Strategic Communications Specialist

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, Rio Grande Valley Sector, Law Enforcement Operational Programs Division, Strategic Communications Unit located in Edinburg, TX. Additional selections may be made to include other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

Duties

This position starts at a salary of $74,678.00 (GS-11, Step 1) to $116,362.00 (GS-12, Step 10). As a Strategic Communication Specialist, you will provide leadership with advice and assistance in writing and developing communications materials to ensure coordination and communication throughout the organization. Duties and responsibilities include: Planning, writing, and editing internal and external communication products to keep stakeholders informed of sector operations, programs, priorities, and initiatives. Developing, implementing, and evaluating the effectiveness of sector communication strategies, materials, and programs that support and promote enhanced engagement with USBP stakeholder communities. Identifying and anticipating communication needs and potential reaction from stakeholders, including congressional; media; non-governmental; state, local, and tribal governments; and other USBP stakeholder communities. Establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with USBP headquarters, subject matter experts, and other sector communication offices responsible for congressional, public, and intergovernmental affairs. 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-11 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Recommending potential solutions for communication problems. Developing, implementing, and evaluating the effectiveness of communication strategies, materials, and programs that support and promote enhanced engagement with stakeholder communities. Conducting analysis of communications strategies to ensure issues and concerns are addressed accurately and tactfully in both internal and external correspondence. Providing communication-oriented recommendations regarding technical documents; preparing talking points and anticipated questions and answers for leadership to ensure concerns are addressed in a wide range of engagement forums. GS-11 Education Substitution: Completion of 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree from an accredited college or university, a doctoral degree and or LL.M., if related, that demonstrates the skills necessary to do the work. You will be required to submit proof of my educational claim with application. GS-11 Combining Education and Experience: ombinations 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 the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the 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 for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11. 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: Assisting higher-graded communication or public affairs staff in planning, drafting, and editing internal and external communication products (e.g., talking points, fact sheets, reports, emails, briefings, presentations) to inform stakeholders about organizational operations, programs, or initiatives, with final products reviewed and cleared by senior staff. Supporting the development and execution of basic communication plans or campaigns by gathering background information, drafting proposed messages, identifying target audiences, and tracking feedback or outcomes to help evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies. Coordinating with subject matter experts and communication offices (e.g., headquarters, public affairs, congressional or intergovernmental affairs) to collect accurate information, ensure messaging consistency, and prepare draft responses to routine requests for information from internal or external stakeholders. Identifying straightforward communication issues or stakeholder concerns summarizing those issues for leadership, and recommending or drafting proposed communication materials or adjustments, subject to review by a higher-graded specialist or supervisor. Participating in stakeholder engagement activities (such as briefings, outreach events, or meetings) by preparing draft talking points and anticipated questions and answers for leadership, capturing and summarizing stakeholder reactions, and providing input used to refine future communication products and strategies. 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 10/21/2026. 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 protect