Intelligence Research Specialist

Customs and Border Protection; New York (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, within the Department of Homeland Security, is seeking qualified individuals in New York, NY for GS-9/GS-11 intelligence analyst positions.

The role involves developing analytic products, maintaining classified materials, and following established directives to ensure policy compliance. Applicants may qualify via education substitutions and must have relevant experience outlined for each grade level, with guidance on combining education and experience for

Qualifications

• GS-9 requires 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, performing duties such as identifying intelligence gaps and interpreting policy; maintaining classified material and applying guidance.
• GS-11 requires 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, performing duties such as collecting, analyzing, and disseminating baseline intelligence information and presenting briefing material.
• Education substitutions: GS-09 allows a Master’s degree or 2 graduate years for experience; GS-11 allows a Ph.D. or three graduate years for experience.

Responsibilities

• Presenting and briefing internal peers on intelligence topics and providing feedback to close intelligence gaps in support of collection operations and analysis.
• Collecting, analyzing, and disseminating baseline intelligence information using various methods to support operations.

Job description

Organizational Location:

This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Intelligence, located in New York, NY. This announcement will be open for 5 business days OR until the first 100 applications have been received, whichever happens first. Additional selections may be made for other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

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:

• Identifying intelligence gaps, problems, or potential difficulties;
• Interpreting policy as it relates to analytic production, and compliance with all established authorities, directives, and guidelines;
• Participating as a team member to develop and produce analytical products;
• Providing maintenance and control of classified material and derivative classification requirements;
• Resolving basic issues and moderate conflicts that arise;
• and relies on instruction and training to apply relevant policies.

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:

• Collecting, analyzing, and disseminating baseline intelligence information using a variety of intelligence-gathering methods to include: link analyses, visual investigative analyses, crime mapping, and telephone toll record analyses to support operations;
• Extracting, compiling, and analyzing raw data and reporting to draft intelligence reports containing original analyses, assessments and recommendations under direct supervision and guidance;
• Brainstorming innovative methods using structured analytic techniques to determine validity to assess veracity of intelligence information;
• Preparing baseline intelligence products and collection support products under direct supervision;
• Presenting and briefing to internal peers a variety of intelligence topics and provides feedback to internal partners to close intelligence gaps in support of intelligence collection operations and analysis.

Education Substitution GS-09:

You may substitute a Master's degree or 2 full years of graduate education or a J.D or L.L.B. degree for experience required at the GS-9 grade level. Such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. 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.

Education Substitution GS-11:

You may substitute a Ph.D. or an equivalent doctoral degree, or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.M. for experience 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.

Combining Education and Experience:

1. To combine your education and experience, convert each to a percentage and then add the percentages.
2. If your education is described in quarter hours, multiply by the fraction 2/3 to convert into semester hours, then divide the semester hours by 18.
3. To determine your percentage of qualifying experience, divide your total months of experience by the required number of months of experience.
4. Add your percentages together. The total must equal at least 100% in order to qualify.
5. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
9. 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 09/08/2026.
10. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment off