Historian

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seeks a Historian to join the Human Rights Violators Law Division in Washington, DC.

You will perform primary source research, contextualize findings, and contribute to investigations of human rights abuses and war crimes, coordinating with regional teams on complex cases. Ideal candidates will have Middle East expertise, language skills (Arabic highly desirable), and a track record of organizing large research projects.

Qualifications

• Minimum degree in history or related field with substantial history coursework.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct primary source research and synthesize findings.
• Experience organizing large sets of documents and preparing status updates.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on human rights violations and war crimes as part of HRVLD regional teams.
• Synthesize findings for diverse audiences and prepare progress reports.
• Organize, track, and cite documents reviewed for large-scale investigations.
• Mentor junior researchers and guide program analysts as needed.

Skills

Historical research

Contextual analysis

Document organization

Education

Degree in History (or related field) with 18 semester hours in history

Job description

Summary

View Common Definitions of terms found in this announcement.

Organizational Location

These positions are located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, in Washington, District of Columbia.

There are non-bargaining unit positions.

Duties

The selected historian will join the Human Rights Violators Law Division (HRVLD) as a regional specialist and be part of a team that investigates and prosecutes human rights violators and war criminals. HRVLD historians are experts on the history of twentieth century conflicts or regimes in which human rights abuses were perpetrated and have broad knowledge of relevant historical literature and of domestic, foreign, and international archives, and similar repositories containing records pertinent to the investigations of human rights violations and war crimes. HRVLD is recruiting a Middle East expert; candidates with desired expertise in Africa, the Balkans/Europe, and Latin America are also encouraged to apply.

HRVLD historians conduct case‑related investigative research as part of regionally focused teams at the Homeland Security Investigations‑led Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center. The teams work to identify, investigate, and prosecute criminal and immigration cases against individuals in the U.S. who have been involved in persecution, genocide, extrajudicial killing, torture, severe violations of religious freedom, female genital mutilation, the use or recruitment of child soldiers, war crimes or other human‑rights violations, as well as to seek the subsequent removal of these individuals from the United States.

As a Historian, You Will Perform The Following Duties

• Demonstrate a high degree of resourcefulness, ingenuity, tenacity and creative thinking in conducting research.
• Synthesize and contextualize research findings for varying audiences.
• Organize, track, and account for documents and sources reviewed or collected on a large‑scale research project.
• Analyze primary source materials to prepare status reports detailing progress in investigative research.
• Mentor, guide, and monitor the work of junior researchers or program analysts.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must successfully pass a drug screen.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• Requirements by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Probationary Period: This is a full‑time permanent position (Career/Career‑Conditional appointment). Upon appointment to this position, you may be required to serve a one‑year probationary period.

Qualifications

Please limit your resume to 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

Basic Requirements (IOR)

• Degree: history; or related field that included at least 18 semester hours in history.

OR

• Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in history, or a major in a related field that included at least 18 semester hours in history, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Evaluation of Graduate Education

Graduate study in the social sciences or humanities may also be credited when such study included training in historical research methodology; or the thesis approached the subject from a historical viewpoint and used professional historical research methodology and techniques in its preparation.

ADDITIONAL Requirement

To be considered minimally qualified for this position, in addition to the Basic Requirement above, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education below for the grade level for which you are applying.

You Qualify For The GS-15 Grade Level If You Possess One (1) Year Of Specialized Experience At The GS-14 Grade Level Or Equivalent Performing Duties Such As

• Designing and conducting a multi‑year research project(s) that included primary source research in the Middle East, Africa, the Balkans/Europe, or Latin America;
• Participating in academic peer review, OR participating in a role overseeing research work products;
• Assembling and/or presenting authoritative human rights information for formal distribution or review, meticulously presenting original research findings and conclusions; and
• Organizing, tracking, citing, and accounting for documents and sources reviewed or collected in a large- scale research project.

If applying as a Middle East specialist, proficiency in Arabic is highly desirable for completing research-related tasks and may enhance the applicant's ability to perform the duties of this position. If applying as a specialist in other geographic regions (Africa; Balkans/Europe; Latin America), proficiency in relevant language(s) is highly desirable for completing research-related tasks and may enhance the applicant's ability to perform the duties of this position. Applicants who possess language skills are encouraged to include relevant details in their application.

Note: Applicants should indicate their region of expertise and relevant language proficiency in their resume.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience)

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Current or Former Political Appointees

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non‑career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

E-Verify

DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Suitability

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Background Investigation

To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet these standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully obtain and maintain a background investigation for Top Secret as a condition of placement into this position. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests

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 that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case‑by‑case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

A student loan repayment incentive may be available, in which case a service agreement will be required.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include: flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service‑connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full‑time, part‑time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants' Two-page Resumes Will First Be Evaluated For Basic And Minimum Qualifications Requirements As Described In The Qualifications Section Of This Announcement. Applicants Meeting Basic And Minimum Qualifications Will Be Further Evaluated For Possession Of The Competencies Listed Below Using a Structured Resume Review, a Structured Interview, Or a Combination Of These Two Assessment Methods. The Competencies Needed To Perform This Job Are:

• Conflict Management
• Influencing and Negotiating
• Interpersonal Skills
• Technical Competence
• Information Management

Results of the competency evaluation will be used to determine the final pass/fail status of each applicant. Passing applicants must demonstrate possession of all competencies listed above.

Failure to demonstrate sufficient detail in the body of your resume may impact your final rating. Please note you are not required to provide specific narrative responses to the skills and competencies described in this section. If you are qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be contacted for an interview.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements.

Direct Hire Authority

These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. The "Rule of Three", Category Rating and Veterans Preference will not apply to this vacancy. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see: OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet.

Veterans

Although the Direct Hire Authority permits hiring without regard to Veterans Preference, applicants who are eligible for Veterans Preference are still encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (i.e. DD-214, or other substantiating documents). Staffing Policy View information on veterans' preference.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles

If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under ICTAP, you must be placed in the well qualified category for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12564, and the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan, ICE is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions (testing designated positions) are subject to random drug testing. Moreover, other drug testing of employees (e.g., reasonable suspicion drug test) may be conducted in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. All applicants tentatively selected for employment at ICE are subject to pre-employment drug testing and a final offer of employment is contingent upon a negative drug test result.