Intelligence Research Specialist

Customs and Border Protection • Washington, DC

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations, National Targeting Center, located in Sterling, Virginia, or Washington, DC. The Intelligence Research Specialist conducts all-source intelligence research, targeting, and analysis in support of counterterrorism, border security, homeland security, and related missions. The role collects, evaluates, integrates, and analyzes information from classified and unclassified sources to identify potential threat actors, associations, travel patterns, movements, and other indicators. The specialist develops targets; prepares analytic assessments, intelligence reporting, and other mission-related products; and coordinates with CBP personnel and mission partners to inform targeting and operational decisions.

The position is GS-13, with a stated salary range of $121,785 to $158,322. The incumbent must obtain and maintain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance and attend and successfully complete paid mandatory training. The role is not covered by a bargaining unit.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
• Meet the primary U.S. residency requirement: physically reside in the United States or its protectorates for at least three of the last five years, unless eligible for a waiver.
• Complete all pre-employment processes in English.
• Pass a background investigation and comply with CBP drug-testing procedures.
• Obtain and maintain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance.
• Successfully complete required paid training, which may include the Intelligence Foundations Course, Systems Exploitation Training, and the CBP Intelligence Support to Operations Course.
• Have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, including experience conducting targeting or target development; reading, evaluating, extracting, synthesizing, and writing information from reporting or other source material; and analyzing and integrating information from multiple datasets to support intelligence production, targeting, or operational decision-making.
• Explicitly describe qualifying specialized experience in the resume.
• Meet all qualification requirements by October 28, 2026.

Responsibilities

• Conduct all-source, multidisciplinary research using limited derogatory information, threat indicators, or other leads to identify potential threat actors, associations, travel patterns, and movements, and develop targets in support of counterterrorism.
• Use classified and unclassified tools, systems, and datasets to create analytical assessments on known or previously unidentified threat actors, emphasizing technical signals analysis, network development, and pattern-of-life analysis.
• Conduct follow-on analysis of selected targets using interview notes, document exploitation, media exploitation, and other available reporting or source material.
• Draft, edit, and publish analytical findings and summaries of action in standardized cable or intelligence reporting formats for dissemination to partners and the broader intelligence community.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with unit personnel and mission partners through training, instruction, and knowledge sharing to transfer intelligence knowledge, techniques, expertise, and best practices in support of CBP's targeting mission.
• Coordinate with CBP personnel and mission partners to support targeting and operational decision-making.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; the announcement states that employees and their families have access to a range of benefits, with specific eligibility depending on position type.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed