How to Become a Mission Support Specialist

In order to qualify for a Mission Support Specialist job, an applicant must possess these basic qualifications:

  • Be a U.S. citizen
  • Possession of a valid state driver’s license
  • Pass an intensive background investigation which precludes excessive use of alcohol or drugs, financial insolvency, domestic violence and arrests or convictions
  • Pass a drug test

Academic Requirements for Mission Support Specialist Jobs

Due to the very competitive salary and promotion potential that Mission Support Specialists are afforded, these positions are in very high demand.  The intense competition for these jobs usually benefits those candidates with the most extensive academic and professional credentials.  In almost all cases, the bare minimum for these careers is a four year college degree in one of the following majors:

  • Business management
  • Organizational behavior
  • Political science
  • Information science
  • Finance
  • Accounting

A significant number of applicants for these positions also have advanced degrees including masters, MBA, JD, LLB, and PhD because many of these jobs require specialized skill sets usually acquired and developed through graduate course work.  These skills should include

  • Optimal decision making
  • Problem solving
  • Organizational awareness
  • Oral and written communication
  • Information management

Qualification Requirements for GS 7, 9, and 11 Mission Support Specialists

In order to join Immigrations and Customs Enforcement at the GS-9 level, a candidate must have a master’s degree, two years of post-graduate course work, or one year of professional experience equivalent to a GS-7 employee.  These professional duties should include management, administration, budgeting, personnel, property, procurement, or data management.

To enter at the GS-11 pay level, a Mission Support Specialist must possess a PhD, a LLM, or three years of post-graduate education.  Some candidates may also substitute at least one year of professional experience performing duties like managing administrative projects, developing solutions for administrative problems, analyzing management data in order to evaluate patterns, trends, and studies, prepare and present reports to management personnel, and represent organizations during vendor interactions.

A GS-12 Mission Support Specialist should possess impeccable academic credentials as well as at least one year performing the following duties:

  • Implementing ideal methodologies to administrative processes
  • Evaluating administrative functions and preparing analysis reports
  • Delivering advice on a wide variety of management and administrative programs
  • Negotiating agreements
  • Liaising with other organizations in order to synchronize functions

For GS-9 and GS-11 personnel, some professional experience requirements may be offset by academic achievement; GS-12 personnel must possess the required work experience.

Applying for ICE Mission Support Specialist Jobs

The initial application phase requires the candidate to submit an application package that should include

  • Resume
  • College transcripts
  • Documents verifying veteran, federal employee or law enforcement experience
  • A completed Occupational Questionnaire that will assess the professional and technical competencies of the candidate

If the application package merits approval, the candidate will be asked to interview with ICE mission support personnel and hiring managers.  Further written and oral examinations may be required to evaluate the candidate’s character, intellectual abilities, and technical skills.

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