Mission Support Assistant

As a Mission Support Assistant you will provide clerical support and assistance in applying technical procedures methods and techniques in support of the mission and functions of the agency in the assigned Sector or Station within the U.S. Border Patrol Mission Readiness Operations Directorate.

This position starts at a salary of $47166.00 (GS-6 Step 1) to $68138.00 (GS-7 Step 10)

The Mission Support Assistant performs office support tasks. Duties and responsibilities include:

• Performing office support tasks including greeting visitors processing mail answering phones and directing calls to appropriate staff.
• Assisting in developing new methods for automating administrative reports.
• Providing broad assistance to other mission support personnel to include procurement of routine equipment and services preparing purchase orders assisting in identifying potential suppliers and coordinating as needed.
• Providing advice and guidance to USBP sector employees and managers on various policy and procedural aspects of personnel/payroll processing budget travel workers compensation logistics and administrative programs.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
• Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
• All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English
• You may be required to pass a background investigation
• CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
• As an employee of CBP you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees and to CBP employees specifically as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.
• DHS uses E-Verify an internet-based system to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.
• Bargaining Unit: This is a bargaining unit covered position represented under the National Border Patrol Council - NBPC. For local chapter contact information see GS-06: You qualify for the GS-6 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level performing duties such as:
  • Answering routine questions and directing callers to appropriate staff.
  • Sorting and routing correspondence and other materials to appropriate offices and/or individuals.
  • Monitoring inventory of office supplies and ordering when necessary.
  Experience GS-07: 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:
  • Utilizing automated systems to search various government and open market sources for information on purchasing products and/or services.
  • Reviewing training requests and confirming funding approval and proper distribution.
  • Preparing workload and productivity reports evaluate areas for process improvements and determine root causes for problems.
  
  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 09/21/2026.
  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 agencys 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) 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 eligibilityon OPMs Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under CTAP/ICTAP you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this addition you must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement.
  
  Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e. physical or mental) covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position after notification of the adjudication of your request you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.
  Education

  Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.
  

  Additional information

  Additional Hiring and Special Appointing Authorities: See THIS JOB IS OPEN TO section above for what additional Appointing Authorities may apply. Veterans military spouses Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers and people with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents experiences and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility and to understand what documentation would be required with your application please click on the appropriate link below. You must provide documentation supporting your eligibility prior to the closing date of this announcement. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility please contact the CBP Hiring Center via the contact information listed at the end of this job opportunity announcement.

  • Veterans
  • Military spouses Effective until December 31 2028 any spouse of a member on active duty may be eligible
  • Individuals with Disabilities The proof of disability documentation must specify that you are eligible to apply using Schedule A. It does NOT need to detail your specific disability medical history or need for accommodation. For more information visit this link.
  • Peace Corps and VISTA
  • Land Management Hiring Flexibility Act: The following documents are required at the time of application: SF-50s to demonstrate that you meet the eligibility requirements and the most recent performance rating signed by your supervisor or a statement from your supervisor documenting acceptable performance.
  • Other miscellaneous hiring authorities

  
  Positions with known promotion potential do not guarantee promotion nor is the promise of promotion implied.
  
  The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply to include persons with intellectual severe physical or psychiatric disabilities as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u) and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents experiences and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
  
  Please upload your resume under the Resume document type. Any other relevant supporting documents should be uploaded under their appropriate document types as mentioned above. Only resumes up to a total of two pages will be accepted. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. Do notsubmit documents as a PDF Portfolios.

  Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

  Review our benefits

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.