OSO RECRUITMENT REQUIREMENT

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06744280
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 20, 2018
• Case Number: F-2013-01139

Approved for Release: 2018/08/15 C06744280
OSO recruitment requirement
POSITION DUTIES/RESPONISIBILITIES
Open Source Officers (OSOs) are the Intelligence Community's foreign media
experts. They use foreign language and area knowledge to review and assess
foreign open media sources, which include Internet sites, newspapers, press
agencies, television, radio and specialized publications. OSOs collect
intelligence from these media and deliver high-impact products to policymakers,
negotiators, military planners, and analysts throughout the U.S. foreign affairs
community.
OSOs develop in-depth knowledge of a broad range of foreign media and apply
this knowledge to identify trends and patterns; write a wide variety of analytical
products, integrating relevant multimedia objects into products to increase their
intelligence value; may translate text, audio and video information, as well as
select materials from the media for translation by independent contractors and
edit translated materials for linguistic an grammatical accuracy; guide the
development of new innovative products and presentation methods to meet
rapidly changing customer needs.
OSOs employee their knowledge of the foreign media to produce assessments of
the media sources to determine their influence and relative value in responding
to intelligence priorities. They research and analyze the media environment in a
particular country or region and prepare media analysis that inform customers of
subtle relationships and trends in the media.
OSOs become familiar with existing intelligence requirements and identify
emerging or evolving intelligence questions; anticipate and identify information
gaps in open source collection and develop strategies to fill these gaps;
creatively apply search methods that result in new collection or products.
OSOs initiate and sustain relationships with a broad range of intelligence and
policy customers, monitor and prioritize customer's requests, and participate in
interagency meetings.
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
BA or MA in Arabic or Middle East area studies, International Relations, Political
Science, Economics, Military Studies or Journalism.
Will accept candidates with BA in Sociology, Anthropology or other liberal arts
discipline
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Approved for Release: 2018/08/15 C06744280
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Demonstrated reading proficiency in Arabic
Knowledge of Middle Eastern Culture, Political, economic, and/or military issues
Strong Critical Thinking/analytic skills
Strong writing skills
Ability to handle multiple responsibilities and to work under tight deadlines
Ability to work efficiently and with minimal supervision
Well developed Internet search skills
Ability to work collaboratively as part of a diverse work group
Effective verbal and representational sk8I1s
Strong interpersonal skills
QUALIFICATIONS DESIRED
Study, travel or previous work experience in the Middle East
Familiarity with web page concepts
1-5 years of relevant work experience
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Approved for Release: 2018/08/15 C06744280