Mission Support Specialist

Full Job Description

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

Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, El Paso Field Office, Mission Support Division and Operational Analysis Staff, located in El Paso, TX.

Additional selections may be made to include other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

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 GS-11: 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: Assisting with analyzing the effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of administrative and technical programs.

Conducting studies, analyzing findings, and making recommendations on substantive operating programs. Preparing briefings and project papers status, and staff reports.

Providing general information concerning new or revised policies and procedures, which may affect the broad organization objectives.

Experience GS-12: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Providing guidance in a variety of mission support functional areas.

Analyzing results and recommending changes including those to current processes and/or long-standing policies.

Participating in and making contributions to management decisions in assigned program areas.

Assisting in developing new or modified administrative program work methods, approaches, or procedures for delivering effective services to customers.

Education Substitution GS-11: Successful completion of Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M.

from an accredited college or university may substitute for the experience required at this level. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

Check with your school to determine how many credits comprise three years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 54 semester or 81 quarter hours.

You are required to submit proof of your claim.

Combining Education and Experience GS-11: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade level and may be computed by first determining your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining your education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages.

The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level.

Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at the GS-11.

More information on this qualification standard is located here. There is no education substitution at the GS-12 grade level for this occupation.

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 04/10/2026.

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.

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.

Major Duties:

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 $74,678.00 (GS-11, Step 1) to $116,362.00 (GS-12, Step 10) In this position, you will strengthen the Department's ability to protect the homeland by becoming a valuable member of a team of administrative professionals.

Your job will include: Providing senior level advice in an administrative specialty area(s).

Applying a wide range of administration program concepts, laws, policies, practices, and analytical/diagnostic methods and techniques to address substantive technical issues or problems.

Developing new or modified administrative program work methods, approaches, or procedures for delivering effective services to customers.

Developing and delivering briefings, project papers status/staff reports, and correspondence to managers to foster understanding and acceptance of findings and recommendations.

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.