Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Intelligence Research Specialist

Department of Homeland Security
Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Border Patrol
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, , U.S.Border Patrol, Blaine Sector, Sector Intelligence Unit, located in Blaine, WA.

Overview

Help
Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
01/17/2025 to 01/24/2025
Salary
$99,606 to - $153,982 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Blaine, WA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - As requested by Management
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
USBP-IMP-12661050-BBM
Control number
828645300

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

Current U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees who are currently working in a permanent competitive service position.

Duties

Help

As an Intelligence Research Specialist, you will represent the collective intelligence capabilities and expertise across the agency that enable coordinated and consistent operations under a unified framework when addressing current and emerging border security issues and threats.

This position starts at a salary of $99,606.00 (GS-12, Step 1) to $153,982.00 (GS-13, Step 10) with promotion potential to $153,982.00 (GS-13 Step 10).

The Intelligence Research Specialist provides operational stakeholders with intelligence products that inform and enhance strategic, operational, and tactical decisions in support of operations directed at threats to border security. Duties and responsibilities include:

  • Planning, Directing, and Collecting: serving as a senior analyst and/or project leader in short and long term planning through in-depth research and analysis regarding threats to border security.
  • Processing and Exploitation: compiling, collating, extrapolating, and exploiting information from intelligence databases and open-source reporting in support of border security operations.
  • Analysis, Production, and Dissemination: Identifying, reviewing and evaluating large volumes of sensitive and complex information in support of strategic, operational, or tactical operations; participating in the development of intelligence programs/projects until they are fully operational; developing and conducting intricate studies, preparing reports, and delivering briefings to managers and operators.

Requirements

Help

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.

Qualifications

Required Experience:

You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

  • Using intelligence databases to extract data.
  • Ensuring that all intelligence data is properly classified, stored, and handled in accordance with appropriate directives.
  • Evaluating incoming intelligence reports and information.
  • Processing and evaluating volumes of intelligence information from a variety of sources.
  • Building and maintaining contacts with counterparts in other intelligence agencies.
  • Working in collaboration with others in a group or Task Force setting to identify trends and patterns with all available data.
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.

You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:
  • Developing and researching intelligence related to transnational crimes.
  • Initiating and maintaining use contacts with counterparts and colleagues.
  • Ensure all data is properly classified, stored, and handled
  • Review, processing and evaluating intelligence information from a wide range of sources.
  • Collecting and extracting intelligence information.
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: Education substitution is not available for the GS-12 and GS-13 grade levels.

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 01/24/2025.
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, review the following links: Background investigation and the e-QIP process.

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

Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.

Security Clearance: This position requires a security clearance. If selected for this position, you must be able to obtain and maintain a minimum of a Top Secret/SCI Clearance.

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/12661050

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:

  • Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of management, both internal and external to the organization
  • Ability to select an optimal research approach
  • Knowledge of intelligence collection and analytical techniques
  • Ability to provide expert advice and direction on major (highly complex/sensitive) intelligence issues and policies

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/12661050

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. To be considered well qualified under CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.