Department of Homeland Security Seeking Employees for Intelligence Jobs

 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is reportedly looking to fill hundreds of defense and intelligence jobs with people who have security clearance, but is facing a number of challenges in accomplishing this.

The Federal Times reports that the department recently received approval from the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of Management and Budget to hire up to 1,000 employees for intelligence jobs over a span of three years. Last year, the department hired only approximately 200 people for these cyber defense jobs.

According to the Times, the new hires, many of whom will need security clearance, will reportedly hold positions throughout the department, including in the Science and Technology Directorate and the Office of the Chief Information Officer.

However, one of the obstacles the DHS is facing is the flat budget, which has caused the department to set modest short-term hiring goals, despite the approval of the 1,000 new intelligence jobs in three years.

Applicants for these positions with security clearance will undoubtedly have an advantage over other candidates because they have already undergone a lifestyle polygraph and taken other steps to gain such credentials.