MISSION SUPPORT SPECIALIST
Drug Enforcement Administration
Posted: February 10, 2026 (0 days ago)
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Customs and Border Protection
Department of Homeland Security
Location
New Orleans, Louisiana
Salary
$61,722 - $97,087
per year
Type
Closes
Base salary range: $51,332 - $66,732
Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-8. Master's degree or 2 years graduate study.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
This job involves supporting the workforce management team at U.S.
Customs and Border Protection by handling workers' compensation claims, managing administrative projects, analyzing data to spot trends, and preparing reports for decision-makers.
It's a good fit for someone organized and detail-oriented with experience in HR or administrative support, especially in government or benefits processing, who enjoys working independently on compliance and improvement tasks.
The role is based in New Orleans and focuses on ensuring smooth operations for border patrol staff.
Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S.
Border Patrol, New Orleans Sector, Mission Readiness Operations, located in New Orleans, LA.
Additional selections may be made beyond the total number of vacancies specified using this vacancy announcement.
Further selections may also be made for additional 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: Handling official documentation related to workers' compensation, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and regulatory compliance.
Demonstrating thorough knowledge of the workers' compensation benefit program, including detailed case management and compliance oversight.
Supporting administrative projects related to workforce management, contributing to project planning, execution, and evaluation with a focus on accuracy and process improvement.
Researching, compiling, and analyzing data from multiple sources to inform decision-making, identify emerging trends, and provide actionable recommendations.
Managing high-volume correspondence, suspenses, and reports with minimal supervision, demonstrating exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills.
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: Independently applying and interpreting detailed guidelines and regulations related to workers' compensation benefits, including FECA, with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
Leading or coordinating multiple administrative projects related to workforce management, with accountability for project outcomes and ensuring all deliverables meet established standards.
Identifying, analyzing, and resolving a wide range of multifaceted problems relevant to workforce management and workers' compensation, utilizing advanced analytical methods.
Conducting advanced data analysis from diverse sources to identify trends, patterns, and develop actionable recommendations for process improvement and compliance.
Preparing and presenting comprehensive reports, briefings, and correspondence for senior management or external stakeholders, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and relevance.
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. 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.
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. GS-11: A Ph.D.
or an equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.M.
degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for experience required at this level.
(A course of study in business, international business, or a related field is qualifying.) Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise three years of graduate study.
If that information is not available, use 54 semester or 81 quarter hours.
Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's 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 grades GS-9 and GS-11.
More information on this qualification standard is located here 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 by 02/17/2026.
In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.
In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.
Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
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 Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible.
View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.
To be considered eligible under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be placed in the Well-Qualified category for this position, as described within this announcement.
In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this job announcement. Major Duties:
As a Mission Support Specialist (Workforce Management), you will leverage advanced administrative concepts, laws, policies, practices, and analytical methods to resolve technical issues and drive organizational effectiveness.
This position starts at a salary of $61,722.00 (GS-09, Step 1) to $97,087.00 (GS-11, Step 10). 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.
Major duties and responsibilities include: Serving as a subject matter expert, providing high-level advisory and technical services on intricate organizational functions and work practices pertaining to human resources, including benefits, compensation, policy, and workforce selection and hiring.
Providing direct and independent support to the Sector Workers' Compensation Office, handling nuanced and sensitive cases.
Interpreting and apply advanced guidelines related to employee workers' compensation/injury benefits, ensuring full compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and procedures under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA).
Independently processing and managing workers' compensation claims, including proactive case management for complex or high-impact cases.
Developing, implementing, and evaluating new or modified administrative program work methods and procedures to enhance service delivery and operational effectiveness.
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