Intelligence Research Specialist

TOUGH WORK. VITAL MISSION. Challenge yourself! You have the power to help combat drug trafficking. Be a part of DEA! It's tough work, but a vital mission. Whatever your background or expertise, your work at DEA will be tremendously rewarding because it will have a daily impact on national security and the quality of life of all Americans. These positions are located in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Duties

As a Intelligence Research Specialist, your typical work assignments may include: The incumbent is a newly hired Intelligence Research Specialist who assists Senior Intelligence Research Specialists and Special Agents by performing preliminary research, analysis, and evaluation of raw intelligence data for segments of large projects and studies.As an Intelligence Research Specialist, work assignments may include, but not limited to:

• Receives and analyzes highly specialized, sensitive information from multiple sources.
• Collects and evaluates information and provides recommendations and observations as to the vulnerable points within an organization.
• Monitors projects, plans, organizes, and performs research and analysis of complex issues, and provides guidance/directions to lower-graded employees.
• Plans, implements, and maintains databases to store and process technical information.
• Collects, reviews, interprets, evaluates, and integrates large volumes of complex information from multiple sources pertaining to extensive, interrelated topic areas.

Salary

• $76,463 - $118,204/year

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
• Incumbent is subject to random drug testing.
• Selectee may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period (OR 1-year OR 2-year trial period, as appropriate) during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest
• Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation. Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Polygraph may be required. 0132 Applicants who have previously completed and passed a polygraph examination with their current or former agency, may seek reciprocity with the DEA during the hiring process.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance. Each applicant will be reviewed individually to agency suitability policy. Upon completion of this review, the DEA will decide, if any additional clearance will be required.
• This position requires that the incumbent must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license.
• Must sign a mobility agreement that confirms your understanding and agreement to accept relocation to any location depending on the needs of the DEA.
• Newly hired Intelligence Research Specialists must successfully complete the 11 week Basic Intelligence Research Specialist (BIRS) Training Course at the DEA Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.

Qualifications

An additional assessment questionnaire includes four short, free-response essay questions which provides an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot.

For more information on eligibility requirements see: DEA Employment Eligibility

Applicants must meet all of the required qualification requirements described below by the closing of this announcement. If you are qualifying based on education or if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application.

Applicants applying for the GS-12 and GS-13 must meet one of the following requirements:

GS-12: Must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 Federal grade level performing the following duties: receiving and analyzing highly specialized, sensitive intelligence information from multiple sources; planning, organizing and performing research and analysis of complex issues; collecting and evaluating intelligence information and providing recommendations and observations as to the vulnerable points within an organization; analyzing intelligence reports and data to develop recommendations; and developing, applying and disseminating information regarding "targeted profile".


GS-13: Must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 Federal grade level performing the following duties: collecting, reviewing, interpreting, evaluating, and integrating large volumes of intelligence data from multiple sources pertaining to extensive, interrelated geographical or functional fields; planning, implementing and maintaining databases to store and process technical or operational intelligence; planning, coordinating and/or conducting the collection and analysis of strategic and tactical intelligence; conducting special research studies and providing comprehensive assessments of broad, complex, or highly sensitive issues; and developing methods of evaluating the validity, accuracy, and reliability of a broad array and high volume of information.

Additional information on the position qualification requirements are located in the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Qualifications Standards Handbook.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education EDUCATION NOT REQUIRED Other Information Training Requirement: As a term of employment, individuals selected for this position are required to successfully complete the Basic Intelligence Research Specialist Training Program. This is a 11-week training held at the DEA Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Mobility Requirement: This position is subject to reassignment to any domestic DEA facility, depending on the needs of the DEA. Individuals selected for this position are required to sign a mobility agreement as a condition of employment. Employment Drug Policy: All DEA applicants are required to disclose their current and past drug usage and activity. The DEA recognizes some otherwise qualified applicants may have used illegal drugs or abused legal drugs or substances in their past. These circumstances will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the Intel Assessments, you will be prompted to request a reasonable accommodation after logging into to your invitation link, prior to beginning Phase 1 and Phase 2 testing. Upon your request, the DEA Applicants Reasonable Accommodations Team will contact you and request any applicable medical documentation. Once the request has been fully adjudicated you will be notified via email to proceed with testing. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the Intel Assessments must be received before the JOA closes to be considered for this job opening. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. After notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the Intel Assessments. If the email invitation is sent prior to the close of the JOA to which you applied, you must complete all the assessments within 72 hours of the closing of the JOA. If the email invitation is sent after the close of the JOA to which you applied, you must complete all of the assessments within 72 hours of the time the email is sent. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to similar positions in any Division/Office listed in this announcement. Benefits Link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/ 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 - must be no more than two pages in length; resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. Resume should include applicants' name, email address, phone number, relevant work/volunteer experience, education and training. Include the start and end dates (from month/year to month/year), work schedule (e.g. part or full-time), the number of hours per week worked/volunteered, job title and description of duties performed. Education/Certification/Licensure when relevant or required for position. See Guidance for Applicants on 2-Page Resume and visit the USAJOBS Help Center for more information.
2. SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), if applicable: SF-50(s) must show the effective date, position title, series, grade, salary, tenure, competitive status, position occupied, full promotion potential, and name of agency. Multiple SF-50s may be needed to show all required information. Award SF-50s often do not show the required information. To verify the time in grade requirement, applicants must submit a SF-50 verifying the highest grade held for at least 52 weeks. Examples include, promotions with an effective date greater than one year, within grade increases demonstrating the highest grade held for at least 52 weeks or appointments/conversion of appointments with an effective date greater than one year.
3. ICTAP/CTAP - Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable. This includes copies of your agency notice (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal), most recent performance rating and more recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) noting current position, grade level and duty location.
4. Veteran Documentation, if applicable.

• Veterans who are preference eligible OR who have been separated from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions (honorable or general discharge) after 3 or more years of continuous active service may apply under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA). You must submit a DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4 preferred) showing the dates you served as well as your type of discharge and qualifying service campaign medals OR if you are still on active duty, you MUST submit a certification on letterhead from your military branch which contains your military service dates, expected date of discharge or release, and the character of service to show that your military service was performed under honorable conditions. The expected date of discharge or release must be no later than 120 days after the certification is submitted for consideration for this job announcement. Current Federal employees applying under the VEOA must submit a qualifying SF-50 to show time-in-grade requirements.
• If you are applying as a preference eligible with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more, you must submit the documentation required by the SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference) to support your claim (e.g., DD-214, official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs). For applicants claiming 10-point derived veterans' preference (i.e., spouses, widows/widowers or mothers of veterans), a completed SF-15 must be submitted with the application with all required supporting documents listed on the form.
• For more veterans' preference information, visit the USAJOBS Help Center.

1. Non-competitive or special hiring authority eligibility documentation, if applicable. Examples of such authorities include: Schedule A individuals with disabilities, returning Peace Corps or AmeriCorp VISTA volunteer, Fulbright/Gilman/CLS alumni, etc.
2. Current or Former Land Management Employee documentation, if applicable. Visit the Forest Service's site for required documentation.
3. Other Qualification Documentation (e.g. certificates, certifications, etc.), if applicable. See the Qualification section of this announcement for more information.

How to Apply

Prepare your application in USAJOBS

To start your application, click Apply and the system will provide guidance on how 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 06/01/2026to complete the application process. The closing date is subject to change due to there being a 2500 application count cap.

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.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the IRS Assessments, you will be prompted to request a reasonable accommodation after logging into to your invitation link, prior to beginning Phase 1 and Phase 2 testing. Upon your request, the DEA Reasonable Accommodations Team will contact you and request any applicable medical documentation. Once the request has been fully adjudicated you will be notified via email to proceed with testing.

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.