CIA

Core Collector

Clandestine Service Trainee Program
Work Schedule: Full Time
Salary: $52,180 – $72,421
Location: Washington, DC metropolitan area

Operations Officer
Operations Officers serve on the front lines of the human intelligence collection business by clandestinely recruiting and handling sources of foreign intelligence. It takes special skills and professional discipline to establish strong human relationships that result in high-value intelligence from clandestine sources. An Operations Officer must be able to deal with fast-moving, ambiguous and unstructured situations. This requires physical and psychological health, energy, intuition and "street sense". Operations Officers serve the bulk of their time in overseas assignments.
Because Operations Officers have demanding responsibilities, it is essential that they be physically and psychologically healthy, energetic, and able to cope with stress. At times, meeting these needs of the service dictates that we work off-hours, late hours or some weekends. This way, a "normal" workweek, on a 24/7 schedule, can sometimes run between 60 and 80 hours. Pressure to balance these requirements requires an ability to establish priorities and focus on what is important and promising.
On the intellectual side, Operations Officers tend to be bright individuals with "people smarts" and "street sense." They have a strong capacity for analytical reasoning and conceptualizing, but tend not to be interested in ideas for their own sake. Their judgment in practical matters tends to be sound, and they have good insight into character, motivation and the potential of other people. Equally critical is their need for accurate assessment, because only one who is genuinely conscious of his or her own personality can establish the kind and depth of personal relationships needed for CIA Operational work.
Finally, success as an Operations Officer is impossible without flexibility, a sense of perspective and humor. If there is any profession in which "Murphy's Law" can apply, it is certainly, that of Clandestine Operations where so many elements are unknown and uncontrolled.
Minimum requirements include a bachelor's degree and an excellent academic record, with a strong interest in international affairs and solid interpersonal and communications skills. Foreign travel, foreign language proficiency, prior residency abroad, military experience, a background in Central Eurasian, East Asian and Middle Eastern languages, and degrees and experience in international economics and business, as well as in the physical sciences, are preferred. The 35-year maximum age requirement could be waived on a case-by-case basis.

Additional Requirments / Information

A History of Premier Intelligence

In 1947, President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act, creating the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) with a mission to advise the President on intelligence matters related to national security. Today, as the premier agency responsible for providing global intelligence on the ever-changing political, social, economic, technological and military environment, the CIA accomplishes its mission through research, development, and deployment of high-leverage intelligence-gathering technology. The agency also works closely with other organizations within the Intelligence Community to ensure that government policymakers and warfighters receive the best intelligence possible.

Our Careers Are of Utmost Importance to America

CIA career opportunities are unique and diverse - from Clandestine Service Officers serving on the front line of human intelligence to individuals skilled in science, engineering, technology, analysis, foreign languages and administration. Each one has a paramount goal: to protect the national security of the United States, which means that no matter what position you hold, you can truly make a difference for the nation working in the U.S. or around the world.

Analysts: Monitor and assess foreign political developments, leadership, economic issues, military threats and science and technology.



Clandestine Service: This career presents a unique way of life that challenges the deepest resources of an individual’s intelligence, self-reliance and responsibility.




Language Institute: Native speakers utilize the latest instructional technology in teaching 16 different foreign languages. Employees who attain tested levels of language expertise through full-time training, part-time classes or self-study are eligible for monetary incentives.




Science and Technology: Our mission requires us not only to apply existing science and technology, but to develop and implement breakthrough technologies that may never see the commercial marketplace.




Support Services: A wide variety of highly talented professionals serving at home and abroad enable us to meet our mission with skills in ranging from finance to logistics, linguistics to architecture, law to cartography.

A Workforce as Diverse as the Nation We Serve

Meeting our mission of protecting our national security interests requires a workforce as diverse as America itself - the most diverse nation on earth. Our professionals offer their own individual perspective, nationality, race, ethnicity, gender, age, language, culture, sexual orientation, education, values, beliefs, abilities, and disabilities. These assorted attributes create differing demographic, functional, and intellectual views that are vital to our innovation, agility, collection, and analysis. By combining smart, focused people from a myriad of occupations and cultures, and who have various abilities and experiences, we produce a dynamic workforce with unlimited potential.

Students, learn more about the Student Internship Opportunities at the National Clandestine Service.

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