Supervisory Intelligence Research Specialist

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 $143,913.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $187,093.00 (GS-14, Step 10).

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.

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

• Directing and developing the Counterintelligence Operations Branch. Leads the planning, development, execution, integration, and evaluation of counterintelligence operational capabilities designed to identify, assess, mitigate, and respond to foreign intelligence entity threats to CBP personnel, operations, information, facilities, systems, technologies, and other mission equities.
• Establishing counterintelligence operational priorities, standards, processes, and performance measures. Oversees the development and maturation of branch capabilities, including Counterintelligence Awareness and Reporting, threat and vulnerability assessments, foreign travel and foreign visitor support, counterintelligence collection and reporting, operational support, and other activities designed to protect CBP operations from foreign intelligence threats.
• Serving as an authoritative counterintelligence advisor to senior leadership and operational components. Provides executive-level briefings, operational guidance, threat assessments, mitigation strategies, and recommendations concerning emerging foreign intelligence threats, vulnerabilities, operational risks, and requirements for counterintelligence support.
• Leading coordination and operational integration across CBP, DHS, and the Intelligence Community. Establishes and maintains partnerships with CBP operational and support components, DHS Counterintelligence Program Division, the Office of Professional Responsibility, Intelligence Community organizations, federal law enforcement agencies, and other partners to synchronize activities, exchange threat information, support collection requirements, and ensure counterintelligence capabilities are integrated into mission operations.
• Supervising personnel and manages branch resources, readiness, and performance. Establishes work priorities and performance expectations, allocates personnel and resources, develops subordinate leaders and technical personnel, evaluates program effectiveness and operational readiness, identifies capability gaps, and ensures branch activities comply with applicable law, Executive Orders, intelligence oversight requirements, privacy and civil liberties protections, classification requirements, DHS and CBP policy, and Intelligence Community standards.

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
• CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
• As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is 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. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.
• DHS uses E-Verify, an internet-based system, 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.
• Financial Disclosure is required.
• Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.

Supervisory Probationary Period: You may be required to serve an 18-month probationary period upon appointment.

Training: This position has a training requirement. Selectees are required to attend and successfully complete mandatory paid training. Courses currently include (but are not limited to) the Intelligence Foundations Course, Systems Exploitation Training, and the CBP Intelligence Support to Operations Course. The location will be determined at the time of the training assignment. Selectees will be required to successfully complete the training requirement within a year of entry on duty as a condition of employment. Failure to successfully complete the required course(s) in accordance with CBP standards and policies will result in placement into either a former or different position, demotion, or separation as determined by management and appropriate procedures.

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:

• Directing, leading, managing, or developing counterintelligence operations, programs, or organizational capabilities designed to identify, assess, mitigate, or respond to foreign intelligence entity threats against personnel, operations, information, facilities, systems, technologies, or other organizational equities;
• Establishing or implementing counterintelligence operational priorities, policies, processes, or capabilities;
• Providing authoritative counterintelligence advice and operational guidance to senior leaders and mission stakeholders;
• Coordinating complex counterintelligence activities across organizational boundaries; assessing threats and vulnerabilities; and overseeing the development, integration, or dissemination of counterintelligence reporting, assessments, briefings, collection activities, or operational support;
• Translating strategic counterintelligence requirements into operational capabilities, establish repeatable processes and standards, evaluate program effectiveness, and build collaborative relationships with intelligence, law enforcement, security, and operational partners.

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 09/17/2026.

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.