Duties

Summary

As our nation navigates the COVID-19 pandemic, CBP is committed to delivering our mission to safeguard America's borders and enable legitimate trade and travel. Staffing mission critical positions remains a high priority. Be reassured that CBP is still hiring, despite potential hiring process step delays due to restrictions to in-person activities.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of International Affairs, International Operations Directorate, located in Washington, DC. IOD has the following Divisions:

• International Organizations and Agreements Division
• Africa, Middle East, and Central Asia Division
• North America Division
• Latin America Division
• Europe Division
• Asia Division

In this position you will serve as a Division Director who supervises and directs positions that are interchangeable such as Desk Officer, and Long Term Advisors in a foreign post. This position starts at a salary of $144,128.00 (GS-15, Step 1) to $172,500.00 (GS-15, Step 10) with promotion potential to $172,500.00 (GS-15 Step 10). In this position typical work assignments include:

• Collaborating with other CBP offices to coordinate action and advance progress on the Commissioner's priority objectives with host countries.
• Serving as liaison between CBP and the designated authorities of foreign governments on matters arising under the administration of reciprocal treaties, and furthers CBPs interests in negotiations with foreign representatives in the settlement of controversies or specific cases and concerns, and migration officials regarding U.S. border enforcement and repatriation concerns.
• Exercising overall responsibility for providing guidance, direction, management, and oversight of CBP personnel in the area of responsibility (AOR) to include leveraging assets to engage in diplomatic and foreign policy through effective partnerships with foreign officials and other government agencies to accomplish CBP's mission.
• Maintaining situational awareness on developments in the AOR in terms of supplementary legislation, new processes, and other similar administrative documents and materials, and assesses and reports on administrative interpretations of foreign relevant laws and practices, and impact on border and trade enforcement as appropriate.
• Supporting the development and utilization of specialized enforcement and investigative tactics, techniques, and procedures in furtherance of CBPs Enduring Mission Priorities at home and abroad.

Travel Required

25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

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)
• You may be required to pass a background investigation
• CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures

Temporary Position: This assignment is being filled on a temporary basis not-to-exceed (NTE) two years with possible extension(s) for a maximum of five year(s) in the order of a two and one year increment. Upon conclusion of the NTE assignment, the incumbent will be returned to the home office of record to a former position or to a different position of equivalent grade and pay as the one from which the incumbent was previously assigned, and that the return is not subject to the procedures found in 5 C.F.R. §§ 351, 432, 752, and 771. While serving on a NTE assignment, management has the discretion at any time to return the incumbent to the home office of record to a former position or to a different position of equivalent grade and pay as the one from which the incumbent was previously assigned.

Retirement: This position is being filled on a not-to-exceed (NTE) temporary assignment, therefore in the event the incumbent becomes eligible for retirement and chooses to retire, the incumbent will be returned to the home office of record prior to retirement. The incumbent will not be eligible to retire while serving on a NTE assignment in INA.

Qualifications

Experience: You qualify for the GS-15 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Representing an agency/organization and negotiating with senior and foreign officials to complete high-level projects having a national and international impact;
• Advising and advocating CBP's programs to foreign governments;
• Implementing international capacity building programs and multi-agency integration processes;
• Developing programs and interpreting policies and regulations involving national security and law enforcement procedures; and
• Leading, directing, or providing technical direction to others in performing inspection, intelligence analysis, and examination of law enforcement security issues.

Competencies: The following required competencies must be addressed in your resume:

• Leading Others: Inspires, motivates, and guides others toward goal accomplishment; ensures that staff members are appropriately selected, utilized, and appraised; develops others through coaching and mentoring; identifies and takes steps to prevent situations that could result in unpleasant confrontations; manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements in a positive and constructive manner; identifies training needs; provides constructive reinforcement; coaches others on how to perform tasks; acts as a source of information.
• Team Building: Consistently develops and sustains cooperative working relationships in all aspects of the job; encourages and facilitates cooperation within the agency and between the agency and other organizations; fosters commitment, pride, trust, and group identity.
• Performance and Results Management: Takes steps to achieve quality end products; is committed to continuous improvement; ensures that effective controls are in place; holds self and others accountable for meeting expectations; coordinates with other parts of the organization to accomplish goals; develops short and long-range plans that are realistic and appropriately comprehensive; includes contingency plans, as appropriate; monitors and evaluates plans; determines material and human resource requirements and ensures that needed resources are available; focuses on results and on measuring attainment of outcomes.
• Decision Making and Problem Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems; distinguishes between relevant and irrelevant information to make logical judgments; provides solutions to individual and organizational problems; draws correct inferences from available information to make sound and well-informed decisions.
• Creativity and Innovation: Develops insights into situations and applies innovative solutions to make organizational improvements; creates a synthesis of information from many sources; designs and implements new or cutting-edge programs and processes.
• Technical Credibility: Has mastery of the technical knowledge required to perform the job and the jobs of those supervised; knows where to find key information that does not need to be memorized; understands near-term and long-range plans and determines how best to run the program to achieve organizational goals.

and
The criterion is that knowledge, skill and ability in a position deemed to meet primary CBPO special retirement coverage is a mandatory prerequisite to satisfactorily perform the major duties and responsibilites of the job. In order to meet the requirements of this secondary CBP Officer position you must have permanently served in a primary CBP Officer Special Enhanced Retirement covered position, i.e. Customs Inspector , GS-1890, Immigration Inspector, GS-1816, Canine Enforcement Officer, GS-1801, or CBP Officer, GS-1895

Note: If you currently serve in a permanent Secondary CBPO Enhanced Retirement covered position, you are exempt from this mandatory prerequisite.

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 04/12/2021.

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.

Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For more information visit this link .

Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

• Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
• A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
• Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
• Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.

Additional information

Financial Disclosure is required.

Telework may be available on a regular recurring or situational basis.

Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.

Clearance: In this position you must obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance

Travel: Maybe required to obtain and maintain an official passport, Dept. Of State health documents, government credit card, and/or other travel requirements.

Language: Training may be required for this position

Motor Vehicle Operation: You must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license.

Drug Testing: This job has been identified as "testing designated" under our Drug-Free Workplace Program. You will be subjected to random drug testing.

Supervisory Probationary Period: the Civil Service Reform Act requires first time supervisors and/or managers to serve an 18 month probationary period. You may also be required to complete an appropriate supervisory training course within 90 days of assignment to this position.

Supervisory Training Program: As a newly-appointed, GS-15 senior manager, you will be required to complete five weeks of CBP Leadership Institute (CBP LI) training located in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Firearms Requirement: You will be required to carry a firearm and maintain firearm proficiency. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition. You will be required to certify whether you have ever been convicted of such an offense. False or fraudulent information is criminally punishable by fine or imprisonment.

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.

Follow U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Twitter @CustomsBorder

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans , Peace Corps / VISTA volunteers , and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants will only be considered for the Eligibilities for which they claim in the job questionnaire AND must provide the supporting documentation. Applicants will not be considered for Eligibilities for which they did not claim, regardless of the documentation submitted with the application. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11056811

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education, and training will be rated using an assessment questionnaire.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. Preview the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11056811

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP eligible.View information about CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. You must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement. To be considered well qualified under CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

• Your resume : A resume describing your job-related qualifications is required and will be used for the purpose of reviewing your qualifications and determining what training, if any, would be required when placed. A resume in English is required. It must contain your full legal name, address, phone number, complete work history including a detailed description of your duties, the dates you performed those duties (MM/DD/YY), your hours worked per week, job title, as well as series, grade, and salary (if applicable). For additional required items, see the link.
• Your responses to the job questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11056811
• Are you a current or former federal employee? ALL CURRENT AND FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES MUST SUBMIT THE MOST RECENT COPY OF THEIR SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing competitive status: Tenure 1 or 2 in Block 24 and Position Occupied 1 in Block 34. Additionally, applicants should also submit a SF-50 reflecting the highest grade held on a permanent basis in the competitive service or the full performance level of your current position, whichever is higher, AND a SF-50 to support having met the time-in-grade requirement of having served 52 weeks at the grade level (or equivalent) below the grade level(s) for this position. Current CBP Employees are encouraged, but not required, to submit an SF-50(s) for CBP experience; however, additional SF-50(s) are required when using federal experience outside of CBP to receive credit towards the requirements above. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, within-grade increases and accessions.
• Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)? You must submit a separation notice; your most recent SF-50 (noting your current position, grade level and duty location); a copy of your most recent performance rating; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; or a Military Department of National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456.
• Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
  • Position title
  • Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee)
  • Agency
  • Beginning and ending dates of appointment
• You may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards.