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Border Patrol Agent (Operational Mobility Announcement)

Department of Homeland Security
Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Border Patrol
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is located with the U.S. Border Patrol at various locations throughout the United States. See Responsibilities Section for available locations.

You may only receive consideration for up to TWO Stations. If you wish to change locations after your initial application submission you will need to choose all of your locations again, changing even one location will override all previous location choices. You may not change location preferences after 06/21/2019.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
06/10/2019 to 06/21/2019
Salary
$33,949 to - $96,978 per year

Salary reflects the Rest of U.S. scale and will be adjusted to meet the locality pay of the duty location upon selection.

Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 12
Locations
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Yuma, AZ
Blythe, CA
Calexico, CA
Imperial, CA
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—A GSA VRP Lump Sum relocation benefit has been authorized.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
USBP-OM-10515212-JRB
Control number
535715200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

For details regarding who can apply for this Job Opportunity Announcement please see the Requirements section.

Duties

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Listed below are the duty locations that may be filled under this announcement:

Agents may receive a GSA Lump Sum relocation payment, if their new station meets the "distance test." Please see Qualifications section for further details on this requirement.

Del Rio Sector

Brackettville Station | Brackettville, TX
Comstock Station | Comstock, TX
Del Rio Station | Del Rio, TX
Uvalde Station | Uvalde, TX

El Centro Sector
El Centro Station | Imperial, CA

Rio Grande Valley Sector
Fort Brown Station | Brownsville, TX
Harlingen Station | Harlingen, TX
Kingsville Station | Kingsville, TX
McAllen Station | McAllen, TX
Rio Grande City Station | Rio Grande City, TX

San Diego Sector
Brown Field Station | San Diego, CA
Newton-Azrak Station | Murrieta, CA
San Clemente Station | San Clemente, CA

Yuma Sector
Blythe Station | Blythe, CA
Yuma Station | Yuma, AZ

If selected for a location listed below, you may also receive a relocation incentive payment. The following requirements apply:

  • Agents new duty station must be at least 50 miles from their current station in order to be eligible;
  • Agents must relocate to the new geographic location;
  • Agents must have a rating of record that is at least fully successful or equivalent;
  • Agents may also receive a GSA Lump Sum relocation payment, if their new station meets the "distance test."
A one-time relocation incentive payment of up to 25% of your annual basic pay, not to exceed $12,800 for the following location(s):

Del Rio Sector
Carrizo Springs Station | Carrizo Springs, TX

A one-time relocation incentive payment of up to 25% of your annual basic pay, not to exceed $15,000 for the following location(s):

Del Rio Sector
Eagle Pass North Station | Eagle Pass, TX
Eagle Pass South Station | Eagle Pass, TX

El Centro Sector
Calexico Station | Calexico, CA

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Who May Apply:

  • Current 1896: GL-5, GL-7, GL-9, GS-11 & GS-12 Border Patrol Agents in the Bargaining Unit (Agents who are currently serving under a detail or an official temporary promotion which removes them from the bargaining unit & for which an SF-50 was issued, are not eligible for reassignment under this program) who also:
    • Has a minimum of 3 years in service with the agency
    • Is not to be the subject of:
      • Any pending Performance Improvement Plan (PIP);
      • Proposed action of suspension of 7 or more days or termination;
      • Any open investigation being conducted by OIG or an investigation being conducted by OPR for an allegation which, if sustained, the employee would typically receive a proposal of an adverse action (15 days or more);
      • A Last Chance Agreement;
      • Three or more disciplinary actions or a single adverse action (15-day suspension or more) within the last 2 years.
    • Has not received a funded relocation in the past 4 years
    • Has not received a reassignment (funded or non-funded) under the Operational Mobility Program in the past 4 years
    • Able to perform all the required duties of the Border Patrol Agent position description
    • Has passed their applicable probationary period
  • View common definitions of terms in this announcement.

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 and/or polygraph
  • You may be required to pass initial and random drug testing
  • You must be able to meet job-related medical and/or fitness standards

Qualifications

You qualify for this position if you are currently serving as a Border Patrol Agent with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This experience must demonstrate responsibility for applying a comprehensive range of Federal laws, rules, regulations and procedures aimed at preventing the illegal entry of aliens into the United States by land, water, or air. If you are selected for this reassignment opportunity, you will be ineligible for a funded reassignment to a new duty location under the Operational Mobility or any other relocation program for a period of four calendar years after reporting to the new duty location.

Qualifications by Closing Date: You must meet all qualification requirements and eligibility requirements by 06/21/2019. Please note that qualification and eligibility claims will be subject to verification through a review of your application. This verification could occur at any stage of the application process. Falsification of your application will remove you from consideration and could subject you to disciplinary action.

Relocation Expenses and Lump Sum Payments: Agents relocating as a part of the Operational Mobility will receive the following lump sum amount, depending on their status. These lump sum payments are in lieu of any other relocation payments, the home buyout is not included under this relocation.

  • $8,950 for one-person households who do not own a home.
  • $16,850 for multiple person households who do not own a home.
  • $27,375 for one-person households who own a home.
  • $35,275 for multiple person households who own a home.
These lump sum amounts are before taxes. CBP will treat the entire lump sum as fully taxable and accordingly will use the flat rate method for withholding appropriate Federal Income Taxes, FICA and Medicare. All lump sum payments will be received through direct deposit.

Distance Test: (1) Effective August 2011, cost transfers are subject to the "distance test". The "distance test" is met when the new official station is at least 50 miles further from the employee's current residence than the old official station is from the same residence. For example, if the old official station is 15 miles from the current residence, then the new official station must be at least 65 miles from that same residence in order to receive relocation expenses for residence transactions. The distance test does not take into consideration the location of a new residence.

Agents who accept a job offer with a relocation incentive are required to sign a one-year service agreement in addition to the one-year relocation payment service agreement. Additionally, agents are ineligible for reassignment to a new duty location under this or any other relocation program for a period of 4 years as outlined in the Operational Mobility Agreement MOU. The service agreement for the relocation incentive, relocation service agreement, and the 4-year ineligibility period will all run concurrently; an additional year will not be added.

Relocation Information: To compare cost of living data, calculate mortgage scenarios or gather information on communities and school districts, please visit: Relocation Essentials.

An employee will lose their Relocation Benefits if they begin any portion of their relocation prior to the receipt of the signed/approved Relocation Package (Form 334 [PCS] OR 334-1 [Lump sum], et. al; referred to below as the travel authorization) from the National Relocation Coordinator at the USBP/MROD office.
  • §302-2.1 When may I begin my transfer or reassignment? You may begin your transfer or reassignment only after your agency has approved your travel authorization (TA) in writing (paper or electronic).
  • §302-2.2 May I relocate to my new official station before I receive a written travel authorization (TA)? No, you must have the written TA (paper or electronic) before you relocate to your new official station.
Per the CBP-334c Form Employment Agreement for Relocating within the Continental United States (CONUS), Agents accepting the relocation offer are required to remain an employee of the agency at the new duty location for at least one full year from reporting date to that location or they will be required to repay the full lump sum payments to the agency with the following exceptions:
  • Employee receives a promotion within CBP,
  • Moves at the requirement of CBP,
  • Qualifies for a relocation under the Spousal or Compassionate Transfer Program,
  • Involuntary separation from CBP; or
  • Moves back to the former duty location due to significant financial hardship due to the housing market.
Two CBP Employees: In a multiple person household where two people are CBP employees, only one lump sum amount will be paid. Note: Station address is the physical address of the station not the official mailing address.

Change in Residence: In order to receive the lump sum payment, agents must change residence from which they normally commute to work and meet all requirements outlined in the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR): Travel Regulations.

Official Residence: Official residence is defined as the residence address listed with the National Finance Center (NFC). It is the agent's responsibility to ensure that his/her official residence is correctly annotated in the NFC and updated as necessary. NOTE: Please be sure that your Application Manager Profile address is updated as well as your resume to reflect your physical address. PO Boxes will not be accepted as they are not permanent addresses.

Reporting Time: If you do not own a residence, you will have 45 calendar days from the date of formal acceptance to report to your new duty location. If you own a residence, you will have up to 90 calendar days from the date of formal acceptance to report to your new duty location.

Administrative Leave: A cumulative total of 40 hours will be authorized for pre/post move requirements to include finding a home.

No Cost Transfer: No cost transfers are transfers for which selected agents are not eligible for the GSA lump sum payment or the administrative leave outlined above. Management will make as many of these no cost transfers as determined to be consistent with operational needs. The procedures for selecting agents for no cost transfers will be the same procedures found in the evaluation section of this announcement.

Seniority Calculation: Applicants will self-certify their seniority date during the online application. Seniority dates are determined and adjusted based on qualifying service as a BPA. Any breaks in service must be utilized to recalculate your seniority date. Please use the date you Entered on Duty (EOD) with U.S. Border Patrol in the 1896 series. i.e. seniority date (this is not the date of your last promotion). This date will be used to rank you with your peers. Note: Employees who misrepresent their Seniority Dates will be ineligible for relocation for four years.

Example: You were a Border Patrol Agent from 5/22/12 to 5/2/13 (11 months, 11 days). On 5/3/13, you took a position as a CBP Officer. You were reinstated as a Border Patrol Agent on 5/2/14. As of 5/2/14, your new seniority date would be calculated as 5/2/14 minus 11 months and 11 days. Your new seniority date would be 5/21/13. (When calculating your seniority date, separations are effective at midnight of the effective date. For each period of service, the day of the separation must be credited. This can be done by adding a date to each separation date, OR adding the number of separations to the days being subtracted from the appointment date).

Language Requirement: Must be proficient in the Spanish language (i.e. able to speak and read in Spanish).

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

As a Border Patrol Agent, you will serve as a primary Law Enforcement Officer under 5 U.S.C. 8331 (6C) and 8412 (d) and be responsible for:

  • Preventing the entry of terrorists and their weapons of terrorism.
  • Enforcing the laws that protect America's homeland by the detection, interdiction & apprehension of those who attempt to illegally enter or smuggle any person or contraband across our Nation's sovereign borders.
  • Selected agents will patrol the international boundary and coastal waterways and may use a variety of Government assets for the accomplishment of the USBP Mission. These assets include, but are not limited to: Vehicles, Horses, Vessels, Watercrafts, Off Road Vehicles, ATVs, Snowmobiles and Motorcycles.
This is a bargaining unit position.

Motor Vehicle Operation: You must have a valid automobile driver's license at the time of appointment.

Shift Work/Overtime: This position requires regular and recurring shift work. You must be willing and available to work rotating shifts. You may also be rotated between assignments and duty locations. You could be required to work overtime on a daily basis and will be compensated up to an additional 25% of your base pay in accordance with the Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act of 2014.

Uniforms: This position requires you to wear an officially-approved uniform while in duty status.

Security Clearance: You may be required to obtain a Secret or higher level clearance for this position.

Withdrawing from Consideration: You may withdraw from consideration for one or more locations by submitting a written request or email to the point of contact on this announcement no later than five calendar days from the closing date of the announcement.

Responding to an Offer: You will have 72 hours after confirmed receipt of an offer to either accept or decline. The formal confirmation offer will be sent electronically unless an applicant does not have an email address. (The 72 hours will start on the date and Human Resource Management receives time the read receipt message).

Acceptance of an Offer: Once you accept a relocation offer, you will be removed from further consideration under this announcement.

Failure to Respond to an Offer: If you do not respond to a relocation offer within 72-hours of receipt of the offer, you may be removed from all relocation lists under this announcement

Declination of an Offer: Should an employee be selected/offered a position under the terms of the Operational Mobility MOU and decline the relocation, the employee will be barred from applying or being considered for relocations under the terms of Operational Mobility for a period of two years. This will become effective from this point forward beginning with the second announcement of Operational Mobility Relocations of FY2018. The Agency will coordinate with NBPC regarding employees who are unable to respond to conditional offers in regards to the 72-hour response timeframe as per the MOU.

Removal of Relocation Lists / Rescinding an Acceptance of a Job Offer: Any funds received for relocations not executed by employees in accordance with the terms of the Operational Mobility MOU must be repaid in full.

How you will be evaluated

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

A series of questions will be used to determine your eligibility and qualifications. If you meet those qualifications, you will be referred to management for selection consideration. 50% of the vacancies at each location will be selected based on seniority. The remaining 50% of selections will be made from the remaining applicants.

To preview the job questionnaire, see https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10515212.

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.
NOTE: To be eligible for reassignment under this announcement, candidates must meet all of the requirements throughout the selection & reassignment process. It is your responsibility to notify us of any changes.

If you are promoted above the journeyman level Border Patrol Agent GS-12 grade level at any time between the open/close dates of this announcement or before the established enter on duty date, or you make any other changes to your career that cause you to no longer meet the eligibility requirements for this program, you will lose consideration for this reassignment opportunity.

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.

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. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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

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