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Intelligence Research Specialist

Department of Homeland Security
Customs and Border Protection
Office of Intelligence
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Intelligence, National Border Security Intelligence Center, Southern Border Intelligence Center, located in Mexico City, Mexico.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
07/09/2025 to 07/15/2025
Salary
$106,382 to - $138,296 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Mexico City, Mexico
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - N/A
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Fully Funded
Appointment type
Temporary promotion - 2 years - with possible extension(s) for an additional 2 year(s) (in one year increments) and an additional (1) year extension.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
OI-IMP-12757506-DBM
Control number
840141800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Current U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees who are currently working in a permanent competitive service position and Career Transition Assistance Plan DHS employees.

Duties

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Temporary Assignment: To meet agency needs, this position will be filled on a temporary basis not-to-exceed (NTE) 2 year(s), with possible extension(s) for an additional 2 year(s) (in one year increments) and an additional (1) year extension. You may be returned, at any time, to the position you held prior to this temporary promotion or to a different position of equivalent grade and pay, and that the return is not subject to the procedures found in 5 C.F.R. §§ 351, 432, 752, and 771.

If the program office would like to consider non-competitive applicants, discuss the options with them further. To return the individual to their permanent position, they will need to be subject to a mobility agreement, agency rotational policy or directed reassignment. Add the following verbiage if considering non-competitive (reassignment and CLG) applicants: If you are currently at the grade level of the position announced, this action will result in a reassignment, and you may be returned at any time to a same or similar position held prior to this temporary assignment. If you currently hold a grade level higher than the grade being announced, this action will result in a change to lower grade, and you may be returned at any time to the position held prior to this temporary assignment or to the same or similar position at the lower grade level. Your return will be based on a mobility agreement, agency rotational policy or a directed reassignment.

In this position you will serve as an Intelligence Research Specialist - Senior All Source Analyst, applying subject matter and tradecraft expertise in support of strategic, operational, and tactical enforcement operations.

This position starts at a salary of $106,382.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $138,296.00 (GS-14, Step 10).

COLA - For areas that have cost of living allowances (COLA) the percentage of allowance is determined using the base salary scales.

Salary above excludes COLA. Please see the following link for specific COLA Rates [HR Specialist imbed link] Major Duties for this position include, but are not limited to:
  • Planning, directing, and evaluating responsibilities for the research or collection operations of a major geographical area (e.g., Regional Intelligence Centers), of a functional program;
  • Providing the CBP Intelligence Enterprise (IE) and operational stakeholders, the DHS IE, and the Intelligence Community (IC) with intelligence communications and products that inform and enhance their ability to make timely strategic, operational and/or tactical decisions in support of CBP and DHS operations directed at threats to border security;
  • Representing the agency to leadership of the DHS IE and as a liaison to other federal Law Enforcement (LE) agencies, IC, and international partners.
  • Overseeing and executing the systematic, comprehensive research and analysis of all relevant information, ensuring that intelligence products contribute to the national-level intelligence preparation of the environment in a major geographical area;
  • Performing duties without specific instructions and receives supervision through conferences and discussions with higher level officials.

Requirements

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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)
  • 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.
  • Security Clearance: The incumbent must be able to obtain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance.

Qualifications

Experience GS-14: You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

  • Developing, implementing, and evaluating new initiatives to address national security threats;
  • Strengthening partnerships with federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal agencies in support of intelligence activities;
  • Advising, administering, or performing analysis, evaluation, interpretation and dissemination of information and intelligence;
  • Using established intelligence techniques to analyze data from a variety of sources to develop targets, trends, patterns, profiles, estimates, and studies in support of national-level CBP operations;
  • Developing, shaping, and training a cohesive intelligence workforce.
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 07/15/2025.
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

Training: This position has a training requirement. Selectee(s) are required to attend and successfully complete paid mandatory training. Courses currently include (but are not limited to) the Intelligence Foundations Course, Systems Exploitation Training, and the CBP Intelligence Support to Operations Course. The location will be determined at the time of training. You may be required to successfully complete the training requirement as a condition of employment. Failure to successfully complete the required course(s) of training in accordance with CBP standards and policies will result in placement into either a former or different position, demotion, or separation as determined by management and appropriate procedures.

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants will only be considered for the Eligibilities for which they claim in the job questionnaire AND must provide the supporting documentation. Applicants will not be considered for Eligibilities for which they did not claim, regardless of the documentation submitted with the application. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12757506

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education, and training will be rated using an assessment questionnaire.

This self-assessment will be used to assess the following competencies or KSAs:

  • Knowledge of the CBP IE mission, functions, processes, policies, regulations, authorities, and partnerships.
  • Ability to work independently and is responsible for planning and carrying out national level assignments, resolving complex issues and most of the conflicts that arise; and developing and/or interpreting policy, guidelines, regulations, and procedures on own initiative.
  • Ability to effectively, in a clear and concise manner deliver written and/or verbal presentations to senior-level audiences for decision-making purposes; and reporting or presentation to operators to improve the effectiveness of operations.
  • Ability to provide effective, relevant, timely, threat-based, and operationally focused all source intelligence analysis and production to include (but not limited to) national issues, often requiring significant coordination among representatives from different intelligence specialty areas or various intelligence agencies and/or levels of government to create impactful threat disruption outcomes.
  • Ability to develop program plans, goals, objectives, and measures of effectiveness.
If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be contacted for an interview. As a part of the interview process, additional selection criteria may be administered by the hiring manager. Preview the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12757506

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 eligibilityon OPM's Career Transition Resources website. You must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement.

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