INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH SPECIALIST

Full Job Description

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S.

Border Patrol, San Diego Sector, Targeting and Intelligence Division, Intelligence Unit, located in Santee, CA.

Experience: You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Collecting and extracting intelligence information.

Reviewing, processing, and evaluating intelligence information from a wide range of sources. Ensuring that all intelligence data is properly classified, stored, and handled.

Initiating and maintaining useful intelligence contact with counterparts and colleagues. Writing intelligence products to answer a customer's intelligence question or requirement.

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 02/27/2026.

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. Major Duties:

This position uses your knowledge and experience enabling coordinated and consistent operations under a unified intelligence framework when addressing current and emerging border security issues and threats.

This position starts at a salary of $121,585.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $158,062.00 (GS-13, Step 10).

The Intelligence Research Specialist provides operational stakeholders with intelligence products that inform and enhance their ability to make strategic, operational, or tactical decisions in support of operations directed at threats to border security.

Duties and responsibilities include: Planning, Directing, and Collecting: serving as a senior analyst and/or project leader in short and long term planning through in-depth research and analysis regarding threats to border security.

Processing and Exploitation: compiling, collating, extrapolating, and exploiting information from intelligence databases and open-source reporting in support of border security operations.

Analysis, Production, and Dissemination: Identifying, reviewing and evaluating large volumes of sensitive and complex information in support of strategic, operational, or tactical operations; participating in the development of intelligence programs/projects until they are fully operational; developing and conducting intricate studies, preparing reports, and delivering briefings to managers and operators.