OPSEC Program Officer

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. The NCSC/Security Directorate (SD) protects the nation's security interests by providing comprehensive security solutions. SD develops and implements policies, guidance, and standards for personnel security, IC-wide and SCI security-relevant issues, and security clearance reform. SD also engages with government and industry partners to protect national security equities against foreign intelligence and security threats, and advance the U.S. Government's risk management environment to safeguard against adversarial and insider threats. The NCSC/SD directly supports the DNI's responsibilities as the Security Executive Agency (SecEA) across the Executive Branch and serves as the DNI's designee for oversight of national security programs across the Intelligence Community (IC). NCSC/SD also serves as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI's) lead support element, and performs the necessary staff functions to enable the fulfillment of the DNI's duties and authorities pertaining to insider threat pursuant to Section 102A(e)(8) of Reference B (50 U.S.C. § 3024(e)(8)), Executive Order 13587, and to the National Operations Security (OPSEC) Program pursuant to the National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM)-28. The National OPSEC Program (NOP) seeks to advance policies, objectives and priorities for establishing and integrating OPSEC programs in Executive Branch agencies and departments. Priorities include assisting stakeholders to establish or enhance their security, information management, public affairs, best practices, methodologies and training to increase and maintain OPSEC capabilities. The NOP reviews and assesses agencies' vulnerabilities, develops and issues minimum policies, procedures, standards, and guidance, including providing assistance in subject matter expertise, mentoring OPSEC program managers, and prepares, administers and reviews findings from OSPEC assessments. The OPSEC Program Officer will assist the National OPSEC Program Manager in leading the following activities: Assist USG departments/agencies implementation and program development of the NOP initiatives, develop OPSEC capabilities and ensure stakeholders remain fully informed of OPSEC efforts, and engage constructively to advance OPSEC efforts and bring a coordinated, integrated, enterprise perspective to bear against mission. Develop plans and methodologies to evaluate and assess USG department/agency compliance with NOP guidance and community best practices. Support USG working groups, roundtables, and other collaborative mechanisms to gather OPSEC requirements, drive policy modifications, and share best practices across the IC and USG. Develop, refine and implement OPSEC training and awareness resources, program development guidance, national advisories, and support the development and delivery of NCSC's National OPSEC Symposium and related activities during the annual National OPSEC Awareness Month. Plan, guide, and conduct the research and identification of key program issues, evaluate alternatives, and develop innovative proposals for decision by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) senior leadership. Plan and produce IC resource strategies and issue papers, strategic evaluations, background papers, talking points, surveys, assessments, maturity evaluations, and other products applying subject matter knowledge to support the IC senior leadership in making informed programmatic decisions. Plan, develop and present findings, conclusions, options, and recommendations to ODNI senior management. 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.

Education

Do not submit transcripts. 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 The ODNI provides reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Reasonable Accommodations Office Representative by email at [email protected], by telephone at (703)275-3900 or by FAX at (703)275-1277. Your request for reasonable accommodations will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION TO THE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION EMAIL ADDRESS. THIS EMAIL IS FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS ONLY. The ODNI is an equal opportunity employer and abides by applicable employment laws and regulations.