Supervisory Intelligence Research Specialist

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 Directorate, Southern Border Intelligence Center. You may select only ONE of the following locations for consideration:

• Tucson, Arizona
• El Paso, Texas.

Qualifications:

Experience: 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:

• Supporting CBP's strategic and operational advantages in countering all homeland security threats, by identifying indicators and warnings related to terrorism and transnational organized crime networks, counter smuggling and trafficking, counterintelligence, and cyber and trade enforcement;
• Providing critical, timely and relevant intelligence on current and emerging border security threats and vulnerabilities in support of CBP's strategic, operational and tactical level operations; and supports CBP's mission through Intelligence briefings, products and guidance;
• Implementing a strategic plan that establishes the future vision for the division aligned with the IE strategic vision; identifies program priorities, goals and objectives; and outlines the overall process to achieve them;
• Supporting the development of component specific intelligence requirements, appropriate collection activities, and addresses intelligence gaps.

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 04/28/2026.

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 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.

Responsibilities:

In this position, you will serve as a Supervisory Intelligence Research Specialist, applying a full range of expert 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 $125,776.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $163,514.00 (GS-14, Step 10).

Salary listed reflects the rest of U.S. scale and, if applicable, will be adjusted to meet the locality pay or cost of living expenses of the duty location upon selection.

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

• Managing subordinate staff who are directly engaged in providing the Custom and Border Protection (CBP) Intelligence Enterprise (IE) and operational stakeholders with intelligence products that inform and enhance their ability to make strategic, operational and tactical decisions in support of CBP operations directed at threats to border security.
• Collaborating across areas of responsibility within the component office, as well as with other CBP IE components, to advance the Intelligence Enterprise mission, strategy, and programs; supports the Custom and Border Protection Commissioner's priorities; and executes intelligence functions in support of CBP operations.
• Establishing metrics to ensure unit activities are timely and reviewed at critical points. Offers guidance, counsel and instructions to subordinate staff on intelligence functions and operational issues.
• Providing detailed and comprehensive feedback to the subordinate staff, which may include any necessary corrective action(s) taken.
• Supervising intelligence collection processes/practices in support of an operation or initiative(s).
• Liaising with other agencies, briefing out information to leadership, or helping to provide intel support to operations

Salary : $125,776 - $163,514