Mission Support Specialist

You will provide administrative and program support for an assigned Office of Chief Counsel (OCC) office by assisting higher-graded specialists with daily office operations information management reporting and project coordination ensuring efficient and compliant legal and administrative activities in support of the OCC.

This position starts at a salary of $69373.00 (GS-9 Step 1) to $109122.00 (GS-11 Step 10) with promotion potential to $109122.00 (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 visit this link to view special pay rate charts.

Typical duties include:

• Independently coordinate and execute a wide range of administrative workforce management and property management functions for the assigned OCC office ensuring operational efficiency regulatory compliance and effective resource management in support of the OCCs mission.
• Coordinating with OCC regional mission support specialists to gather and verify information for personnel actions ensuring compliance with OCC and CBP regulations and policies.
• Independently developing and recommending new procedures to address program administrative issues analyzing data trends and making recommendations to OCC management.
• Applying knowledge of administrative principles and concepts to independently manage a variety of recurring and nonroutine office support assignments.
• Serving as the local property official for their office and overseeing all property management activities in accordance with OCC policy and CBP directives.

CBP employees demonstrate the highest level of commitment to protect and serve the United States of America and to exemplify the CBP Core Values of Vigilance Service to Country and Integrity. Learn more about CBPs mission core values and careers at of employment

• 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 position is not covered under the bargaining unit.
• 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 eligible under CTAP/ICTAP you must be placed in the Well-Qualified category for this position as described within this addition you must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this job announcement.

Experience: You qualify for the GS-9 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level performing duties such as:

• Providing administrative and management services essential to office operations including personnel equipment financial management regional procedures contracts logistics and records management.
• Participating in and making recommendations to management regarding programs projects and activities within assigned areas.
• Offering advisory and technical services on substantive organizational functions and work practices.
• Developing and delivering briefings status reports and correspondence to promote understanding and acceptance of findings and recommendations.
• Creating new or improved administrative program work methods approaches or procedures to deliver effective services to customers.

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:

• Providing comprehensive administrative and management services for office operations including personnel management equipment procurement financial oversight regional procedures contract administration logistics coordination and records management.
• Participating in program and project reviews offering recommendations to management regarding improvements resource allocation and operational effectiveness in assigned areas.
• Delivering advisory and technical services to staff and management on substantive organizational functions and work practices ensuring compliance with policies and regulations.
• Developing and presenting briefings status reports and official correspondence to communicate findings recommendations and program updates to stakeholders fostering understanding and acceptance.
• Designing and implementing new or revised administrative program work methods approaches or procedures to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency for internal and external customers.

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-9: Successful completion of a Masters 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 demonstrate the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to do the work and 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.

Education Substitution GS-11: Successful completion of a Ph.D. or an equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in any field or L.L.M for the experience required at the GS-11 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 three years of graduate study. If that information is not available use 54 semester or 81 quarter hours. You are required to submit proof of your claim. Education must demonstrate the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to do the work

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 and may be computed by first determining your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the 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 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 09/14/2026.

In order to be considered for this position you must complete all required steps in the 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 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

Education

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