NSEP Job Board

POLICY ANALYST
Office of Strategy, Policy and Plans/Office of International Affairs
Department of Homeland Security
Overview
NSEP Exclusive
Open & Closing Dates
06/04/2026 to 06/20/2026
Pay Scale & Grade
GS9 per year
Work Schedule
Full-Time
Promotion Potential
GS12
Appointment Type
Permanent
Location
City
Washington, DC
State
DC Metro Area
Duties
Summary
The incumbent will serve as a Policy Analyst within the Office of International Affairs. The analyst will work with DHS, interagency partners, foreign government officials and other international stakeholders to resolve or advance issues linked to European, Indo-Pacific, or Western Hemisphere nations, as well as the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and international data sharing issues such as the International Biometric Information Sharing (IBIS) program.
Responsibilities
The incumbent will work with DHS operational components (e.g., Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, Citizenship and Immigration Services, Transportation Security Administration), and external agencies (e.g., Department of State, foreign government ministries) to advance the Department’s international goals and objectives.



The incumbent will assist in developing position papers, briefing materials, strategies, and other policy recommendations for consideration by DHS leadership as it relates to foreign relations. The incumbent will also support multiple international programs which advance homeland security objectives.


Requirements
Conditions of Employment
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position.

You must be able to obtain/maintain a Secret security clearance.

Relocation Expenses WILL NOT be paid

Qualifications
Background in international affairs, public policy, public administration, or related fields



Experience articulating complex problems and developing creative solutions within short deadlines



Project or program management experience



Experience researching complex public policy subject areas from diverse sources and recommending policy options



Excellent communication, research and writing skills



Interpersonal skills necessary to interact with an executive audience and a wide variety of foreign partners



Demonstrated interest in homeland security/DHS missions



Experience related to traveler screening/information sharing, immigration/visa policy, or law enforcement is desired but not a requirement


Security Clearance
Required
Secret
Required Application Materials
Resume, DD-214 (veterans or active duty military only), SF-50 (current or former federal employees only), NSEP Letter of Certification, Writing Sample
Application Instructions
Your application is due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the application close date indicated above. Failure to follow the application instructions may result in rejection of your application.

Resume and Supporting Materials

You will need to submit your application through the vacancy posting on the NSEPnet Job Board. Please upload each of the required documents in the appropriate location. Files should be in Word, Excel, PDF, Text or Html formats only. When naming each file, please follow the following naming convention:

Document Type_Last Name, First Name

For example, the applicant John Smith would submit a resume named “Resume_Smith, John”.

To access the NSEPnet Job Board, you will need to login to https://www.nsepnet.org. The link to NSEPnet Job Board is at the top of the page under the “Job Search” tab. Please select the position you are interested in, read over the application instructions carefully, and upload all required documents.

If you cannot login or do not remember your login credentials, please use the Forgot Username tool at https://nsepnet.org/ForgotUsername.aspx or the Forgot Password tool at https://nsepnet.org/ForgotPassword.aspx.

SF-50 and DD-214

If you are a current or former federal employee, you will need to include your SF-50 (or similar document proving federal employment) in your application. If you are a veteran or active duty member of the U.S. military, you will need to include a DD-214 in your application.

Letter of Certification

You will need to request a Letter of Certification for this exclusive position. To request a Letter of Certification from the NSEPnet home page, hover over the blue “Request a Letter” option at the top of the page and click on “Certification Letter” from the drop-down options. Requests for Letters of Certification are generally processed within 1-2 business days.

HIRING AUTHORITY

The Department of Homeland Security will utilize the Schedule A (r) and/or NDAA’13 hiring authorities afforded to all NSEP award recipients with outstanding service requirements to make appointments to this position in the excepted service. NSEP award recipients who have already completed their service requirement to NSEP in full are not eligible to apply.


Additional Notes
This opportunity is only open to NSEP award recipients who have not yet fulfilled their service requirement to NSEP in full. If you have completed work which may fulfill part or all of your service under the terms of your Service Agreement with NSEP, please submit a Service Agreement Report (SAR) requesting service credit for that work as soon as possible. Feel free to reach out to the NSEP Service Team at nsep@nsep.gov if you have any questions or concerns.