Mission Support Specialist

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

$98K — $128K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of specialized experience in workforce management and administrative processes.
  • Proficient in analyzing and interpreting laws, regulations, and policies related to employee benefits and compensation.
  • Experience in budget management and procurement activities, including tracking expenditures and forecasting needs.
  • Strong analytical skills for reviewing workforce data and developing recruitment strategies.
  • Prior experience coordinating multiple administrative support programs and resolving personnel-related issues.

Responsibilities

  • Monitor and manage the workers' compensation program as Injury Compensation Coordinator.
  • Advise management on pay, benefits, and leave eligibility while resolving personnel matters.
  • Analyze workforce data to develop recruitment plans and advise on staffing levels.
  • Track budget, procurement, and equipment activities to ensure adherence to financial allocations.
  • Oversee the Center's Self-Inspection Program and manage travel authorizations and vouchers.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package available to federal employees.
  • Access to employee health benefits and retirement plans.
  • Potential eligibility for flexible work schedules and telework options.
  • Opportunities for career advancement and professional development.
  • Job security with a U.S. government position offering stability.
Full Job Description
Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Detroit Field Office, Automotive & Aerospace Center of Excellence and Expertise (AA-CEE) located in Detroit, MI.

Additional selections may be made to include other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

Duties

Help

In this position, you will support a Center of Excellence and Expertise (Center) and oversee the implementation of programs and policies related to a variety of administrative processes, such as injury compensation, employee benefits, budget, procurement, and management analysis.

This position starts at a salary of $98,729.00 (GS-12, Step 1) to $128,350.00 (GS-12, Step 10).

Typical duties include:

  • Monitoring the workers' compensation program by serving as Injury Compensation Coordinator, advising employees on benefits eligibility, reviewing claims and medical documentation, and advising management on return-to-work and leave-without-pay determinations;
  • Providing management input on pay, benefits, and leave issues by interpreting applicable laws, regulations, and policies, researching complex questions, and coordinating with appropriate program offices to resolve personnel-related matters;
  • Reviewing workforce data by analyzing staffing levels, computing attrition rates, correcting data errors, gathering projected turnover and loss information, developing recruitment plans, and advising senior management on employment levels and recruitment status;
  • Monitoring budget, supply, equipment, and procurement activities by tracking overtime, supplies, equipment, services, spending, payroll discrepancies, and expenditure forecasts while coordinating with management to remain within allocated funding;
  • Managing administrative support programs by overseeing the Center's Self-Inspection Program, assigning web SIRS worksheets, recommending corrective actions, advising on travel matters, and reviewing travel authorizations and vouchers.


GS Salary: Visit this link to view the locality pay tables by geographic area. If you do not see your geographic area 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.Please visit this link to view special pay rate charts.

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)
  • All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English
  • You may be required to pass a background investigation


This vacancy has a local commuting area requirement, as defined below:

  • The area surrounding the duty station by which people reasonably travel back and forth from home to work; Or
  • The employee's permanent duty station is located within the reasonable travel area surrounding the duty station of this vacancy; Or if applicable
  • For employees who are detailed or temporarily promoted for more than 1 year to another duty location, the detailed or temporary duty location is considered to be the duty location of record for commuting area purposes. For employees detailed or temporarily promoted for less than one year, the permanent duty location is considered the duty location of record for commuting area purposes.


Qualifications

Experience: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

  • Managing workforce programs by reviewing claims, advising on benefits and leave, maintaining staffing data, and coordinating recruitment actions;
  • Monitoring budget and procurement activities by tracking spending, resolving payroll discrepancies, forecasting needs, and managing supplies and equipment;
  • Analyzing administrative programs by reviewing mission support issues, preparing reports, and recommending process improvements;
  • Coordinating training, travel, correspondence, self-inspection, performance management, and awards activities through established systems and requirements.


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 09/04/2026.


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.

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.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.

Additional information

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.

Please view the video "Protecting America 24/7" to learn more about CBP's Office of Field Operations.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at U.S. Customs and Border Protection

More Education, Government & Non-Profit Jobs

  • Deputy Building Official
    $80K — $150K + gloucester county government offers an excellent benefit package *
    Gloucester County
    Gloucester, VA 23061 (Gloucester County)
  • Deputy Assessor
    $80K — $150K + gloucester county government offers an excellent benefit package *
    Gloucester County
    Gloucester, VA 23061 (Gloucester County)
  • Civil Engineer II
    $80K — $150K + gloucester county government offers an excellent benefit package *
    Gloucester County
    Gloucester, VA 23061 (Gloucester County)
  • Accounting Manager
    $80K — $100K + gloucester county government offers an excellent benefit package *
    Gloucester County
    Gloucester, VA 23061 (Gloucester County)
  • Manager, Clinical Business Development
    $115K — $120K *
    Columbia University Irving Medical Center
    New York, NY 10032 (New York County)

Find similar Mission Support Specialist jobs: