Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Tucson Field Office, located in Douglas, AZ Additional selections may be made to include other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.
Experience: You qualify for the GS-09 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Assisting with planning to gather and interpret information and data for problems, issues, and unusual circumstances. Assisting with identifying ways to improve or enhance current services and to ensure that such services meet management's business objectives. Assisting with reconciling conflicting incomplete information. Helping to identify and extract additional pertinent information required. OR Education Substitution GS-09: A Master's degree, two full years of graduate education, a J.D. or an LL.B. degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for experience required at this level. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Experience: You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Conducting detailed planning to gather and interpret information and data for complex problems, issues, and unusual circumstances. Determining the most effective and efficient approach to meet customer requirements. Identifying ways to improve or enhance current services and to ensure that such services meet management's business objectives. Participating in analyzing the effects of changes in law and regulations as they pertain to management services. Identifying and clarifying problems and order to propose recommendations. OR Education Substitution GS-11: I have successfully completed 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree from an accredited college or university, a doctoral degree and or LL.M., if related, that demonstrates the skills necessary to do the work. I understand that I am required to submit proof of my educational claim. Combining Experience and Education: When combining education with experience, first determine the applicant's total qualifying education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; then determine the applicant's experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; finally, add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. For example, an applicant for a GS-184, Sociology, position has successfully completed 60 undergraduate semester hours, including 24 semester hours in sociology, and, in addition, has 2 full-time years of appropriate experience that demonstrates that the applicant possesses the necessary analytical and communication skills. The applicant would qualify for GS-5, since the 60 semester hours (the equivalent of 2 years of undergraduate education, or 50 percent of the total requirement) were supplemented by 2 additional years of appropriate experience that provided the remaining 50 percent of the total required education and experience. NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. You must: Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 12/15/2025. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions: Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period. Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP eligible. View information about CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. You must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement. To be considered well qualified under CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position.
In this position, you will become a key team member of Homeland Security professionals providing authoritative guidance and expert technical advice in a variety of mission support functional areas. Apply for this exciting opportunity to strengthen homeland security by analyzing and refining existing administrative program work methods and developing new work methods and procedures for delivering effective services to customers. This position starts at a salary of $62,270.00 (GS-09, Step 1) to $97,938.00 (GS-11, Step 10) with promotion potential to $117,398 (GS-12 Step 10). In this Mission Support Specialist role, you will become a key team member of Homeland Security individuals involved in carrying out a wide variety of mission support, workforce management, staffing and position management, administrative research, logistics, and other program planning activities related to the missions and functions of the Mission Readiness Operations Division. Typical duties of this assignment include: Providing senior level advice in an administrative specialty area(s). Participating in and making contributions to management decisions in assigned program areas. Analyzing and evaluating current practices to ensure the efficient and effective productivity of the administrative operations in different areas of the organization. Planning and carrying out projects to ensure that executive-level administrative actions of senior leaders are accomplished effectively Making recommendations and performing in a productive manner that results in cost savings, and improves the efficiency of the organization. GS Salary: Visit this link to view the locality pay tables by geographic area. If you do not see your geographic area listed, select the "Rest of United States" pay table. Some positions fall under a special pay rate depending on the series, grade level and location of the position. Please visit this link to view special pay rate charts.