Mission Support Specialist

U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 78,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Washington, DC, seeks a seasoned analyst at GS-13 level. The role requires one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, handling program evaluation, budgeting, and resource planning within DHS/CBP.

Eligibility depends on meeting time-in-grade and residency requirements. The position emphasizes evaluating legislation for agency impact and coordinating staffing and funding guidance across units.

Qualifications

• Experience performing program evaluation to assess compliance with agency rules.
• Ability to analyze budgets and project resource usage for planning.
• Experience directing team work and negotiating recommendations involving agency resources.
• Ability to evaluate legislation for impact on programs and resources.

Responsibilities

• Conduct program evaluation using established techniques to ensure compliance.
• Provide budget assistance by analyzing and projecting resource usage.
• Plan, organize and direct team study work and negotiate recommendations.
• Develop staffing and funding guidance for subordinate activities.
• Evaluate new or modified legislation and report findings to management.

Skills

Program evaluation

Budget analysis

Resource planning

Staffing guidance

Legislation impact analysis

Job description

Organizational Location:

This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations, Special Program Division.

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-13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Conducting program evaluation using established measurement techniques to determine compliance with agency rules and regulations.
• Providing budget assistance to management by analyzing and projecting resource usage for budget development.
• Planning, organizing, and directing team study work, negotiating with management to implement recommendations involving substantial agency resources.
• Developing staffing and funding guidance for subordinate activities, performing continuous appraisal of resource utilization to meet program objectives and goals.
• Evaluating new or modified legislation for projected impact on agency programs or resources, delivering comprehensive analysis reports of legislative release to inform management decision-making.

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 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 10/02/2026.

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.

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 eligibility on 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.