Historian

Immigration and Customs Enforcement • Washington, DC

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Historian joins the Human Rights Violators Law Division (HRVLD) as a regional specialist on a team that investigates and prosecutes human rights violators and war criminals. HRVLD historians bring expertise in the history of twentieth-century conflicts or regimes associated with human rights abuses, knowledge of relevant historical literature, and familiarity with domestic, foreign, and international archives and other repositories containing records relevant to investigations. The division is recruiting a Middle East expert and also encourages candidates with expertise in Africa, the Balkans/Europe, and Latin America to apply. Historians conduct case-related investigative research as part of regionally focused teams at the Homeland Security Investigations-led Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center. These teams identify, investigate, and prosecute criminal and immigration cases involving individuals in the United States implicated in persecution, genocide, extrajudicial killing, torture, severe violations of religious freedom, female genital mutilation, the use or recruitment of child soldiers, war crimes, and other human rights violations, and seek their subsequent removal from the United States.

The position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, in Washington, District of Columbia. It is a full-time permanent Career/Career-Conditional position at the GS-15 level and may require a one-year probationary period. Selected applicants must obtain and maintain a Top Secret background investigation as a condition of placement. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, pass a drug screen, and meet the stated education and specialized-experience qualifications by the announcement closing date.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Must successfully pass a background investigation and drug screen; selected applicants must obtain and maintain a Top Secret background investigation as a condition of placement.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must certify Selective Service registration.
• A degree in history, or a related field that included at least 18 semester hours in history; alternatively, qualifying equivalent coursework plus appropriate experience or additional education.
• For GS-15, one year of specialized experience at the GS-14 level or equivalent, including designing and conducting multi-year research projects involving primary-source research in the Middle East, Africa, the Balkans/Europe, or Latin America; participating in academic peer review or overseeing research work products; assembling or presenting authoritative human-rights information for formal distribution or review, with original findings and conclusions; and organizing, tracking, citing, and accounting for sources and documents in a large-scale research project.
• Qualifications must be met by the announcement closing date.
• Resume must be limited to two pages; experience should be described clearly and specifically.
• May be required to serve a one-year probationary period after appointment.

Nice To Haves

• Arabic proficiency is highly desirable for applicants specializing in the Middle East.
• Proficiency in relevant languages is highly desirable for applicants specializing in Africa, the Balkans/Europe, or Latin America.
• Graduate study in the social sciences or humanities that includes historical research methodology, or a thesis using professional historical research methodology and techniques from an historical viewpoint, may be credited toward the education requirement.

Responsibilities

• Conduct investigative research with resourcefulness, ingenuity, tenacity, and creative thinking.
• Synthesize and contextualize research findings for different audiences.
• Organize, track, and account for documents and sources reviewed or collected in large-scale research projects.
• Analyze primary-source materials and prepare status reports describing investigative research progress.
• Mentor, guide, and monitor junior researchers or program analysts.
• Conduct case-related research as part of regionally focused teams investigating human rights violations and war crimes.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term care insurance
• Retirement plan
• Thrift Savings Plan
• Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• Personal leave days
• Paid federal holidays
• Flexible work schedules
• Telework
• Tuition reimbursement
• Transportation subsidies
• Uniform allowance
• Health and wellness programs
• Fitness centers
• Employee training and developmental opportunities
• A student loan repayment incentive may be available, with a required service agreement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior