Intelligence Research Specialist

Department of Energy Headquarters•Washington, DC

7d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is part of the Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, Department of Energy. As an Intelligence Research Specialist, you will provide overall management, direction, and execution of the Department's Counterintelligence Inspections Program. This is an Excepted Service position. This appointment will not confer Competitive Service career-conditional or career tenure status. This means that if you are selected, you would have to compete with other applicants in open competition to meet requirements for another Federal position, unless you meet the requirements for reinstatement. Applicants who voluntarily convert from the competitive service, Senior Executive Service, or other pay systems to a non-time limited appointment under this excepted service authority are not afforded "fallback rights" to the pay system previously assigned prior to conversion. As a GS-15, Intelligence Research Specialist, you will: Direct and execute the nationwide Counterintelligence Inspection Program by establishing operational strategies, methodologies, schedules, and resource allocations to assess departmental risk and program effectiveness. Lead and integrate cross-functional teams of subject matter experts across disciplines-including investigations, analysis, human intelligence (HUMINT), cyber counterintelligence, and technology protection-to evaluate field and headquarters operations. Identify operational and intelligence vulnerabilities across laboratory, plant, and site environments, recommending corrective actions to mitigate foreign intelligence threats. Validate final inspection and intelligence products to ensure evidential sufficiency, analytic integrity, sourcing accuracy, and adherence to departmental and Intelligence Community standards before dissemination. Advise and brief senior leadership and external stakeholders (including executive leadership, site directors, the Intelligence Community, and Congress) to justify complex, sensitive, or controversial findings and defend corrective actions. Evaluate corrective action plans and recurring findings across the enterprise to determine risk mitigation effectiveness and drive updates to nationwide counterintelligence policies, standards, and program priorities.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.
Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
May be required to complete a one year probationary period.
Must obtain and maintain a security clearance at the Q level.
Must obtain and maintain a Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearance prior to entrance on duty.
Position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) subject to applicant testing and random drug testing thereafter.
At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-14) in the Federal service.
Managing or leading inspection, oversight, or program evaluation initiatives within a counterintelligence, intelligence, or national security program, including establishing operational methodologies, schedules, and resource requirements to assess program effectiveness and operational risk.
Directing and reviewing cross-functional technical work across specialized counterintelligence disciplines (such as investigations, analysis, human intelligence [HUMINT], cyber counterintelligence, or technology protection) to ensure analytical rigor, evidentiary sufficiency, and adherence to established operational and reporting standards.
Evaluating systemic vulnerabilities and risk assessments to produce authoritative reports, brief executive-level leadership, and recommend enterprise-wide corrective actions or policy improvements to mitigate foreign intelligence and security threats.

Responsibilities

Direct and execute the nationwide Counterintelligence Inspection Program by establishing operational strategies, methodologies, schedules, and resource allocations to assess departmental risk and program effectiveness.
Lead and integrate cross-functional teams of subject matter experts across disciplines-including investigations, analysis, human intelligence (HUMINT), cyber counterintelligence, and technology protection-to evaluate field and headquarters operations.
Identify operational and intelligence vulnerabilities across laboratory, plant, and site environments, recommending corrective actions to mitigate foreign intelligence threats.
Validate final inspection and intelligence products to ensure evidential sufficiency, analytic integrity, sourcing accuracy, and adherence to departmental and Intelligence Community standards before dissemination.
Advise and brief senior leadership and external stakeholders (including executive leadership, site directors, the Intelligence Community, and Congress) to justify complex, sensitive, or controversial findings and defend corrective actions.
Evaluate corrective action plans and recurring findings across the enterprise to determine risk mitigation effectiveness and drive updates to nationwide counterintelligence policies, standards, and program priorities.