Secure the Homeland

Proud to Protect

Come work with the best to prevent and deter terrorist attacks, protect against and respond to potential threats, ensure safe and secure borders, welcome immigrants and visitors, and promote the free-flow of commerce.  This mission of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is carried out everyday by the dedicated men and women who answer the noble calling of public service with courage and enthusiasm.  With a diverse and critical mission, we lead the unified national effort to secure America.  In today's interconnected world, our country's security challenges are constantly evolving.  To meet these challenges, DHS fosters a culture that values and promotes diversity, teamwork, flexibility, and innovation.

In Headquarters, we coordinate, plan, and guide the Department's work across all DHS components.  You could enjoy a career that includes research, administration and management, legal work, budget and finance, cyber security, infrastructure protection and intelligence analysis.  Our services touch every U.S. citizen, and our goal is to secure our country across land and sea.  Come join the team who is “Proud to Protect”. 

This position is located in Office of Strategic Plans in the Office of Policy.

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the Director of the Strategic Studies Division.  This division is a catalyst for strategic initiatives and directly provides the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy (Strategic Plans) with independent, critical assessment of proposed strategic action. 

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance
• Relocation Expenses WILL NOT be paid.

• Conducts complex studies and research in support of  strategic planning and guidance document development by the Office of Strategic Plans.  Is responsible for the DHS Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR) that is due every four years and constitutes a comprehensive assessment of the Department's missions, programs, strategies and develops inputs for the homeland security strategy.  Is also responsible for developing long range views resulting in periodic net assessments outside of the QHSR.


• Acts as a catalyst for strategic initiatives and directly provides the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy (Strategic Plans) with independent, critical assessment of proposed strategic actions. This division will also act as a focal point for interaction with joint, interagency and research communities.


• Responsible for initiating, conducting and integrating ongoing research and analysis in support of long and short-range plans, programs, policies, resource projections, priorities, justifications.  The goal is to provide the Department leadership with a broad view that looks beyond the typical five year budgetary window by looking across the spectrum of threats and challenges facing the agency and the nation ten to twenty years out. It would also serve as a liaison to components within the Department who have similar activities.


• Prepares and contributes to reports and other presentations on long term strategic planning and analysis.  Designs and conducts a wide variety of comprehensive studies and detailed analyses of complex functions and processes related to long-range planning. 

Specialized Experience:

Applicants must have one year of specialized experience in private industry, public service, non-profit or volunteer work that is equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.  Experience is typically in or related to the work of the position as described in the Major Duties above.  For this position, specialized experience is experience planning, organizing and conducting complex analysis and measurement of policies and programs to determine their effectiveness and impact of a department's strategic objectives.

Time-in-Grade Requirements:  Current Federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the Federal service.  All qualifications and time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.  

Additional information on the qualifications requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions.  It is available for your review on OPM's website at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES WILL BE EVALUATED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: 

Your resume and other applicant information must reflect  your length of experience and/or training in the following areas:

1. Skill in applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to develop new procedures and approaches for identifying and resolving significant issues and problems.
   
   
2. Skill in policy analysis, operational research analysis, or programmatic analysis.
   
   
3. Ability to plan, organize, and implement programs, plans, and proposals that require extensive changes in established procedures.
   
   
4. Skill in verbal and written communication which includes developing briefs for  executive level audiences and/or briefing congress.
   
   

Using the Category Rating system, applicants will be evaluated on their total background including experience (paid and unpaid), education, awards, and training and self-development as it relates to the position based upon the information provided in the resume/application and any other supporting documents. If you are a current or former Federal employee, your resume must indicate the GS or pay band level for each position that you held.  If your resume includes non-government service, including contractors, please include the salaries for each position held.  All work experience should specify the length of time spent in the position. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week.  Part-time hours are prorated. Based upon the extent and quality of your experience, education and training in relation to the evaluation criteria, you will be placed into one of the following three categories:

• Best Qualified - Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a superior level of possession of all evaluation criteria.
  
  
• Well Qualified - Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a satisfactory level of possession of the evaluation criteria.
  
  
• Qualified - Applicants possessing the specialized experience described above.

Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veterans' preference above non-veterans within each category. Veterans who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 level or higher.

You may participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, with costs shared with your employer. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#FEHB.

Life insurance coverage is provided. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#life

New employees are automatically covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). If you are transferring from another agency and covered by CSRS, you may continue in this program. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#retr

You will earn annual vacation leave. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#VACA

You will earn sick leave. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#SKLV

You will be paid for federal holidays that fall within your regularly scheduled tour of duty. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#HOLI

The Federal Flexible Spending Accounts Program (FSAFeds) allows you to pay for certain health and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.  More info:  https://www.fsafeds.com/fsafeds/index.asp

The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) provides long term care insurance for Federal employees.  More info:  http://www.ltcfeds.com

If you use public transportation, part of your transportation costs may be subsidized.

For general information, visit http://www.usajobs.gov/faqs.asp

Promotion Potential: This position has no promotion potential.     

Other Information: Selectee may be required to serve a one-year probationary period. Selectee will be required to complete an OGE 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Form.

Background Investigation:  This position is a Special Sensitive position and the tentative selectee must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for a Top Secret/SCI clearance as a condition of placement/retention in the position.

The Department of Homeland Security is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  All candidates will be considered regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, protected genetic information, status as a parent, lawful political affiliation, marital status, physical/mental disability (if not a job factor), membership or non-membership in an employee organization, or any other non-merit factor.

If you are a displaced Federal employee, you may be entitled to receive special priority consideration under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) or the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP).  Eligible ICTAP/CTAP employees within the commuting area must (1) submit documentary evidence of eligibility (Reduction-in-Force (RIF) notice or certificate of expected separation or other agency certification), (2) submit all required documents specified in the announcement, and (3) be rated as Well Qualified to receive consideration.

All employees are required to participate in Direct Deposit/ Electronic Funds Transfer for salary payments.

The Department of Homeland Security provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Applicants should notify the point of contact on this vacancy announcement if a reasonable accommodation is needed for any part of the application and hiring process.   For information, please visit www.opm.gov/disability/reasonableaccommodation.asp

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 Selective Service law, if selected. 

You MUST submit your resume for this job online to erecruithelpdesk@fpmi.com. Please include vacancy announcement number DHSHQ09-3019 and the position title, Supervisory Policy Analyst in the subject line and ensure that any additional information is attached in the same e-mail as your application. Be sure to carefully read this announcement to see if additional information is required and how it should be submitted. If you do not have access to a computer or the internet, you may fax your applicant information to 1-866-776-9831.  On the fax cover sheet, you must include:

·         A statement that you do not have computer and/or internet access

·         Vacancy announcement number:  DHSHQ09-______

·         Title, Series, and Grade for the position: ________________

·         Personal Information:

               Name

               Address

               Phone Numbers (home, work, and/or cell)

               Email Address

               Last four digits of your SSN

(Failure to include the above information on the fax will result in non-consideration.)

All application materials must be received by 11:59 PM, Eastern time of the closing date of this announcement.  Failure to provide complete information may result in non-consideration for this position.  Please do not submit original documents you may need in the future.  Applications will not be returned.

Current or former Federal employees with status who wish to be considered under both competitive (external) and merit promotion (internal) processes, must submit 2 applications and clearly label each to indicate, “Competitive” and “Merit Promotion”.  If upon receipt this distinction is not clear or if one application is received, the applicant will be considered under merit promotion processes only. 

 Note: Applicants selected from a Competitive certificate may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period.

In addition to competitive (external) referral lists (certificates), separate internal referral lists may be provided to selecting officials for candidates who are eligible under merit promotion procedures.  You are eligible under merit promotion procedures if you meet one of the following criteria:  (1) Federal employees with career or career-conditional appointments in the competitive service; (2) former Federal employees with reinstatement eligibility based on previous career or career-conditional appointments in the competitive service; (3) individuals eligible for Veterans Recruitment Appointments (VRA); and (4) individuals with disabilities.  FEDERAL EMPLOYEES MUST SUBMIT THEIR SF-50 FORM ; VRA ELIGIBLES MUST SUBMIT DD214 FORM OR PROOF OF HONORABLE DISCHARGE OR TERMINAL LEAVE STATUS IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED UNDER MERIT PROMOTION PROCEDURES.  

Qualified applicants in categories “(1)” or “(2)” above who fail to provide proof of status (e.g. SF-50 Form) will be considered under competitive (external) procedures only.

SUBMIT:

·         Resume or OF-612, “Optional Application for Federal Employment', or any other written format you choose. Whatever format you use, however, should contain the information requested at the end of this announcement.

·         Current or former Federal employees MUST submit a copy of their SF-50 Form which shows competitive service appointment, tenure group, and salary.  If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 Form which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade.  If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof. TSA employees must provide proof of permanent TSA appointment.

·         Federal employees MUST submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, including the overall rating.  In cases where the performance evaluation is over 12 months old, incomplete or unavailable, the applicant must attach a written explanation of the reasons for unavailability/ incompleteness. 

·         Form DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, MUST be provided in order to receive veterans' preference or establish Veterans Employment Opportunity Appointment eligibility.  If a DD-214 Form is not available at the time of application, applicant MUST submit proof of honorable discharge or terminal leave status.  If selected, candidates MUST provide Form DD-214 prior to entering on duty or as soon as applicable.  (Failure to provide Form DD-214 may impact your employment.)  Veterans with a service connected disability and others claiming 10 point preference MUST submit Form SF-15, Application for 10-point Veteran Preference, and the required documentation specified on the form.  IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE ADDITIONAL VETERAN PREFERENCE POINTS.

·         Candidates applying under a special hiring authority (e.g. Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA), 30% compensable disabled veterans, severely handicapped individuals, former Peace Corp and VISTA Volunteers, etc) MUST indicate the special program and submit proof of eligibility with the application.  These candidates will be considered non-competitvely for this vacancy.  For more information, visit http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/veteranscenter, https://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetsinfo.asp, http://www.opm.gov/disability.

CHECKLIST:

Please be sure to include the following information in your application (incomplete applications may not be considered for the position):

Full name, mailing address, day and evening phone numbers, and e-mail address

·         Last four digits of your Social Security Number

·         Country of citizenship (must be U.S. citizen to be eligible)

·         Veterans' Preference. Attach your DD-214, SF-15, or other proof of eligibility as described above under How to Apply.

·         Special appointment eligibility (e.g., 30% compensable disability, Peace Corps, etc.). Attach supporting documentation.

·         If you are or were a Federal government employee, please attach your latest SF-50 and attach a copy of your latest performance appraisal as described above under How to Apply.

·         Other educational programs, if relevant. Show dates and total hours of program.  

·         Name of employer, supervisor's name, and supervisor's telephone number (please indicate if you do not want us to contact your current supervisor)

·         Starting and Ending dates (month and year)

·         Hours worked per week

·         Annual salary

·         Duties and accomplishments

·         Relevant training courses

·         Relevant current certificates and licenses

·         Relevant honors, awards, etc. (e.g., memberships in professional and honor societies, publications, leadership activities, performance awards).  Give dates, but do not send documents.

APPLICANTS ARE ADVISED TO BLACK OUT THE FIRST 5 DIGITS OF YOUR SOCIAL SECURITYNUMBER ON ANY SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) SUBMITTED WITH YOUR APPLICATION.

The process of consideration of applicants may take several weeks. 

For more information, please read OPM's OF-510, 'Applying for a Federal Job' (.pdf)