Mission Support Specialist

Customs and Border Protection; Hidalgo (TX); On-site; USD 62,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – Port of Hidalgo/Pharr, Hidalgo, TX – is seeking a qualified professional to support administrative and mission–critical functions within the Laredo Field Office. The position emphasizes analytical work and data-driven decision making in a DHS border operations setting.

The role requires assessing information for complex problems, interpreting data, and contributing to improvements in mission support services, under the guidance of senior specialists.

Qualifications

• 1 year of specialized experience at the GS-09 level or equivalent.
• Experience applying fundamental principles to administrative or mission support areas.
• Ability to plan, gather and interpret information/data for complex problems.
• Ability to identify ways to improve mission support services.

Responsibilities

• Provide assistance to senior specialists in analyzing programs to measure performance and efficiency.
• Determine the most effective and efficient approach to meet customer requirements.
• Plan to gather and interpret information and data for complex problems, issues, and unusual circumstances.
• Identify and clarify problems to propose recommendations for complex management services.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Data interpretation

Program analysis

Communication

Education

Master's degree

PhD or Doctorate

Job description

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Laredo Field Office, Port of Hidalgo / Pharr, located in Hidalgo, Texas . Additional selections may be made to include other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

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: 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: Providing assistance to senior specialists in analyzing programs to measure performance and efficiency. Determining the most effective and efficient approach to meet customer requirements Planning to gather and interpret information and data for complex problems, issues, and unusual circumstances Assisting with identifying ways to improve mission support services

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: Performing assignments requiring the application of fundamental principles, concepts, techniques, and guidelines in an administrative specialty area(s). Providing guidance and technical advice in a variety of mission support functional areas. Conducting detailed planning to gather and interpret information and data for complex problems, issues, and unusual circumstances. Identifying and clarifying problems to propose recommendations to a wide range of complex problems pertaining to management services. Assessing situations that are complicated by conflicting and/or incomplete data, requiring general problem solving to isolate issues.

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. 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.

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%. 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 09/04/2026.

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