Staff Operations Officer
Other Agencies and Independent Organizations – Central Intelligence Agency
Summary
Staff Operations Officers provide integration between CIA Headquarters and Directorate of Operations field offices, program management, and operational case management to drive clandestine operations.
Duties
- As a Staff Operations Officer for the CIA, you will provide the seamless integration between CIA Headquarters and Directorate of Operations (DO) offices in the field necessary to drive clandestine operations to success.
- Your effectiveness, versatility, and resourcefulness as a Staff Operations Officer is critical to the success of the DO's most creative, challenging, and impactful operations.
- Staff Operations Officers apply advanced knowledge and expertise of clandestine operations, operational tradecraft, and intelligence priorities when providing strategic guidance and operational case management.
- In addition, Staff Operations Officers are responsible for program management throughout the DO, from traditional operational activities to specialized initiatives and Covert Action.
- The demanding pace of DO has Staff Operations Officers finding solutions to complex operational problems, identifying new technical tools and capabilities to advance operations, and tapping the resources of the DO, CIA, and U.S. Government to ensure operational requirements are met.
- Staff Operations Officers provide objective reviews of on-going and potential operations and serve as the vital link between DO officers in the field, CIA Headquarters, and the Intelligence Community.
- Many Staff Operations Officers will spend much of their career serving in the Washington, DC area having opportunities for overseas travel.
- Opportunities for Staff Operations Officers to serve multi-year postings overseas exist, but these positions are competitive.
- All DO officers are hired at an entry level and train as they are expected to work – as one team.
- DO officers are hired into one of two programs: the Clandestine Service Trainee (CST) program or the Professional Trainee (PT) program.
- A CST has three or more years of professional experience, while a PT has less than three years of professional experience.
- DO officers begin their careers learning the foundations of operations via classroom training, practical exercises, and on-the-job experience gained through a series of interim assignments.
- Based on the program into which each applicant is hired, the number of interim assignments will vary.
- As part of the program, some DO officers will be expected to: Operate a motor vehicle without second-party assistance in daytime and nighttime conditions; Traverse uneven terrain, to include climbing and descending staircases, over fixed minimum distances and.
- In varying weather conditions; Work non-traditional or erratic schedules; Make reasoned decisions under time constraints.
- This position requires a 5-year Contract Term Agreement.
Education
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (applicants within one year of earning a four year degree will be considered); there is no preferred major or program of study (degrees from foreign academic institutions are accepted, but you are responsible for obtaining and providing CIA with a credential evaluation from an accredited firm confirming that the foreign degree is the equivalent of a Ba/bs and/or Ma/ms degree conferred by a U.S. college or university) At least a 3.0 GPA on a 4-point scale is preferred
Required Documents
Prepare the documents below before applying. Always confirm the exact requirements on the official announcement, since they vary by position:
- This usually includes your resume and any documents named in the official announcement, such as transcripts, an SF-50, or a DD-214 where applicable.
- Review the announcement for the exact list before applying.
About this role
The Staff Operations Officer position with the Other Agencies and Independent Organizations is based in Washington, District of Columbia. Staff Operations Officers provide integration between CIA Headquarters and Directorate of Operations field offices, program management, and operational case management to drive clandestine operations. The role pays $72,254 to $109,975 per year.
Day to day, the work involves the core duties of the Staff Operations Officer role as detailed in the announcement below. The full list of duties, conditions, and required documents appears in the official announcement linked on this page.
Who should apply
Review the announcement's Qualifications section closely, since it defines exactly what the intelligence field experience this Staff Operations Officer position requires. Match your federal resume directly to the announcement's wording so a reviewer can confirm each requirement in writing. For this Staff Operations Officer position with the Other Agencies and Independent Organizations in Washington, District of Columbia, confirm you meet each requirement before applying.
How competitive it is
The posted pay of $72,254 to $109,975 per year places this in a competitive but attainable range for qualified applicants. Based in Washington, District of Columbia, it competes within that local market, which can mean lighter competition than major metropolitan postings. The announcement closes on September 30, 2026, and federal postings can close early once enough applications arrive, so applying promptly is wise.
This overview is general guidance from Job Army to help you understand the role. Always read the official announcement for exact duties, qualifications, and requirements before applying.