Summary
1-year non-reimbursable assignment. The only compensation for this assignment is the federal salary you are already receiving.
CBP Office of Intelligence
Intelligence Research Specialist
Series Requested: 0132, 1801, 1805
Security Clearance: TS/SCI
Virtual/Remote: No
Only current, full-time federal employees are eligible.
Resumes are reviewed every 30 days until selection/closing date.
This is a Detail, not a Developmental Rotation.
Supervisory approval form must be signed.
This job is open to
Federal employees - Competitive service
Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.
Federal employees - Excepted service
Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.
Clarification from the agency
This detail opportunity is for current competitive and excepted service employees only. If you are not a current federal civilian employee you will not be eligible for this position. DHS Joint Duty Assignments do not apply to members of the Military service or contractors.
Duties
The Intelligence Research Specialist (IRS) will provide the CBP 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. This position advises, administers, and performs analysis, evaluation, interpretation and dissemination of information and intelligence. This information and intelligence will apply to border security operations in the following areas: counter terrorism; counter narcotics; counter human smuggling or trafficking; counter proliferation; cyber or financial crime interdiction; trade enforcement; counterintelligence; or other emerging border security issues and threats.
Position serves as an Intelligence Research Specialist (IRS), and Subject Matter Expert (SME) all source analyst; 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.
Performs the following (but is not limited to) researching, reviewing, and evaluating a high volume of classified, sensitive, open-source intelligence to identify threats; and provide situational awareness for operations; all source intelligence analysis and intelligence related tasks and prepares incident and situation reports and conducts briefings; preparing a variety of speculative-estimative finished intelligence products based on comprehensive analysis and evaluation of current intelligence information received from multiple sources; designing new or improving existing intelligence products; and developing and modifying training materials, methods or courses to ensure the most current intelligence policies, procedures and philosophies are being emphasized during training sessions.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Must be a current permanent Federal employee
- Must have supervisory approval to apply to the Joint Duty Assignment. DHS 250-2 Application Form under "required documents" section.
- Must NOT have any pending/outstanding disciplinary actions
- Must have achieved a minimum of "meet expectations/proficiency" on latest performance appraisal/evaluation
- Must be currently at the grade level of the detail. *No Temporary Promotion Opportunity*
- The program does not apply to members of the Military service or contractors.
Qualifications
Qualifications required:
- Political, strategic, operational, and tactical operation levels, and how intelligence supports each level for CBP mission success.
- Critical thinking techniques and structured analysis methods required to mitigate bias; intelligence question validation processes; and critical reading techniques to review intelligence information.
- IC systems, databases, and message traffic at all levels of security classification used to gather and develop content for analytic products and briefings to provide situational awareness for decision makers and operators.
- Research tools, techniques and procedures used to support analysis and production of intelligence products, and establish the trends, patterns and estimates that enhance situational awareness of decision makers and operators.
Please read the following important information to ensure we have everything we need to consider your application:
It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit appropriate documentation prior to the closing date. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant experience as it relates to this Joint Duty assignment opportunity announcement.
Be clear and specific when describing your work history since human resources cannot make assumptions regarding your experience. Your application will be rated based on your resume.
Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information:
- Job Title (Include series and grade of Federal Job)
- Duties (Be specific in describing your duties)
- Name of Federal agency
- Supervisor name, email, and phone number
- Start and end dates including month and year (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
Education
EDUCATIONAL SUBSTITUTION: There is no educational substitution for this position.
Additional information
**DHS does not offer any additional benefits beyond that which the Federal employee is already receiving.
If the position requires a security clearance, employees must have a SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance to placement AND must maintain that level of clearance while performing in the position.
Selected applicants for a JDA are requested to fulfill the items below during the JDA:
- Complete the DHS Training Course 15 days prior to the arrival to the JDA.
- Complete the DHS Joint Duty Assignment Progress Plan to include:
- Phase 1: Establish assignment objectives within the first 30 days of the JDA.
- Phase 2: Complete a self-assessment of the duties performed at the mid-point of the JDA.
- Phase 3: Complete a final review within the last 30 days of the JDA.
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.
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.
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.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education, and training will be rated using a job questionnaire based on the competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this Joint Duty Assignment.
If you are among the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. After reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination will be made. You must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.
Required Documents
1. Resume: Do not include any personally identifiable information (PII) i.e., home address, social security number, or date of birth. Your resume must clearly demonstrate you have experience which meets the requirements of this position as outlined in the "Qualifications" section.
2. SF-50: Submit a copy of your official SF-50 (no text version) or other official "Notification of Personnel Action" document which shows the following information:
- Your appointment in the Federal service
- Tenure
- Grade and Step
- Full performance level
If your SF-50(s) does not provide the information needed to make a final determination for qualification, you will be found ineligible for the position.
3. DHS Joint Duty Assignment Application Form signed by your supervisor. Please click on the following link to access the required form
DHS Form 250-02.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 12/14/2026 to receive consideration.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and other supporting documents, and complete the questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account,
https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link, and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Next steps
Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the selecting official for further consideration and a possible interview. We will notify you by email at various stages in the process. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information." We expect to make a final JDA offer within 90 days after the deadline for applications. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
Telework: Telework eligibility is based on the needs of the office and is subject to change.
Additional information pertaining to your interest and availability for this position may be needed after the closing date of the Joint Duty Assignment vacancy announcement; therefore, a timely response to these requests must be adhered to in order to remain in consideration.