Mission Support Specialist

U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Memphis (TN); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, within the Department of Homeland Security, seeks a GS-9 professional in the Memphis, TN area.

The role requires 1 year of specialized experience or graduate education substitution and involves recommending solutions, verifying facts, and providing guidance to managers to support mission operations. Applicants must meet Time-in-Grade requirements, pass a thorough background investigation, and comply with CBP residency rules.

Qualifications

• 1 year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level.
• Graduate education substitute for experience (2+ years).
• Must meet Time-in-Grade requirements (52 weeks).
• Background investigation required.

Responsibilities

• Recommending practical solutions for management consideration.
• Verifying facts, resolving discrepancies, and ensuring compliance with procedures.
• Providing technical guidance to managers and employees on mission support functions.
• Applying established methods to evaluate operational problems and develop conclusions.

Skills

Specialized experience

Verification

Technical guidance

Problem solving

Education

Graduate education substitution

Job description

Organizational Location

This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations - New Orleans Field Office, Memphis, TN.

Additional selections may be made for 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-9 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Recommending practical solutions for management consideration.
• Verifying facts, resolving discrepancies, and ensuring compliance with applicable procedures and requirements.
• Providing technical guidance to managers and employees on mission support functions and administrative processes.
• Applying established methods to evaluate operational problems, research precedents, and develop supportable conclusions.

Education Substitution

Successful completion of two or more years of full-time graduate education, a Master's (or higher) degree, or an LL.B. or J.D that demonstrates the skills necessary to do the work may substitute for the experience required at the GS-09 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.

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 and may be computed by first determining your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining 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 the GS-9 grade. More information on this qualification standard is located here.

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 08/24/2026.

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 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

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.