Mission Support Specialist

Customs and Border Protection (DOHS); Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 71,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

Customs and Border Protection (DOHS) in Washington, DC seeks a qualified administrative specialist to support OCC Enforcement operations. This role focuses on managing office operations, personnel, equipment, contracts, logistics, and records to sustain mission-critical functions.

Primary duties include coordinating personnel actions, developing new procedures, and serving as local property official, with travel as required; the position is full-time at GS-9/11 and offers competitive federal

Qualifications

• Experience providing administrative and management services for office operations, including personnel management, equipment, financial management, and contracts.
• Experience participating in programs and projects and recommending improvements to management.
• Ability to develop and deliver briefings, status reports, and official correspondence.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and execute administrative, workforce management, and property management functions for the OCC office.
• Coordinate with OCC regional staff to gather information for personnel actions in compliance with policies.
• Develop and implement new procedures to improve service delivery and office efficiency.
• Manage a variety of office support assignments leveraging administrative principles and concepts.
• Serve as local property official and oversee property management in line with CBP directives.

Skills

Administrative management

Personnel management

Contracts & logistics

Communications & briefings

Records management

Education

Master’s degree or equivalent graduate degree

2 full years of graduate education

LL.B. or J.D. for GS-9

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

LL.M for GS-11

Job description

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Associate Chief Counsel, Enforcement located in Washington, DC.

Additional selections may be made for other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

Learn more about this agency

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Associate Chief Counsel, Enforcement located in Washington, DC.

Additional selections may be made for other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

Learn more about this agency

Overview

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

Washington, DC

No matching locations found.

Work site options

No

No

No

$70,623 – $111,087 per year

GS 9 – 11

Promotion potential

:

11

Full-time

Occasional travel – You may be required to travel for this position.

Permanent

Occupations and job series

• 0301 Miscellaneous Administration And Program

No

This job is in the Competitive Service

No

No

Not Required

Financial disclosure required

No

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement number

OCC-SMP-13088367-JMD

Control number

890440400

This job is open to

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Federal employees – Competitive service

Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s hiring rules and pay scales.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Land and base management

Current or former employees of a base management agency.

Veterans

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference

Military spouses

Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.

Clarification from the agency

Current Federal employees with competitive status within the LCA; Career Transition Assistance Plan DHS employees, Reemployment Priority List, Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan Federal Employees; Current and former Land Management employees who meet the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act within the LCA; Veterans eligible under VEOA; Certain Military Spouses.

Duties

This position is with the Office of Associate Chief Counsel, Enforcement located in Washington D.C. The Office of Chief Counsel (OCC) is one of the Government’s largest and oldest legal offices. OCC attorneys work on cutting-edge legal issues and provide critical advice across the CBP portfolio, including trade enforcement, search and seizure, immigration, and government ethics. They also represent the agency in labor and employment matters and provide litigation support to the Department of Justice.

This position starts at a salary of $70,623.00 (GS-9, Step 1) to $111,087.00 (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 position.Please 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 OCC’s mission.
• Coordinate with OCC regional mission support specialists to gather and verify information for personnel actions, ensuring compliance with OCC and CBP regulations and policies.
• Independently develop and recommend new procedures to address program administrative issues, analyze data trends, and make recommendations to OCC management.
• Apply knowledge of administrative principles and concepts to independently manage a variety of recurring and non-routine office support assignments.
• Serve as the local property official for their office and oversees all property management activities in accordance with OCC policy and CBP directives.

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 OPM’s Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In 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.

Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP), Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), or the Reemployment Priority List (RPL)? You must submit a separation notice; your most recent SF-50 (noting your current position, grade level and duty location); a copy of your most recent performance rating; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; or a Military Department of National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456; or RPL registration documentation.

Conditions 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.

This vacancy has a local commuting area requirement, as defined below:

• The area surrounding the duty station by which people reasonably travel back and forth from home to work; Or
• The employee’s permanent duty station is located within the reasonable travel area surrounding the duty station of this vacancy; Or if applicable
• For employees who are detailed or temporarily promoted for more than 1 year to another duty location, the detailed or temporary duty location is considered to be the duty location of record for commuting area purposes. For employees detailed or temporarily promoted for less than one year, the permanent duty location is considered the duty location of record for commuting area purposes.

Qualifications

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:

• 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.

Education Substitution GS-9: 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 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 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 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: 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; 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 11/05/2026.

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.

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.
• O**ther miscellaneous hiring authorities**

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.

Benefits

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A career with