Federal

Intelligence Research Specialist

Department of State - Agency Wide Β· Department of State
πŸ“ Washington, District of Columbia GS-15 $169,279 - $197,200/yr
Posted: Feb 24, 2026 Deadline: Mar 2, 2026 (Closed days left)

About This Position

This position is Excepted Service under U.S.C. 50 Β§ 3024(v) and appointments are made without regard to requirements of the Competitive Service by laws, Executive order, or OPM regulations.

This position is in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Office of Analysis for Europe & Eurasia (INR/EUR). INR/EUR develops & execute program analysis of classified, unclassified, & open-source materials concerning political, economic, social, internal security, etc. of European & Eurasian countries.

Qualifications

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience working with theories and principles of political science, international relations, economics, history, geography, or other related disciplines applied in analyzing and evaluating factors and conditions involved in the analysis of Russian domestic and foreign policies. Experience working with the Department of State and the Intelligence Community (IC) in carrying out national intelligence activities.

Experience analyzing Russian leadership decision making and Russian domestic and foreign policies to provide expert advice and guidance about the policy implications of these issues and developments. Experience with intelligence analysis methods and techniques to produce policy relevant assessments that involve the research and analysis of information derived from a variety of sources. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-15 position.

Major Duties

Serves as the Senior Intelligence Officer on intelligence analysis for Russia providing analysis on foreign and domestic policy, including leadership intentions, with emphasis on U.S. foreign policy implications of Russia's international behavior.

Represents INR and the Department during IC coordination and collaboration, including for the President's Daily Briefing (PDB), National Intelligence Estimates, and other Intelligence Community (IC) analytic products and activities

Represents on IC committees, such as ODNI and National Intelligence Manager & National Intelligence Officer analytic, strategy & planning boards, and working groups within the IC, or meetings designated by the Office Director or INR Front Office.

Guides Analysis and prepares analytical intelligence assessments on information derived from relevant sources and presents briefings/ papers to officials within INR, the Department, the IC, the White House, and other executive branch departments.

Serves as a formal mentor within INR/EUR and an informal mentor within INR, for example by mentoring, guiding and developing the professional tradecraft capabilities of other analysts.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

How You Will Be Evaluated

For this announcement, all applicants will be assessed to determine if they meet the qualifications for this position, specifically the education, specialized experience, and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) necessary to perform the work of the position. All applications that meet the required qualifications and determined to be best-qualified will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview.

Your resume limited to two pages serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following KSAs and other characteristics that are relevant to the duties of this position and must be fully supported by information in your resume: Knowledge of the theories and principles of political science, international relations, economics, history, geography, or other related disciplines applied in analyzing and evaluating factors and conditions involved in the analysis of Russian domestic and foreign policy. Knowledge of the Intelligence Community (IC) programs, processes and policies to develop new hypotheses and concepts for intelligence analysis related to Russia Ability to provide advice, guidance, and consultation to the most senior officials regarding the interpretation and application of analyses Knowledge of Russian leadership decision making and Russian domestic and foreign policy topics, to include deep, cross-disciplinary understanding of the strategic impacts of Russian policies on political, economic, social, cultural, and foreign policy issues globally Ability to monitor, identify and meet the intelligence analysis needs of Department Principals to facilitate tailored analytic intelligence support Veterans: Although consideration of Veterans' Preference is not required under 50 U.S.C. Β§ 30240(v) to the extent it would be under the competitive service; the Department of State considers veterans' preference as a positive factor in the hiring process.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Additional Information

For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at (202) 663-3474 or [email protected]. If eligible, situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.

How to Apply

Prepare your application in USAJOBS To start your application, click Apply and we'll walk you through the process to attach a resume and any required documents. During the application process you can review, edit, delete, and update your information. We'll automatically save your progress as you go, so you won't lose any changes.

You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement to complete the application process. STEP 1: Select the "Apply" button and follow the instructions to register or sign into USAJOBS.

STEP 2: Submit your resume. Please see the Required Documents section for specific information that should be outlined in your resume. STEP 3: Complete the online assessment questions. STEP 4: Submit all required documentation applicable to you, as listed in the Required Documents section.

To learn how to view the status of your submitted supporting documentation and application, visit the Application Instructions section of our agency's Civil Service selection process site. Technical assistance with your on-line application is available through the Help Desk at [email protected] or by calling (866) 656-6830 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET Alternate Application Procedures If applying online poses an extreme hardship, you may request alternate application procedures to submit your application package.

Contact the Human Resources office listed on the announcement between the business hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET at least 2 working days prior to the closing date of this announcement. The application package for alternate application procedures must be submitted and received in the Human Resources office no later than 11:59 p.m.

ET on the closing date of this announcement. Paper applications and information sent by mail will not be accepted.

Required Documents

All required documents listed below, that are applicable to you, must be submitted to our automated system by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

  1. Resume limited to two pages showing relevant work/volunteer experience, education and training. Include the start and end dates (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours per week worked/volunteered.

Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must support your answers to the completed online assessment questions. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further.

  1. Most recent SF-50s (Notification of Personnel Actions). The SF-50s must show: effective date, position title, series, grade, salary, tenure, position occupied, full promotion potential, and name of agency. Multiple SF-50s may be needed to show all required information (e.g., promotion, within-grade increase, and separation SF-50s). Award SF-50s often do not show the required information.
  2. Performance appraisal, strongly encouraged for current or former Federal employees. Submit a copy of your most recent (i.e., usually within the last 18 months) final (i.e., not a mid-year review) official (i.e., signed by the rating official and in original format) annual performance appraisal for the hiring manager's consideration. If a performance appraisal is not available, you may provide a statement and/or a statement from your supervisor explaining the reason one is not available and your servicing HR Office contact information (name, email address, phone number).

Note: You may be requested to provide an appraisal to the hiring official if one was not provided with your application. To receive a promotion, the employee's most recent performance rating must be β€œfully successful” or an equivalent level or higher. Employees who are tentatively selected to receive a promotion will be required to provide performance documentation within two business days of request. Servicing HR Offices may be contacted to verify performance ratings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Intelligence Research Specialist position at Department of State - Agency Wide?
The salary range for this position is $169,279 - $197,200/yr. This is a GS-15 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Intelligence Research Specialist job located?
This position is located in Washington, District of Columbia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience working with theories and principles of pol...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Mar 2, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Top Secret clearance is required.
What does GS-15 mean?
GS-15 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.