission requirements. Write analytic and investigative leads for internal and external partners that meets rigorous tradecraft, does not overstate the analysis, meets ICD 206 sourcing requirements, and provides timely intelligence to partners to take decisive action. Provide leadership and expert guidance to the planning, analysis, and application of a full-range of methodological tools and approaches to gain a comprehensive understanding of complex analytical issues and incorporate insights and findings into well-crafted, in-depth intelligence products. Plan, prepare, and present written and oral briefings to senior internal and external customers on significant intelligence issues; explain complex concepts to non-expert customers and tailor the product to correspond to customer needs. Lead, plan, direct, and coordinate the preparation of tactical, multidisciplinary, and strategic analysis that supports key US national security and foreign policy objectives and helps shape IC analysis and priorities. Apply a full range of methodological tools and approaches to gain a comprehensive understanding of complex and significant analytic issues and incorporate insights and findings into well-crafted, sophisticated intelligence products. Develop and implement strategies for gathering intelligence, or historical information in support of US interests and policy objectives; cultivate and identify key internal and external sources of relevant information that meet customer and self-derived needs. Cultivate, and maintain productive working relationships with colleagues, experts, IC members, policy committees, and law enforcement agencies as appropriate and use these relationships to share information of interest; attend internal and external training, seminars, or conferences on broad or more strategic subject areas. Build and leverage collaborative networks within the ODNI and across the IC. Other duties, as assigned. Qualifications

This is an excepted service GS-14 position open to the public and all current federal employees at the GS-14 and one level below. Current federal employees at the GS-14 and one level below may apply to this position, and if selected will maintain pay set at their current grade and step. Current federal employees at grade levels GS-12 and below are not eligible for this position and their application will not be forwarded to the hiring manager. All current federal employees that apply for this position must submit their most recent SF-50, Notification of Personal Action (i.e., dated within the last 52 weeks from the closing date of this vacancy announcement) to verify their status of eligibility. Extensive knowledge in multiple areas of subject matter expertise. Knowledge of critical IC databases and data sets required to conduct analytic targeting. Demonstrated application of ICD 203 analytic tradecraft and ICD 206 sourcing requirements in all analytic work. Adept in data exploitation and data wrangling to maximize the analytic value of the available data. Extensive knowledge of targeting analysis, raw collection, and data exploitation as well as analysis and production. Extensive knowledge of the information sharing rules, the ODNI and larger IC mission, operations, tradecraft, capabilities, and requirements. Demonstrated ability to apply expert knowledge of ODNI, IC organizations, and relevant customer organizations or operations (e.g., military, policymakers, and law enforcement), in order to effectively translate their requirements and provide appropriate output or responses to meet customer needs. Extensive knowledge of IC policy and procedures and demonstrated knowledge of analytic tradecraft and ability to communicate intelligence information and judgments to generalists as well as specialists. Demonstrated ability to produce analytic finished intelligence related to the subject matter issue, either as lead analyst or manager of analysts, and broad knowledge of the role of intelligence analysis within the IC. Demonstrated ability to lead and promote the development and use of a broad range of methodological tools and approaches to research, analyze, and present data (modeling, link analysis, or software). Demonstrated ability to maintain and develop regular contacts within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and the IC for exchanging information. Demonstrated levels of flexibility and ability to remain open-minded and change opinions on the basis of new information and requirements; ability to support group decisions and solicit opinions from coworkers. Demonstrated ability to oversee and direct information sharing programs and promote information sharing practices across the ODNI and IC. Demonstrated analytic and critical thinking skills, including ability to think strategically. Demonstrated ability to execute senior-level guidance in a fast paced environment and ability to translate strategic goals into specific objectives with appropriate metrics and methods to track progress towards meeting those goals. Demonstrated interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills, in working with individuals at the highest levels of the IC and government in justifying, defending, negotiating, and resolving significant and controversial issues. Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and in a team or collaborative environment, and mentor junior colleagues. Creative problem-solving skills and initiative in carrying out mission responsibilities. Other duties, as assigned.

Education

Lowest Acceptable Education Level: Bachelors How You Will Be Evaluated

You must submit the supporting documents listed under the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. Only include documents listed under the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. If you have more than one copy of a document, only include your most recent copy. If you are among the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. As part of the application process for this position, applicants will be required to respond to four free-response essay questions, which are detailed below. These responses will not be scored or rated as part of the initial evaluation. Instead, they provide applicants with an opportunity to elaborate on their qualifications, professional background, and commitment to public service. FREE RESPONSE ESSAY QUESTIONS All applicants must answer the following four short, free response essay questions. The responses cannot exceed 200 words per question. By submitting your responses to the following questions, you certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]). How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes. In this role, you will be expected to professionally and efficiently implement executive direction. Provide an example where you implemented leadership direction on a strategy or policy decision that differed from your own recommendation. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position. Other Information

JOB INTERVIEW TRAVEL Candidates from outside the Washington Metropolitan Area (WMA) may be selected for a telephone, teleconference, or in-person interview. SALARY DETERMINATION The ODNI uses a rank-in-person system in which rank is attached to GS employees on the basis of individual qualifications, experience, and performance. Individuals whose current GS grade is equivalent to the grade of the advertised position will retain their current grade and step. Individuals who transfer to the ODNI from a non-GS pay scale will have base pay converted to the appropriate GS grade and step as determined by the Chief of Human Resource Management. In some cases when a current federal civilian employee applies for an ODNI position that is a lower grade than his or her personal grade, the candidate's personal grade will be downgraded to the grade of the advertised ODNI position and pay will be set at the step that is closest to, and not less than, the employee's current annual base rate of pay, not to exceed the maximum step rate of the GS grade to which assigned. RELOCATION EXPENSES For new ODNI employees, reimbursement for relocation is discretionary based on availability of funds. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS For individuals requiring a reasonable accommodation to support a disability that interferes with completing the job application or hiring process, please contact ODNI Human Resource Management Reasonable Accommodation (HRM RA) by email at [email protected]. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To ensure ODNI HRM RA can respond to requests for reasonable accommodation in a timely manner, ODNI HRM RA will only respond to communications that are directly related to an individual's accommodation request. We appreciate your understanding in this matter. The ODNI is an equal opportunity employer and abides by applicable employment laws and regulations.

How this job compares

Set against the 777 open Intelligence Analyst jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 4, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$144–187K/yr
  • Maryland median$100–165K/yr86 salary ranges
  • US median$92–150K/yr586 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $166K, is 23% above the Maryland median midpoint ($135K) — in the top quarter of Intelligence Analyst salary ranges in Maryland.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 90 open Intelligence Analyst jobs in Maryland and 777 across the US. 2% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Maryland
Experience
Intelligence Analyst postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 3 to 8 years (654 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 221 of the 777 open Intelligence Analyst jobs (28%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 4, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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