MISSION SUPPORT SPECIALIST (FINANCE)

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, Mission Readiness Operations, located in Swanton, VT. Additional selections may be made for other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

About the role

CBP employees demonstrate the highest level of commitment to protect and serve the United States of America and to exemplify the CBP Core Values of Vigilance, Service to Country and Integrity. Learn more about CBP's mission, core values and careers.

In this Mission Support Specialist (Finance) position, you will become a key team member performing review and analysis of budget, management, training, logistics, procurement, and all other areas of mission support resources in support of the Division.

This position starts at a salary of $76,203.00 (GS-11, Step 1) to $99,069.00 (GS-11, Step 10). View locality pay tables by geographic area. If your geographic area is not listed, select the "Rest of United States" pay table. Some positions fall under a special pay rate depending on the series, grade level and location of the position. View special pay rate charts.

Responsibilities

• Providing technical guidance and performing a variety of comprehensive services related to finance, budget, procurement and travel.
• Applying a range of administrative concepts, laws, policies and analytical methods to ensure compliance, provide technical direction, and address technical issues or problems and procedural requirements.
• Planning and carrying out a wide variety of mission support, budgetary and administrative research, and program planning activities related to the missions and functions of the Mission Readiness Operations.
• Performing review and analysis of budget, management, training, logistics, procurement, and all other areas of mission support resources in support of the Division.

Requirements

• 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).
• All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English.
• 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 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. These rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity to ensure it is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Review further details.
• DHS uses E-Verify 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.
• This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the National Border Patrol Council - NBPC. For local chapter contact information.
• This vacancy has a local commuting area requirement. The area surrounding the duty station defines reasonable travel back and forth from home to work. For employees detailed or temporarily promoted for more than one year, the detailed or temporary duty location is considered the duty location of record. For those detailed or temporarily promoted for less than one year, the permanent duty location is considered the duty location of record.

Qualifications

Experience: 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:

• Analyzing historical budget data, current spending, future estimates and trends.
• Overseeing expenditures to ensure allocations, commitments and expenditures are projected and spent accordingly.
• Monitoring the travel card program to ensure compliance with the Federal Travel Regulations and other applicable regulations and policies.
• Reviewing bank reports and accounts to ensure payments are reconciled in accordance with current travel regulations.

Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.

Education Substitution: Successful completion of 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a degree from an accredited college or university, a doctoral degree, or an LL.M., if related, that demonstrates the skills necessary to do the work. You are required to submit proof of your educational 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. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grade GS-11. More information on this qualification standard.

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.
• 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 08/14/2026.

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) requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment 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).
• The use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances.

Additional information on the preemployment process.

Residency

There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals must 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 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 authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military 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 their 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.

Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) / Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)

If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well qualified under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement. You may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards. Due weight will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions.

Additionally, if you are a former federal employee separated from Federal service for over 52 weeks, it is recommended that you submit your most recent rating of record (performance appraisal) when applying.