Job Opening: 67129
Opening Date: August 28, 2026
Closing Date: September 7, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)
Job Title Operations Manager, GS-12 Full Performance Level GS-12 Division Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Unit NICS Operations Unit (NOU) Location Clarksburg, WV Working Hours Hours may vary based on the needs of the unit.
The firearm industry is a considered a retail business. As such, expect to work Black Friday and Christmas Eve. Leave restrictions are set in place during the holiday shopping season and during the Valentine's Day/tax season.
All NICS employees are considered essential employees. This means you will be expected to work holidays and weekends. Additionally, as an essential employee, you should also be prepared to travel to work even during inclement weather.
Also, when the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Section experiences an extremely high volume of firearm background checks, employees are sometimes required to work a set number of mandatory overtime hours. Management attempts to provide as much notice as possible when overtime will be mandated.
Job Type Full Time/Permanent Who May Apply Current, permanent FBI employees Number of Positions Available 1 Questions Email: [email protected] Salary GS-12: $89,508.00--$116,362.00 Additional selections may be made from this announcement to fill positions within the same division when the position includes substantially the same duties, responsibilities, and qualifications.
UNIT DESCRIPTION
The NICS Operations Unit (NOU) conducts research and provides evaluation of criminal history and record information (e.g., domestic violence records, mental health records) returned in response to firearm background check inquiries resulting in a delay status to determine subject eligibility to receive firearms and/or permits pursuant to the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 (Brady Act).
KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Must be a current, permanent FBI employee
• Some travel may be required
• Because this position involves conducting background checks for individuals wanting to purchase firearms, to avoid any actual or even a appearance of a conflict of interest, employees and contractors in this position are not permitted to hold a current Federal Firearms License (FFL) or otherwise be employed by an FFL. Any newly hired employee, or a contractor, holding an FFL or otherwise employed by an FFL, would be required to relinquish that FFL or employment if offered this position. If someone in the employee's (or contractor's) immediate family holds or is otherwise associated with an FFL, an assessment would need to be conducted to determine if a conflict of interest exists.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is subjected to frequently changing deadlines when abrupt and unexpected changes in work assignments, goals, and deadlines require the supervisor to adjust operations under pressure of unpredictable conditions.
MAJOR DUTIES

• Manages, plans, directs and coordinates the work through technical supervision provided to subordinate supervisors assigned to each area
• Identifies and develops ways to resolve problems or cope with issues which directly affect the accomplishment of principal goals and objectives
• Provides advice and/or guidance in formulating policies and procedures, and ensures operations align with the Division's business and mission needs
• Advises management on matters concerning the unit's area of responsibility
• Reviews information compiled by subordinates, as necessary, and consults with management officials and subject matter specialists to verify facts and to clarify questionable or ambiguous information

QUALIFICATIONS & EVALUATIONS
Please ensure that your specialized experience and requirements are clearly identifiable in your resume. Your application will be evaluated using the FBI's Candidate Rating Procedures. Your resume and supporting documents will be reviewed to verify that you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
If you are found minimally qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process.
The competencies will be used in a Structured Resume Review to objectively evaluate applicant resumes. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather you must describe in your resume how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the competencies identified below. Your resume should demonstrate that you possess the following competencies.
Competencies

• Interpersonal Ability
• Leadership
• Analytic Thinking
• Managing Human Resources
• Project Management

Specialized Experience (SE)
GS-12: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Contributed to projects focused on evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of workplace functions or program areas
• Evaluated specific work or program functions; reviewed data to establish conclusions on operational effectiveness
• Provided guidance and assistance pertaining to administrative matters and/or specialized program functions/areas
• Communicated and collaborated with a variety of personnel to obtain, verify, and clarify points of information

* In addition to the above, applicant must possess supervisory experience.
Education
Education cannot be substituted for SE.
HOW TO APPLY
For detailed instructions related to applying, uploading documents, withdrawing an application or updating your application, please review instructions on How to Apply. If applying online is a hardship, please use the contact information listed in the vacancy announcement prior to the closing date for assistance.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
To apply to this position, interested applicants must provide a complete application package by the closing date which includes:

1. Utilizing the Resume Builder, outline your relevant work experience and associated start and end dates. Uploaded resumes will not be reviewed or used for qualification purposes.
2. Other supporting documents (if applicable):
   • College transcripts, if qualifying based on education or if there is a positive education requirement

Attach the Memorandum for Record to your application in the "Cover Letters and Attachments" section of My Career Tools on the Careers Home page. Please upload the attachment as type "Other."
While applicants might see these documents in their profile, HR Specialists may be unable to access them. Therefore, all applicants MUST upload another copy to ensure that staffing units can review the complete application.
Please note: Failure to provide the necessary and relevant information required by this vacancy announcement may disqualify you from consideration. Incomplete applications will not be supplemented with additional requests for information; your application will be evaluated solely on the information you submit. You must complete the application process and submit all required documents by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the announcement's closing date.
WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The Most Competitive candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of your status throughout the process.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Positions with fitness for duty requirements or those that require international travel may require proof of certain vaccinations.
• The selectee will be required to serve a one-year probationary period for initial assignment to a supervisory position.
• Required Leadership Training: All FBI supervisors promoted after January 2022 are required to attend and complete the Training Division's Supervisor Essentials Program within 365 days from initial assignment into a supervisory position. Supervisors will need to complete both the "Mentoring and Coaching" and "Performance Appraisals" courses as part of the Supervisor Essentials program. The Supervisor Essentials course is a pre-requisite for the new Leading People (Virtual) and face-to-face version (VLP) that will be offered beginning the 2nd Quarter of 2022.
• Limited Movement: Policy has been implemented wherein support employees entering a position may be precluded from moving to another position within the Bureau through reassignment or change to a lower grade for a minimum of 12 months. HRD will waive this limited movement policy for qualified employees, who have received an official notification letter that their current position is being relocated due to an organizational restructuring initiative, so those employees can compete for a position elsewhere. Voluntarily leaving a position with a relocation incentive may result in loss of that incentive. Please notate that you have received an official notification letter within your application.
• Probationary employees are precluded from being considered for all job opportunities until 12-months of their 24-month probationary period has concluded. Probationary employees may be considered for competitive vacancies that are advertised within their respective division or field office after serving 90 days within the FBI.
• Candidates will not be considered if currently on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP); a Letter of Requirement (LOR); or have failed a PIP or LOR and are currently awaiting the final action by HRD.

a) Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is a 90-day written developmental plan for an employee whose performance on one or more critical elements is rated "Unacceptable."
b) A Letter of Requirement (LOR) is issued when a supervisor identifies leave abuse and/or when frequent absences negatively impact operations of an office.

• Relocation expenses will be borne by the selectee, except FBI employees returning from LEGAT assignment. Employees returning from LEGAT assignments must advise the Staffing and Administrative Unit / International Operations Division of their application for this position.
• Current tax law may impact your transfer by making some of your moving expense reimbursements taxable. Please contact 304-625-9337 (304-625-XFER) for information regarding taxable expenses.
• Employees selected for promotions at the GS 12 level or higher, selected for a supervisory position at any grade level, or selected for positions where a transfer of location is required, will be processed through the name check program prior to being notified of their selection.

Nepotism
Nepotism is the act of favoring relatives in the hiring process and is prohibited by law. Public officials are prohibited from hiring or promoting relatives or relatives of officials in their chain of command, as well as actively or indirectly endorse a relative's appointment or promotion. During the hiring process, all selected candidates and FBI hiring managers will be required to certify they are not related to anyone involved in the hiring process.