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, Portland Field Office, Area Port of Anchorage, Alaska.

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-07 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Using processing software to produce a variety of documents, to include database or spreadsheet software to enter, revise, sort or calculate, and retrieve data for standard reports.

Processing a variety of transactions subject to different sets of rules and regulations. Performing a segment of the evaluative work of an administrative function.

Identifying issues or problems and seeking alternative solutions consistent with applicable regulations.

Education Substitution GS-07: Successful completion of one year of full-time graduate education 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 credit hours comprise a year of graduate education.

If that information is not available, use 18 semester or 27 quarter hours.

OR If applicable to your series - A bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) may also substitute for the experience required.

It is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average (i.e., GPA 3.0 or higher of a possible 4.0, excluding pass/fail credits.

Pass/fail credits cannot be more than 10% of total credits), or (3) honor society membership. Review Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) to see if you qualify under this provision.

Please see www.opm.gov for additional information.

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 coordination of a variety of administrative projects, to include the development, analysis, and modification of internal administrative policies, procedures, and management processes of the office.

Generating reports from a variety of automated systems for review, to assist with tracking spending, identifying trends, and forecasting budget requirements.

Monitoring supply levels and re-orders timely to ensure a sufficient stock of commonly used items. Receiving incoming official mail and ensuring proper handling of administrative material.

Assisting with preparing and/or reviewing correspondence written for leadership, including letters, memoranda, reports, charts, briefing materials, and talking points.

Education Substitution GS-09: Successful completion of a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in any field, or a L.L.B.

or J.D. for the experience required at the GS-9 grade level. Such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise two years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 36 semester or 54 quarter hours.

You are required to submit proof of your claim. Combining Education and Experience: To combine your education and experience, you must convert each to a percentage and then add the percentages.

The combined total of your percentage of education and experience must equal at least 100% in order to qualify.

If your education is currently described in quarter hours, convert the quarter hours into semester hours by multiplying the quarter hours by the fraction 2/3.

To calculate your percentage of graduate education, divide the number of graduate semester hours in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level, by 18.

To determine your percentage of qualifying experience, you must divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by the required number of months of experience.

Add your percentages of education and experience. The two percentages must total at least 100%.

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 02/19/2026.

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.

To be considered well qualified under CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. Major Duties:

In this position, you will be assigned to a port of entry and provides assistance and guidance to supervisors, managers, and employees on a variety of administrative programs and processes, such as injury compensation, employee benefits, budget, and procurement.

This position starts at a salary of $57,055.00 (GS-07, Step 1) to $90,731.00 (GS-09, Step 10).

Please see the following link for specific COLA Rates https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-systems/nonforeign-areas/#url=COLA-Rates In this Mission Support Specialist position, you will strengthen the Department's ability to protect the homeland by becoming a valuable member of a team of administrative professionals.

Typical work assignments include: Relieving the manager of unnecessary interruptions and demands on his/her time by handling administrative matters and programmatic problems or referring technical matters to the appropriate individual(s).

Providing guidance to employees on pay, benefits, and leave; interpreting laws, regulations, and policies to research and respond to moderately complex questions.

Working within a close proximity and has a confidential relationship with a CBP management official that is significantly involved in labor management relations.

Helping with budget management by tracking spending, identifying trends, and forecasting budget requirements based on previous years' spending.

Managing incoming and outgoing correspondence, suspense's, and reports. Receives incoming official mail and ensures proper handling of administrative material.

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.