Federal

Intelligence Research Specialist

Department of State - Agency Wide ยท Department of State
๐Ÿ“ Washington, District of Columbia GS-14 $143,913 - $187,093/yr
Posted: Jun 2, 2026 Deadline: Jun 8, 2026 (Closes in 6 days)

About This Position

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

This position is located in the Bureau of Intelligence & Research, Office of Analysis for Terrorism, Narcotics, and Crime, (INR/TNC), and analyzes classified and open-source information on global terrorism, narcotics, and crime and their impact on U.S. foreign policy and interests.

Qualifications

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 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 applying political, international, economic, historical, geographic, or related expertise and intelligence methods to produce policyโ€relevant assessments for U.S. foreign policy. Experience collaborating with internal stakeholders, the Intelligence Community, and other national security agencies, to carry out national intelligence activities and interagency processes.

Experience briefing and drafting analysis for senior policymakers on terrorism trends in east, central, and southern Africa. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-14 position.

Major Duties

Serve as the senior intelligence research specialist providing all source analysis on enduring and emerging terrorism trends in east, central, and southern Africa, with a focus on Islamic terrorist threats.

Lead intelligence support and analysis on major terrorism threats from the region to inform key national security deliberations, support interagency coordination, and enhance diplomatic efforts to counter regional terrorism.

Develop and maintain strong relationships with counterparts in INR, policy clients in the Bureau of Counterterrorism, Intelligence Community partners, and other U.S. government experts.

Represent the Department in interagency meetings, advise Department policymakers, brief key congressional stakeholders, and serve as a government-wide expert in intergovernmental and non-governmental fora.

Advise on and perform intelligence research bearing on U.S. relations with foreign governments and international organizations.

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 U.S. counterterrorism policy and programs. Skill in all-source terrorism analysis and assessment. Ability to align intelligence support with policy and program needs.

Knowledge of U.S. foreign and national security policy processes. Skill in negotiation and mediation. Ability to advise senior officials on complex intelligence issues. Veterans: Although consideration of Veterans' Preference is not required under 50 U.S.C. ยง 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 [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 โ€œfully successfulโ€ 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 $143,913 - $187,093/yr. This is a GS-14 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?
Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.
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 Jun 8, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance is required.
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.