Clarification from the agency

Open to all U.S. Citizens. This announcement will be utilized to fill positions through the Direct Hire Authority.

Applicants will be referred for selection consideration throughout the announcement open period. Further questions regarding the Air Interdiction Agent position can be sent to the AMO Recruiters at CBP_AMO_Recruiting@cbp.dhs.gov

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations.
This is a career ladder position with a grade level progression of GS-11, GS-12 & GS-13. You will be eligible for a promotion to the next higher grade level automatically (without re-applying) once you complete 52-weeks at each grade level. Air Interdiction Agents (AIA) special salary rates are posted on OPM's site. To see the special salary rates please visit this link. Compensation acronyms used below:

• LEAP: Law Enforcement Availability Pay (25%)
• RI: Retention Incentive (10%) for UAS sites only (Sierra Vista, AZ and San Angelo, TX)
• SSR: Special Salary Rate - as posted by OPM (Effective 1/05/2020)

Conditions of employment

• FAA Class 1 Medical required at time of Flight Assessment. FAA Class 2 Medical qualifies to start the pre-employment process for the AIA position. All FAA Medicals must be dated within the last 12 months
• FAA Commercial or ATP Airplane or Helicopter rated with/Instruments
• Apply with as little as 750 flight hours; see Qualifications
• Must meet job related medical, fitness and drug testing standards
• You may be required to pass a background investigation and/or polygraph
• Referred for selection prior to age 40; waiver for vets
• 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 the last three of the last five years (additional details below)
• Upon appointment, you may be required to undergo random drug testing
• You must meet the OPM Qualification Standard for the GS-1881 series
• As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link. (Section 4601.104 of the Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of DHS, 5 C.F.R. § 4601.104, provides, in relevant part, as follows: (a) Prohibitions on outside employment and activities. (1) No CBP employee shall be employed by or engage in activities in support of or on behalf of a[n] customs broker; international carrier; bonded warehouse; foreign trade zone?; cartman; law firm engaged in the practice of customs, immigration, or agriculture law; entity engaged in the enforcement of customs, immigration or agriculture law; importation or exportation department of a business; or business or other entity which engages in services related to agriculture matters where such agriculture matters relate to CBP's mission.)

Qualifications

You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess one year of specialized work experience that demonstrates the ability to:

• Fly as a Pilot-in-Command or sole manipulator in an airplane and helicopter in all environments of flight, including night, poor weather, unfavorable terrain, low altitudes or speed;
• Ability to valuate information rapidly and make judicious decisions promptly during in-flight operations;
• Develop strategies and coordinate aircraft and ground assets;
• Use information systems and databases to conduct information surveys, queries, update files and disseminate information.

Experience may include:

• Operation of an aircraft as Captain
• Pilot in Command
• Aircraft Commander
• First Officer
• Certified Flight Instructor
• Second in Command
• Co-pilot

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.

The application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to assessment questions) must support your qualifications for the position.

Hiring Minimums: Pilot Enter on Duty minimums are 1500 flight hours; (up to 500 hours can be waived, reducing the pilot enter on duty minimums to 1000 hours)

A current FAA Commercial or ATP Pilot Certification with the following ratings:

Dual Rated: Airplane (Single-engine land or multi-engine land) with instrument rating AND Rotorcraft Helicopter with instrument rating; OR

Airplane Rated: Airplane (Single-engine land or multi-engine land) with instrument; OR

Helicopter Rated: Rotorcraft Helicopter with instrument rating

250 Pilot-in-Command hours and

75 Instrument hours

75 Night hours

FAA Class I medical required for assessment dated within last 12 calendar months

FAA Class II medical will qualify. It must be dated within last 12 calendar months. However, at the time of your Flight Assessment you MUST present a FAA 1st Class Medical Certificate dated within the previous 12 calendar months.

FAA Commercial or ATP - Airplane or Helicopter rated w/instruments or both

Apply at 750 hours total time

Applicants applying at 750 flight hours are required to obtain at least 1,000 flight hours (depending on the number of hours approved for a waiver) at own expense before being able to attend the 3-part flight assessment. Applicant must still meet 250 PIC, 75 instrument and 75 night hours.

UAS Flight Hours: Applicants may include UAS Predator A (MQ-1), Predator B (MQ-9) flight hours and Predator A (MQ-1), Predator B (MQ-9) or predator based variant flight hours. These hours may be credited towards satisfying the "Total flight time" 1,500 flight hour requirement only. UAS hours do not count towards the 250 flight hours as a Pilot in Command, 75 flight hours Instrument and 75 flight hours Night. Flight hour logbooks will be required at time of your Flight Assessment for verification.

You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 09/30/2020.

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.

Polygraph Examination: The CBP AIR INTERDICTION AGENT position is a polygraph-required position. If you are not a current CBP employee in a law enforcement position, you may be required to take a polygraph exam and have favorable results in order to continue in the pre-employment process. Please see Polygraph Examination.

Polygraph Reciprocity: CBP may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of a CBP polygraph exam. You will receive information to request reciprocity in your Background Investigation Package.

Polygraph Waiver: Certain veterans may be eligible to obtain a polygraph waiver. You will receive information to request a waiver in your Background Investigation Package.

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 wavier 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

How you will be evaluated

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

This position is being filled under a Direct Hire Authority. You will be evaluated based on your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the job questionnaire. All applicants who meet minimum qualifications and any basic requirements applicable to this position, will be forwarded to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.

In accordance with the Direct Hire Authority, rating and ranking questions will not be used. However, candidates must have the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform this job:

Veterans: Veterans preference does not apply to selections made using the Direct Hire Authority. Veteran candidates will be considered along with all other applicants who apply.

Flight Check: You will be required to demonstrate your flight proficiency in CBP aircrafts with a flight instructor. You will be evaluated based on FAA Commercial Pilot standards.

Oral Evaluation: You will be tested on your pilot knowledge based on published regulation.

Structured Interview: You will be asked scenario-based interview questions concerning core competencies, which include judgment/decision making, teamwork/interpersonal skills, flexibility, integrity and oral communication.

The qualification assessments will be conducted at the National Air Training Center (NATC) facility in Oklahoma City, OK, and will take approximately 1 full day. An additional day may be necessary due to weather and/or maintenance issues. Learn more here.

In accordance with Federal Travel Regulations Part 301-75, Air and Marine Operations (AMO) / National Air Training Center (NATC) will, coordinate and may pay/reimburse for travel costs associated with the assessment in Oklahoma City, OK. These costs may include air fare, hotel, meals, etc. Applicants scheduled for an assessment will be provided with necessary information if approved.