Intelligence Research Specialist

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Intelligence, in multiple locations:

Doral, FL
Del Rio, FL
Edinburg, TX
El Paso, TX
Laredo, TX
Los Angeles, CA
San Diego, CA
Tucson, AZ
Washington, DC

This announcement will be open for 5 business days OR until the first 150 applications have been received, whichever happens first. Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position. In this position you will serve as an Intelligence Research Specialist (All-Source Analyst), in a developmental capacity, gaining experience and on the job training and expertise to apply a full range of intelligence knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide insights that warn of potential threats and assessments on possible outcomes in regard to national security.

This position starts at a salary of $49,960.00 (GS-07, Step 1) to $79,443.00 (GS-09, Step 10) with promotion potential to $137,000 (GS-13 Step 10).

Major Duties for this position include, but are not limited to:

• Executing intelligence processes across all phases of the CBP intelligence cycle: planning and direction, collection, processing and exploitation, analysis and production, and dissemination;
• Integrating data and information from all relevant sources to analyze situations or conditions that affect CBP operations.
• Providing analytic direction and project monitoring services specified in interrelated geographical and functional areas; gathering, evaluating, analyzing, and abstracting data from multiple or specific sources; producing analyses, reports, and briefings; and formulating appropriate actions with regard to problem areas, technical or administrative procedures.
• Ensuring that all intelligence analysis processes and products align with all CBP-relevant legal authorities, policies, and guidelines; and complying with accepted standards, including those established by the CBP IE Key Intelligence Official.

Experience GS-07: You qualify for the GS-07 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Assisting with researching, evaluating, integrating, and analyzing all-source data in the preparation of clear, concise, in-depth intelligence analytical products.
• Assisting with identifying and applying the appropriate tools and methods to exploit information from a variety of sources to generate analytic reports.
• Assisting with reviewing, evaluating, and categorizing large volumes of complex information to prepare a variety of speculative analysis and evaluation of information received from multiple sources.

Experience GS-09: You qualify for the GS-09 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Researching, evaluating, integrating, and analyzing all-source data in the preparation of clear, concise, in-depth intelligence analytical products.
• Identifying and applying the appropriate tools and methods to exploit information from a variety of sources to generate analytic reports.
• Reviewing, evaluating, and categorizing large volumes of complex information to prepare a variety of speculative analysis and evaluation of information received from multiple sources.

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-07: Successful completion of one year of full-time graduate education from an accredited college or university may substitute for the experience required at this level. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise a year of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 18 semester or 27 quarter hours.

OR

Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): A bachelor’s degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) may also substitute for the experience required. It is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average (i.e., GPA 3.0 or higher of a possible 4.0, excluding pass/fail credits. Pass/fail credits cannot be more than 10% of total credits), or (3) honor society membership. Review Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) to see if you qualify under this provision. Please see www.opm.gov for additional information.

Education Substitution GS-09: You may substitute a Master’s degree or 2 full years of graduate education in any field or a L.L.B. or J.D. degree for the experience required at the GS-09 grade level. Such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the skills necessary to do the work. 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.

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 specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining the applicant’s total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant’s 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 an applicant 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 03/18/2025.

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.