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CBP Officer

Department of Homeland Security
Customs and Border Protection
Office of Field Operations
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, International Operations and Advisory Directorate (IOAD), International Field Office, Preclearance located in various overseas locations.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
04/30/2025 to 05/06/2025
Salary
$75,706 to - $98,422 per year

Salary above excludes COLA. Please see the link below for specific COLA rates.

Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Locations
Oranjestad, Aruba
few vacancies
Nassau, Bahamas
few vacancies
Hamilton, Bermuda
few vacancies
Calgary, Canada
few vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Relocation expenses will be paid in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation limits and agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
OFO-IMP-PC-ROB-12724401-BLS
Control number
835554900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

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

Duties

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This announcement is for a CBP Officer, GS, 12. We are no longer issuing certificates from the previous announcement OFO-IMP-PC-ROB-12454696-BLS that announcement has been discontinued. You must re-apply to this current vacancy 12724401 announcement to continue to receive consideration. Applicants previously selected need not re-apply for the location they were selected for, but must apply to be considered for other location(s)

WHEN IS THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OPEN AND WHAT IS THE LAST DATE TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION? We are currently accepting applications from Tag Open Date to Tag Close Date. You must apply on-line by 11:59 p.m. ET, 05/06/2025 to receive consideration under this announcement. Please refer to the "How to Apply" section for further guidance. You must meet the qualifications and eligibility by to be considered eligible under this announcement. Eligible applicants may be referred and selected at any time after the closing date. However, if selected, you will be promoted/reassigned only after you have met all job requirements such as qualifications and time-in-grade requirements. Employees who meet the qualifications and other job requirements (as explained in this announcement) by 05/06/2025, are encouraged to apply during the open period. If you do not apply by 05/06/2025 you WILL NOT have an opportunity to apply for this position and will not receive consideration for selection until the next open period.

WHERE WILL POSITIONS BE FILLED UNDER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT? Positions filled under this announcement are in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Preclearance Field Office, in various overseas locations. You will be asked to identify your duty location preferences in the on-line application process. In some cases, the duty stations may not have a vacancy during the life of this announcement. If you are selected for and accept this position, once you enter on duty, you will no longer be referred for other locations under this announcement.

Locations: Oranjestad, Aruba, Nassau, Bahamas, Hamilton, Bermuda, Calgary Cananda, Edmonton, Canada, Halifax, Cananda, Montreal, Canada, Ottawa, Canada, Toronto, Canada, Vancouver, Canada, Victoria, Canada, Winnipeg, Canada, Shannon Airport, Ireland and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Geographic Location: You may select up to two (2) locations where you would be willing to work. For information regarding Preclearance Operations and location specific details, please see the Preclearance SharePoint page: https://cbpgov.sharepoint.com/sites/OFO/FO/pre/SitePages/Home.aspx

This announcement will be used until approximately October 20, 2025. After that time, when the new announcement is posted, you must re-apply to that announcement to continue to receive consideration.

This position starts at a salary of $75,706.00 (GS-12 Step 1) to $98,422.00 (GS-12, Step 10).

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

In this position you will become a key member of a team of homeland security professionals responsible for detecting and preventing terrorists and instruments of terror from entering the U.S. Typical work assignments include:

  • Performing inspection, intelligence analysis, examination, and law enforcement activities including apprehension, detention and arrest relative to arrival and departure of persons, conveyances and merchandise at Ports of Entry (POE).
  • Conducting developmental level officer duties to protect the U.S. homeland, enforce federal laws, and efficiently facilitate legitimate trade and travel.
  • Developing, planning and participating in tactical operations.
  • Interacting with carriers, other agencies and foreign entities to exchange information and provide guidance on admissibility/compliance.

Responsibilities for Preclearance Employees Who Are Stationed in Canada with Privately Owned Vehicles: In accordance with 3 FAM 4124, All U.S. direct-hire Americans under Chief of Mission authority must obtain appropriate provincial vehicle registration, provincial license plates, provincial driver's licenses, and local insurance if they or their family members operate a privately-owned vehicle.

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
  • 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 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 be able to obtain and maintain a CBP Travel Card
  • You must attend a one to two-week FACT course in VA or WV prior to deployment
  • You and your dependent(s) must be able to obtain a valid UAE Visa
  • You will be required to carry a firearm and maintain firearm proficiency
  • 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.
  • Firearm Requirement: 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.
  • Motor Vehicle Operation: You must possess the Ability to operate a Government Owned Vehicle. A valid, non-restricted driver's license is required
  • Bargaining Unit: This is a bargaining unit designated position, covered under the National Treasury Employees Unions- NTEU. NTEU. For local chapter contact information see Chapter Websites - National Treasury Employees Union - NTEU.

Qualifications

This is a Reassignment Opportunity Bulletin: You must be currently serving or have served as a full-time permanent GS-12 with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and are currently serving or have served in the 1895 series within the last five years in order to qualify under this Bulletin. If you are currently serving in the 1895 series as a GS-13 or higher or have done so within the last five years and are willing to take a change to lower grade (at the end of your Preclearance assignment, you will be reassigned at the same grade level as this Preclearance position, unless selected for a higher graded position), you will also be considered for this position. This position will be filled through reassignment on a permanent basis through time-limited rotational assignments with a minimum tour of two years. At the end of the reassignment, you will be returned to a position at the same level as this Preclearance position.

You qualify for this position if you are currently serving or have served as a full-time permanent GS-12 with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and are currently serving or have served in the 1895 series within the last five years.
Your experience as indicated in your resume must demonstrate the following:

  • Responsibility in performing the full range of CBP Officer duties;
  • Applying a comprehensive range of Federal laws, rules, regulations and procedures relating to inspection, inspection-related investigations; and
  • Compliance activities governing the admission of travelers or the import/export of cargo in and out of the United States.
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.

This is a primary position subject to mandatory retirement under the special retirement provisions for Customs and Border Protection Officers (5 CFR 842.1003; 5 USC 8425(b); 5 USC 8335(b); and 5 USC 8412(d)). For more information on required years of service and retirement age, click onthis link. If you have questions regarding your retirement coverage provisions, please contact the CBP Retirement Operations Center at (202) 863-6180.
The customs and border protection officer mandatory separation provisions of 5 USC 8425 do not apply to an individual first appointed as a customs and border protection officer before July 6, 2008.

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 05/06/2025.
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 on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers

Polygraph Examination: The CBP 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 two (2), two (2) year extensions. As an exception to this general rule, tour duration is subject to the host country and the Department of State. At the end of the reassignment, you will be returned to a position at the same level as this Preclearance position. At the discretion of management, the assignment may be extended for additional periods, up to a maximum of six years. You may be returned at any time to your former position or to a different position of equivalent grade as this Preclearance position. Employees who have not served 2 years at a domestic duty station, subsequent to their initial overseas tour of duty, should not be considered for a second tour of duty in any foreign assignment.

Return Rights: No more than one hundred and fifty (150) calendar days before the end of tour, but not less than ninety (90) calendar days prior to the end of the initial tour, as well as the conclusion of any extensions, employees are expected to formally request, through a fully completed Notice of Intent (NOI), express intent to return to the United States. Please refer to Article 40 Section 6 of the National Collective Bargaining Agreement for additional information with regards to Extension Request and Return Procedures.

Annual Leave Accumulation: Employees assigned to Preclearance ports 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, you will earn five, ten, or fifteen days home leave on each two year assignment depending on your foreign post assignment and the post differential rate. This leave is granted to you when you have your Preclearance assignment extended for another tour and is to be used between tours. The Government pays your per diem and transportation expenses from your post of duty in a Preclearance station to your former official residence in the United States. In addition, it also pays for the transportation expenses of your dependents who accompany you on home leave to your residence in the United States.

Responsibilities for Preclearance Employees Who are Stationed in Canada with Privately Owned Vehicles: In accordance with 3 FAM 4124-All U.S. direct-hire Americans under Chief of Mission authority must obtain appropriate provincial vehicle registration, provincial driver's licenses, and local insurance if they or their family members operate a privately-owned vehicle.

Education

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

If you are not a current GS-1895, and you are selected, you will have to meet the following medical/physical standards:
Physical/Medical Requirements:Following a tentative job offer, candidates must undergo and successfully complete a medical screening process. Individuals must be medically and physically capable of performing the essential job functions and duties of the position safely and efficiently without endangering the health and safety of the individual, others, or national security. For more information regarding the medical screening process and requirements, check out our video and visit our website.

Physical Fitness Test: You will be required to successfully pass the Pre-employment Fitness Test. Please view both Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: The Fitness Test and Pre-Employment Fitness Test Physical Readiness Program, a 6-week program designed to assist you in achieving a level of physical fitness that will help you successfully pass the CBP fitness test.

Basic Training:You may be required to attend approximately 18 weeks of training at the CBP Academy at FLETC. Candidates selected for certain duty locations may receive an additional 6 weeks of Spanish language training.

Age Requirement: Pursuant to Public Law 110-161, this position is covered under enhanced retirement provisions for Customs and Border Protection Officers which allows for the imposition of a maximum age requirement. In accordance with Department of Homeland Security Directive 251-03, the day before an individual's 37th birthday is the maximum age for original appointment to a position as a Customs and Border Protection Officer.

*** NOTE: The Executive Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Field Operations has approved a temporary increase in the maximum allowable age for original placement into a CBPO position, therefore candidates must enter their original appointment before reaching their 40th birthday. In accordance with Department of Homeland Security Directive 251-03, unless the below criteria applies, you must meet this age requirement by the date of referral to the hiring manager.

Creditable law enforcement officer service covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or Title 5 U.S.C. 8412(d), or creditable service covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8401(36) as a Customs and Border Protection Officer on or after July 6, 2008, may be applied toward the maximum age requirement. This age restriction may not apply if you are currently serving in a federal civilian (not military) law enforcement position covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or Title 5 U.S.C. 8412(d).

Veterans' Preference Eligibility: To ensure compliance with statutes pertaining to the appointment of preference eligible veterans as determined by the Merit Systems Protection Board in its recent decision of Isabella v. Dept. of State, the maximum age for original appointment articulated above shall not apply to the hiring of individuals entitled to veterans preference eligibility under 5 U.S.C. § 3312. You must submit proof of Veteran's Preference (DD-214 Member 4 Copy) at the time of application.

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

Basic Training:You may be required to attend approximately 18 weeks of training at the CBP Academy at FLETC. Candidates selected for certain duty locations may receive an additional 6 weeks of Spanish language training.

Living Quarters Allowances (not payable if claiming temporary lodging allowance): Employees receive payment of an annual tax-free quarters allowance for housing while in a Preclearance station. 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 duty stations government subsidized housing is provided.

Temporary Lodging Allowance (not payable if claiming living quarters allowance): A temporary lodging allowance is a tax-free quarters allowance that is granted to you for the reasonable cost of temporary quarters, which are incurred by you and your family for a period not to exceed (1) 60 days after first arrival at a new post in a foreign area, or a period ending with the occupation of permanent quarters, if earlier; and (2) 30 days immediately preceding final departure from the post subsequent to the necessary vacating of residence quarters.

Education Allowance: Payment for most actual costs of education for each dependent are determined by the Department of State and are subject to change.

For information regarding Preclearance Operations and location specific details, please see the Preclearance SharePoint page.

This link provides an overview of Preclearance overseas locations, the benefits of working in Preclearance and the pre-deployment process.

Additional information

You must be admissible to the country you are selected for before a final offer is issued. Employees must select the locations of interest and review the admissibility requirements of those countries. You must certify that if accompanied, your family members, are admissible to enter and temporarily reside in the country. Follow this link to the admissibility requirements of each country.

You should review the below concerning inadmissibility:

  • If you are not admissible to a specific country, your applications for that location will not be considered further.
  • If your fail to certify that you have reviewed the admissibility requirements of the country you are applying for, your application will not be considered further. If you certify that you are admissible, and the Agency later learns that you were inadmissible, your application will not be considered further, and the Agency may pursue other appropriate action, as necessary.
  • If you are selected and report to the country, and the Agency later learns that you were inadmissible, the Agency may curtail the assignment, and require you to return to your permanent position in the United States. The Agency may pursue other appropriate action, as necessary.

Any additional questions for applicants on Preclearance can be sent to: preclearancemissionsupport@cbp.dhs.gov

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

Data Systems: You will be required to maintain access to all data systems necessary for duty execution.

Shift work: You will be required to perform work on a shift and rotational basis.

Overtime: You must be readily available to work overtime on a scheduled or unscheduled basis in excess of the 40-hour work week.

Physical and Environmental Conditions: The work environment includes offices, aircraft operation areas, airline passenger and cargo areas, rail passenger processing areas and marine docks. Periods of outdoor work may be required in snow, rain, or extreme heat. Occasional periods of outdoor work may be required in remote areas with no modern comfort facilities. The work may involve the use of toxic chemicals, pesticides and fumigants. Protective clothing may be required such as hard hats, gloves, goggles, hearing protection and respirators.

Please view the video "Protecting America 24/7" to learn more about CBP's Office of Field Operations.

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.

You will only be considered for the Eligibilities for which you claim in the job questionnaire AND 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/12724401

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.

Selection Certificates: Applications will not be rated. All eligible candidates will be referred to management in name order. A series of vacancy questions will be used to determine your eligibility.

The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are:

  • Knowledge of CBP laws, regulations, and precedents, as well as CBP Officer processes, techniques, activities and law enforcement procedures to enforce and administer laws related to the arrival and departure of persons, conveyances and merchandise.
  • Knowledge of proper law enforcement methods including, interrogating, searching, seizing, arresting, and self-defense for use in apprehension of terrorists, illegal aliens, or others suspected of illegal activity.
  • Ability to control imports and exports to detect and prevent smuggling and fraud.
  • Ability to perform primary inspection by questioning and observing individuals.
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.

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 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/12724401

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 eligibilityon OPM's Career Transition Resources website. You must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement.

Primary Position: Pursuant to Public Law 110-161, this position is a primary position covered under enhanced retirement provisions for Customs and Border Protection Officers.

This position meets the criteria defined in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) as an exempt position. Therefore, while serving in this foreign duty location, the FLSA code will be categorized as "Exempt". Exempt employees receive an overtime rate defined under Title 5 rather than that defined under FLSA. For more information on Title 5 pay, please see this link.

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