Mission Support Specialist

Summary

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

Duties

In this position, you will become a key team member of Homeland Security professionals providing authoritative guidance and expert technical advice in a variety of mission support functional areas. Apply for this exciting opportunity to strengthen homeland security by analyzing and refining existing administrative program work methods and developing new work methods and procedures for delivering effective services to customers. This position starts at a salary of $96,443.00 (GS-12, Step 1) to $125,378.00 (GS-12, Step 10). In this position, you will strengthen the Department's ability to protect the homeland by becoming a valuable member of a team of administrative professionals. Your job will include: Developing and delivering briefings, project papers status/staff reports, and correspondence to foster understanding and acceptance of findings and recommendations related to assigned programs. Applying a wide range of administration program concepts, laws, policies, practices, and analytical/diagnostic methods and techniques to address substantive technical issues or problems characterized by complex, controversial, and/or sensitive matters that contain several interrelated issues. Providing comprehensive advisory and technical services on substantive organizational functions and work practices. Developing new or modified administrative program work methods, approaches, or procedures for delivering effective services to customers. 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.

Qualifications

Experience: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Serving as a technical advisor to leadership or management by providing briefings, reports, or recommendations on administrative program status, resource utilization, or process improvements. Analyzing complex administrative problems, conducting research, and developing actionable recommendations to resolve issues. Providing or coordinating comprehensive mission support activities across at least three administrative disciplines, such as budget, procurement, human resources, property, fleet, and/or facilities management. Interpreting and applying federal laws, regulations, policies, or procedures to support organizational compliance and identify or correct non-compliant administrative practices. Coordinating administrative support for complex operational or mission-oriented environments. 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 10/06/2026. 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) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP eligible. View information about CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. You must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement. To be considered well qualified under CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.