The
application process for employment at National Geospatial-Intelligence
Agency is lengthy due to employment requirements. Depending on your
specific circumstances, the process may take as little as two months or
more than a year. To start the application process you should review the list of current vacancies and then submit your electronic application. How to Apply
Eligibility Requirements
- Specific education and skill requirements can be reviewed in each
Assignment Opportunity Notice, however all applicants are required to
meet the following conditions of employment:
- Must be 18 years of age
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Must be able to obtain a Top Secret with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance
- Must successfully complete any required pre-employment tests when
applicable (i.e. vision testing, medical screen, illegal drug use
screen)
To
apply for a job with National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, you must
submit your application online through the eRecruit application system,
which is accessible via this website. If you are interested in multiple
job opening announcements, you must apply to each announcement for which
you want to be considered. For more information, including step-by-step
instructions for navigating through the application process,
click here.
Intentional misrepresentations in
application documents raise serious doubts about the applicant’s honesty
and fitness for employment and can be sufficient to establish that the
applicant is unsuitable for federal employment.
Checking Your Application Status
You can check the status of your application by logging back into the
eRecruit application system using the user name and password that you created during the registration process.
- Due to the large volume of applications we receive, individual feedback is not provided.
- A number of factors can influence when your application status is
updated. Some of these include when the announcement closes, the number
of applications received for the particular announcement, the number of
interviews conducted and scheduling. Although it is our goal to update
application status as soon as possible, hiring managers can take up to
120 days to make final selections.
If you are selected for an interview, you
will be contacted by NGA. It is important that you provide current
contact information in your application. The
qualification and status definitions will help you understand your applicant status displayed in eRecruit.
Click
here for more information.
What to Expect
Our hiring process is more involved
than most people realize. We want you to know that your application is
reviewed and we have put together the information below to help manage
your expectations.
Selection Process
When the Assignment Opportunity
Notice (AON) closes, applications are reviewed by a skilled recruiter.
The recruiter identifies applicants who meet the mandatory qualification
criteria, along with additional skill sets outlined in the AON.
Applications are intermediately qualified and forwarded to the hiring
manager for further consideration.
Hiring managers schedule and conduct interviews. They determine
who they feel is the most qualified for the position. Once an applicant
is selected, the hiring manager will notify the recruiter. The
recruiter extends the offer of employment to the selected applicant.
It is difficult to determine how long the selection process can
take because there are several factors that influence the timeline
including the number of applications received, the number of interviews
conducted and scheduling.
Conditional Offer of Employment (COE)
Once the applicant verbally accepts the NGA employment offer, a
Conditional Offer of Employment (COE) package will be sent to the
applicant that will outline important employment information
(occupation, band, salary, and general location). The package will also
include information and instructions on what you need to do to continue
the on-boarding process.
Pre-employment Testing & Security Clearance Process
Urinalysis Test
A pre-employment urinalysis test is required to detect the presence
of illegal or controlled substances in an applicant’s system. This test
usually takes approximately 20 to 30 days to order and complete.
Positive test results or refusal to be tested will be considered in
determining an applicant's eligibility for employment and may be the
basis for denial of employment. NGA has the option of not testing
applicants who are transferring directly to NGA from another federal
agency where they held a drug testing-designated position (TDP) and had
been subject to a test within the previous 12 months.
Security Clearance
Successful completion of a Counterintelligence Scope polygraph
examination is a condition of employment for all positions at NGA. (A
limited-scope screening polygraph examination will be administered to
detect and deter espionage, sabotage, or other acts against the federal
government, unauthorized release or sale of classified materials,
foreign travel and unauthorized contacts, and unlawful representation of
a foreign government.)
Vision Testing
Certain occupations have vision
requirements. If the position that you were selected for has a vision
requirement, you will be scheduled for a vision test. NGA may withdraw
the conditional offer of employment of a candidate who is unable to meet
the vision requirements, or, at agency discretion, NGA may consider the
candidate for suitable positions in other fields of expertise.
Medical Examination
Certain positions may require other tests such as a pre-employment medical examination.
Security Clearance Process
Background Investigation
Because
of the classified nature of our work at NGA, all candidates must be
eligible for a TOP SECRET/SCI security clearance and must take a
polygraph examination. In order to obtain the required security
clearance, candidates must undergo a thorough personnel security
background investigation that examines a candidate’s life history,
character, trustworthiness, reliability and soundness of judgment.
The background investigation includes a review of previous and
current employment history (including contact with the candidate’s
current employer), verification of education credentials and residential
history, financial background, and interviews with knowledgeable
sources such as friends, neighbors, supervisors, and coworkers.
Investigators will also examine the potential for conflicts of
interest, potential to be coerced, and the candidate’s willingness and
ability to abide by regulations governing the use, handling, and
protection of sensitive information. In addition, credit bureau and
criminal background checks are conducted to ensure that all candidates
meet the high personnel security standards set by NGA and the
Intelligence Community. Depending on your situation, the background
investigation process may take two months or longer depending on the
issues that develop during the course of the investigation
Please know that intentional misrepresentations in application
documents raise serious doubts as to the applicant’s honesty and fitness
for employment and can be sufficient to establish that the applicant is
unsuitable for federal employment.
Clearance Adjudication
After
the background investigation is completed, the information is passed to
an NGA adjudicator. The adjudicator reviews the results of the
personnel security investigation and compares them to established
qualifying criteria for granting security clearances with access to
classified information or for an appointment to a sensitive position or
position of trust. The adjudication process averages less than 20 days,
but may take longer depending on a candidate’s personal circumstances.
Once adjudication is complete and the security clearance is
granted, the adjudicator notifies the Investigations Branch, who in turn
contacts the Human Development Directorate to proceed with the next
steps in the process.