DHS Continuity Exercise Program Lead

Who may apply

Limited to the following applicant groups:

  • Federal employees - Competitive service
  • Federal employees - Excepted service
Washington, District of Columbia
Full-time Security Clearance: Not Required
Application Deadline:
2026-11-11
Posted:
2026-05-12
Salary: $102,415 – $197,200 per year (GS-12/15)

Salary context

Based on 39 annual-salary jobs in the same occupational series. This role pays around the middle of similar positions.

Job Details

Position Overview

This assignment is a 1-year non-reimbursable assignment.
Office of the Secretary
DHS Continuity Exercise Program Lead
Series Requested: 0089
Security Clearance: None
Virtual/Remote: No
Only current, full-time federal employees are eligible.
Resumes are reviewed every 30 days until selection/closing date.
This is a Detail, not a Developmental Rotation.
Supervisory approval form must be signed.

Duties

This DHS Joint Duty assignment supports the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Continuity Exercise Program. Specifically, this position will support the planning and conduct of continuity exercises and contribute to the analysis and reporting of exercise results that will inform future continuity preparedness activities and DHS capital investments in continuity programs.

Specific duties include:
- Support the planning and conduct of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continuity exercises (i.e., Mission Resilience/Eagle Horizon Exercise Series).
- Support the design and planning of exercises that validate activation and notification processes, relocation efficiency, essential function performance, communication capabilities, resource management, and reconstitution processes.
- Assist with developing exercise products, such as ground truth documents, scenario and injects for the exercise Master Scenario Event Lists (MSEL).
- Assist in documenting exercise findings in After-Action Reports (AARs).
- Support post-exercise debriefing and evaluation, including collecting feedback and identifying areas for improvement.

Qualifications & Requirements

Qualifications required:
  1. General knowledge of the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) methodologies.
  2. General knowledge of homeland security, national security, or intelligence functions.
  3. Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate stakeholder efforts across organizational lines.
  4. Knowledge or experience in developing and maintaining annual schedules for federal programs/projects.
Please read the following important information to ensure we have everything we need to consider your application:
It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit appropriate documentation prior to the closing date. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant experience as it relates to this Joint Duty assignment opportunity announcement.

Be clear and specific when describing your work history since human resources cannot make assumptions regarding your experience. Your application will be rated based on your resume.

Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information:
  1. Job Title (Include series and grade of Federal Job)
  2. Duties (Be specific in describing your duties)
  3. Name of Federal agency
  4. Supervisor name, email, and phone number
  5. Start and end dates including month and year (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)

Education

EDUCATIONAL SUBSTITUTION: There is no educational substitution for this position.

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a current permanent Federal employee
  • Must have supervisory approval to apply to the Joint Duty Assignment. DHS 250-2 Application Form under "required documents" section.
  • Must NOT have any pending/outstanding disciplinary actions
  • Must have achieved a minimum of "meet expectations/proficiency" on latest performance appraisal/evaluation
  • Must be currently at the grade level of the detail. *No Temporary Promotion Opportunity*
  • The program does not apply to members of the Military service or contractors.

Evaluations

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education, and training will be rated using a job questionnaire based on the competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this Joint Duty Assignment.

If you are among the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. After reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination will be made. You must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

Required Documents

1. Resume: Do not include any personally identifiable information (PII) i.e., home address, social security number, or date of birth. Your resume must clearly demonstrate you have experience which meets the requirements of this position as outlined in the "Qualifications" section.

2. SF-50: Submit a copy of your official SF-50 (no text version) or other official "Notification of Personnel Action" document which shows the following information:
  1. Your appointment in the Federal service
  2. Tenure
  3. Grade and Step
  4. Full performance level
If your SF-50(s) does not provide the information needed to make a final determination for qualification, you will be found ineligible for the position.

3. DHS Joint Duty Assignment Application Form signed by your supervisor. Please click on the following link to access the required form DHS Form 250-02.

How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/11/2026 to receive consideration.
  1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and other supporting documents, and complete the questionnaire.
  2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link, and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete. Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the selecting official for further consideration and a possible interview. We will notify you by email at various stages in the process. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information." We expect to make a final JDA offer within 90 days after the deadline for applications. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

Telework: Telework eligibility is based on the needs of the office and is subject to change.

Additional information pertaining to your interest and availability for this position may be needed after the closing date of the Joint Duty Assignment vacancy announcement; therefore, a timely response to these requests must be adhered to in order to remain in consideration.