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Writer-Editor

Department of Homeland Security
Customs and Border Protection
United States Border Patrol
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Customs & Border Protection (CBP): Securing America's Borders
Do you desire to protect American interests and secure our Nation while building a meaningful and rewarding career? If so, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling. DHS components work collectively to prevent terrorism, secure borders, enforce and administer immigration laws, safeguard cyberspace and ensure resilience to disasters. The vitality and magnitude of this mission is achieved by a diverse workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS.

Discover a challenging and rewarding career with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the sole organization responsible for securing the nation's borders. At CBP, we:

  • Secure and facilitate trade and travel while enforcing hundreds of U.S. regulations, including immigration and drug laws
  • Screen passengers, vehicles, and shipments entering our country
  • Seize illegal narcotics, vehicles, and agricultural products
  • Prevent unauthorized entry into the country
  • Rescue individuals who fall into dangerous conditions traversing our border

For more information about CBP's mission, activities, and careers see www.cbp.gov.

This position will allow you to use your expertise in writing and editing to create and revise written information published by the agency. The salary for this position starts at $72,168 (GS-12 Step 1). Apply for this exciting opportunity to strengthen the Department's ability to communicate its message to target audiences.

Who May Apply:

  • Current U.S. Customs & Border Protection employees with competitive status.
  • View common definitions of terms in this announcement.

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Border Patrol, Yuma Sector, Communications, Yuma AZ.

One or more selections may be made using this job opportunity announcement. Further selections may also be made for additional organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

The open period for this job opportunity announcement may be extended to allow for a sufficient applicant pool.

Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
05/04/2017 to 05/17/2017
Salary
$72,168 to - $93,821 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Yuma, AZ
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Announcement number
USBP-IMP-10009146-WR
Control number
468983400

This job is open to

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Duties

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This is a multi-faceted position that requires you to serve as a writer, editor, and composer of various articles on agency activities.

Your job will include:

  • Composing and editing written information for senior level and top management officials.
  • Examining documents produced by others for clarity, style requirements, and organizational policies.
  • Reviewing and drafting appropriate form letter responses for top level management signatures
  • Researching and analyzing pertinent regulations, policies, and program documents to develop complete and accurate statements.

Requirements

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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
  • You may be required to pass a background investigation

This is a bargaining unit position.
Writing Sample: Applicants are required to submit a writing sample with their application. Please upload your sample under miscellaneous documents.

Qualifications

GS-12: You qualify at the GS-12 level if you possess one year of specialized experience that equipped you with the skills needed to perform the job duties. Examples include working in broadcast journalism, writing for a newscast or newspaper and writing, editing and journalism experience.

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, 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 05/17/2017.
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.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306 (Declaration for Federal Employment), and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

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. Entry into this position may require that you successfully pass a polygraph examination. For more information visit this link.

Probationary Period: Current federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the Federal Government, you are not CTAP eligible. Information about CTAP eligibility can be found here. To be considered well qualified under CTAP, you must possess the knowledge, skills and abilities and/or competencies clearly exceeding the minimum requirements of the position. This will be measured by a score of 85 or higher. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

Additional information

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include: flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information visit this link. Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

CBP 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.

Every individual receives a fair opportunity throughout the federal recruitment and hiring process. Learn more here.

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

How you will be evaluated

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

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics (KSAOs):
Candidates who meet the minimum qualification requirements are required to possess certain Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, or Other Characteristics (KSAOs) to successfully perform the duties of this position. Candidates will be asked to demonstrate their attainment of these KSAOs in their resume. The KSAOs are:

  • Skill in preparing written material on complex issues related to the mission, policies, programs and initiatives of the agency.
  • Knowledge of publishing concepts, practices, standards, and technologies used by the media.
  • Ability to extensively research topics for effective and accurate speech writing.
  • Expert knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies pertaining to the protection and release of information to the public.
We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using an online self-assessment questionnaire that is based on the competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below. You will receive a score ranging from 70-100 based on your responses. Your entire application package will then be reviewed. The final determination will be based on all the information provided in your application package.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. To preview the job questionnaire, see https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10009146.

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