Clarification from the agency

Current U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees who are currently working in a permanent competitive service position.

This position starts at a salary of $104,604.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to$135,987.00 (GS-14, Step 10) with promotion potential to $135,987.00 GS-14Step 10).

Salary above excludes COLA. Please see here for specific COLA Rates.

Typical work assignments include:

• Managing and coordinating the identification of potential terrorists and instruments of terror with host authorities, and performing layered enforcement activities relative to counter-terrorism.
• Conducting sophisticated targeting on departing shipments (sea and air) and people destined to the United States using CBP's Automated Targeting Systems and other databases in order to provide information for CBP Officers at Ports of Entry to support their decisions for the admissibility of people, merchandise, cargo, and conveyances.
• Gathering and sharing intelligence to promote these targeting programs. Promoting programs that continue to support CBP s extended border strategy. Searching, obtaining, assembling, and reviewing information and classified intelligence in a wide range of methods and from a wide variety of sources including Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, military departments, foreign governments, financial institutions, and technology companies.
• Applying a comprehensive knowledge of program related legislation and regulations, knowledge of the enforcement and inspection continuum (preprimary/risk assessment, primary and secondary inspection, outbound, registration, exit controls and post disposition) and investigative techniques to perform work in one or more of the following program areas: targeting, outbound, enforcement operations, absconder prevention, pre-departure program, visa and refugee vetting, air cargo advance screening, rail targeting, trusted traveler, Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII), export compliance, cargo release processing, foreign trade zones and other OFO programs.
• Participating in collaborative efforts with US Embassy/Consulate officials and foreign government partners both bilaterally and multilaterally to identify, disrupt, and dismantle threats to the US and its allies, especially in leveraging CBP Officer operations to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of operations in protecting US border security at POEs and in enforcing the laws related to the legal entry of persons, cargo, merchandise, and conveyances into the US.

If going from a LEO Covered Position to a Secondary CBPO Special Retirement Covered (SRC) Position: Please be advised that when you enter on duty in this Secondary CBPO SRC position you will no longer be covered under the Special Retirement System for Law Enforcement Officers, but will only be covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). For further information on the Secondary CBPO Enhanced Retirement Coverage, please see the Qualifications section

If going from a Primary CBPO Special Retirement Covered (SRC) Position to a Secondary CBPO SRC Position and you have less than 3 years in a Primary CBPO SRC Position: Please be advised that when you enter on duty in this Secondary CBPO SRC position you will no longer be covered under the Special Retirement System for CBP Officers, but will only be covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or covered under your applicable non-special retirement system depending upon previous service. For further information on the Secondary CBPO SRC, please see the Qualifications section.

Conduct Responsibilities on Overseas Assignment: Employee will be subject to the laws of the United States while posted overseas to include those specifically applicable to Federal employees including the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees in the Executive Branch and the DHS Ethics/Standards of Conduct. While posted overseas, the employee will conduct themselves in a manner that reflects honorably on the United States of America and which is consistent with any applicable diplomatic agreements between the United States and the host country. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Excessive consumption of alcohol, or if the country forbids consumption of alcohol, the consumption of alcohol
• Recreational use of controlled substances such as marijuana, whether prescribed or not, even if legal in the geographic location
• Using the services of a commercial sex provider, even if legal in the geographic location
• Any conduct that could disgrace, embarrass, or discredit the Department of Homeland Security or the United States of America

Failure to adhere to the above may subject the employee to disciplinary action, up to and including removal, the loss of security clearance, and the immediate expulsion from the host country.

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
• CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures.
• You and your dependents must pass a State Department medical examination
• You and your dependents must obtain a valid passport
• You must obtain a valid driver's license and maintain firearms requirements
• If selected for this position, you should be able to obtain and maintain a Sensitive Compartmented Information (or Top Secret/SCI) Clearance
• You must have taken the required CBP Officer Promotional Assessment component and have a passing Total Score
• 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.
• Firearms Requirement: You will be required to carry a firearm and maintain firearm proficiency. This position requires that the incumbent meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996. An applicant whose background includes any of the following will be ineligible for consideration: 1) convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year; 2) has any outstanding warrants or is a fugitive from justice; 3) unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; 4) adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution; 5) illegally or unlawfully in the United States; 6) renounced U. S. citizenship; 7) subject to a court-ordered restraining (protection) order from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner (spouse, former spouse, parent of applicant's child, individual who cohabitates or has cohabitated with the applicant), or child; or 8) convicted under Federal, State, or Tribal Court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against an intimate partner or child.

Qualifications

Experience: You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Searching, obtaining, assembling, and reviewing information and classified intelligence in a wide range of methods and from a wide variety of sources including Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, military departments, foreign governments, financial institutions, and technology companies.
• Targeting high risk travelers and cargo by advocating, recommending, negotiating, and/or guiding foreign government partners, US Embassies, and CBP Officers at POEs to take advanced screening, scrutiny, and actions in order to protect US border security and the legal entry of people, cargo, and merchandise into the US.
• Reviewing sensitive and classified intelligence, determining its value to OFO's and CBP's operations and missions, and determining what further actions to take to guide and advise CBP Officers at US and foreign POEs, US Embassies, and foreign government officials while selectively choosing the appropriate intelligence (if any) to share with these contacts which will lead to maintaining or improving international trust and partnerships between OFO and its partners.
• Communicating with foreign government officials and partners with a common language based on mutual experience and terminology in the field of international customs and entry operations and laws when language may otherwise be a barrier without the shared experience and familiarity with these operations and laws.
• Advocating, explaining, and representing the realistic capabilities, expectations, and effectiveness of OFO's CBP Officer operations in protecting US border security and the legal entry of persons, cargo, and merchandise at US and international POEs to US Embassy and foreign government partners.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.

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.

• 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 12/20/2024

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 additional information, review the following links: Background investigation and the e-QIP process.

Polygraph Examination: The CBP OFFICER (INTERNATIONAL LIAISON OFFICER) 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.

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

Tour of Duty: The employee will serve a two (2) year initial tour, with an opportunity for the employee to apply for an additional three years for a total five years (2-2-1). As an exception to this general rule, tour duration is subject to the host country and the Department of State. At the discretion of management, the assignment may be extended for additional periods, up to a maximum of five years in a single foreign duty location. Additionally, at the discretion of management, you may be returned at any time to your previous position or to a different position of equivalent grade as this CBP Officer (International Liaison Officer) position. Employees who have not served four (4) years at a domestic duty station after returning from a foreign assignment should not be considered for a another tour of duty in any foreign assignment. Applicants approaching the maximum tour duration in a foreign duty location may be considered for appointments outside their current duty location.

Return Rights: Within 180 days of completing their tour, the employee will submit a list of 5 preference locations for their return. If none of the 5 locations have an equivalent vacancy, CBP will provide the employee a list of up to 5 additional locations where CBP has staffing availability to select from. If the employee declines the locations provided by CBP, the employee will be reassigned to an equivalent position in his/her Home of Record Field Office.

Annual Leave Accumulation: Employees assigned to IAP posts may carry over 360 hours of annual leave to the next leave year (as opposed to 240 hours).

Home Leave: In addition to annual leave, employees at IAP posts earn ten days home leave on each two-year assignment. This leave is only granted to those employees who have their IAP assignment extended for another tour and is to be used between tours. The Government pays the employee per diem and transportation expenses from the employee's post of duty in IAP to the employee's former official residence in the United States . In addition, it also pays for the transportation expenses of dependents who accompany the employee on home leave to the employee's residence in the United States.

Living Quarters Allowances (not payable if claiming temporary lodging allowance): Employees receive payment of an annual tax-free quarters' allowance for housing while at an IAP post. This allowance is intended to cover the cost of suitable, adequate living quarters for the employee and his/her family plus the cost of heat, light, fuel, gas, electricity, and water. However, at some foreign posts government subsidized housing is provided.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will only be considered for the Eligibilities for which you claim in the job questionnaire AND you must provide the supporting documentation. You will not be considered for Eligibilities for which you did not claim, regardless of the documentation submitted with the application. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12635601.

A series of vacancy questions will be used to determine your eligibility. If you meet those basic requirements, your application package may be referred to management for selection consideration. Falsification of your application will remove you from consideration and could subject you to disciplinary action.

You will be ranked on the basis of the scores received on your Promotional Assessment. You must have a current, valid score by 12/16/2024 if you have not held the GS-14 on a permanent basis, or if you have been demoted due to performance or conduct reasons. You do not need to have a current, valid test score if you have permanently held a position at the GS-14 or higher. Your application record will remain in a pending status until after the announcement closes, at which time we will upload test scores.

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.

This self-assessment will be used to assess the following competencies or KSAs:

• Ability to effectively convey CBP viewpoints and positions at high level meetings and conferences.
• Ability to prepare complex narrative reports on program requirements, on-going program status and program evaluations.
• Knowledge of a variety of sources of information, including but not limited to: automated databases and intelligence sources and substantial experience in their use, particularly such databases as NCIC, IDENT/IAFIS, ENFORCE, ATS-P, TECS/IBIS, CIS, etc. to further investigations and gather information for intelligence and enforcement and to facilitate disposition decisions.
• Knowledge and comprehensive understanding of CBP and other agency laws, regulations, precedent decisions and instructions pertaining to the admission, denial or admission or removal of a wide variety of categories of applicants for admission to the United States; the granting or denial of benefits available under the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be contacted for an interview. As a part of the interview process, additional selection criteria may be administered by the hiring manager. Preview the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12635601.

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. View information about CTAP eligibilityon 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.