Mission Support Specialist

Organizational Location This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Chief Counsel (OCC), located in Seattle, WA. Additional selections may be made beyond the total number of vacancies specified using this vacancy announcement. Further selections may also be made for additional organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above. Experience (GS-9) 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 (GS-11) 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. 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. 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 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. Education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work 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 by 09/14/2026. In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. 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 #J-18808-Ljbffr