Mission Support Specialists provide valuable administrative and technical services that enhance the operational performance of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices, units and personnel. These support professional fill a wide variety of roles in different settings, but usually help manage organizational functions like budget development, procurement, and information systems management. In many offices, Mission Support Specialists serve as an added layer of management for front line units, where they evaluate strategies and operational techniques as well administrative processes.
Mission Support Specialist Job Description
In many settings, Mission Support Specialist jobs involve conducting many of the administrative tasks necessary to keep ICE offices running smoothly. They manage many administrative services like collect and manage data, process requests for intelligence and inter-agency coordination, submit paperwork for legal proceeding, request proposals from vendors for new equipment, and complete paperwork for travel.
Mission Support Specialist jobs also involve preparing reports and making recommendations based on the needs, strengths and weaknesses of front line personnel and other members of ICE. These recommendations are often based on comprehensive studies of existing procedures and processes, with feedback from key personnel and comparative analyses with similar agencies. Mission Support Specialists must often present these studies to senior managers and government committees.
Mission Support Specialists should be able to perform a wide variety of administrative functions as part of the job, including:
- Develop and implement human resources training programs
- Manage, evaluate and upgrade information systems
- Prepare budgets based on office projections
- Produce paperwork necessary to facilitate legal proceedings including detentions, transport, prosecution, deportation and transfer to other agencies
- Analyze and evaluate administrative and mission operations in order to make recommendations that enhance performance
- Organize itineraries and travel documentation
- Coordinate operations with other agencies and governments
- Present studies, reports and recommendations to senior administrators and committee members
- Prepare status reports on facilities, personnel and equipment
- Access intelligence databases to provide tactical and strategic information to front line personnel
Mission Support Specialist Salary and Job Benefits
Mission Support Specialists are very well compensated for their skills and experience. A Mission Support Specialist who is joining U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement may enter as a GS-9, GS-11, or GS-12, with the opportunity to progress to the upper limit of the GS-13 pay level. In 2012, the salary ranges for these pay levels was as follows:
- General Schedule 9: $41,563-$54,028
- General Schedule 11: $50,287-$65,371
- General Schedule 12: $60,274-$78,355
- General Schedule 13: $71,674-$93,175
These salaries are also often adjusted to the cost of living associated with the job posting. Mission Support Specialists also receive a 25 percent bonus to their base salaries as a result of Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) which is meant to compensate law enforcement personnel for long hours, hazardous duty and 24/7 availability.
In addition to the salaries, Mission Support Specialists are also granted generous benefits packages which include the following features:
- Health insurance plans that may include dental and vision
- Life and long term care insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts which provide added protection against medical expenses
- Federal government’s version of the 401k, called Thrift Savings Plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Full retirement is available after 20 years of service
- Personal leave days and paid holidays
- Uniform allowance
- Transportation subsidies
To find out more about how to become an ICE mission support specialist, click here.