Being a Customs and Border Protection Officer makes you a valuable member of the Federal Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) profession. Typical assignments include:

• Enforcing customs, immigration, and agriculture law and regulations;
• Facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel;
• Conducting inspections of individuals and conveyances;
• Determining the admissibility of individuals for entry into the United States; and
• Preventing the illegal entry of individuals and prohibited goods and the smuggling of illegal drugs and other contraband.

Conditions of employment

• You must successfully pass a polygraph examination
• You must successfully pass a background investigation
• Convictions of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are disqualifying
• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position
• You must have resided in the U.S. for at least 3 of the last 5 years
• Referred for selection prior to your 40th birthday (waiver for veterans)
• You must meet job-related medical, fitness and drug-testing standards
• You will be required to work regular and recurring shift work
• You will be required to carry a firearm
• You must have a valid driver's license

Firearm Proficiency: Firearm proficiency is required for all CBP Officers and is part of the training provided.

Current Federal Employees: Current federal employees who apply to this announcement will be required to serve a probationary period in accordance with 5 CFR 315 and may be required to accept a change to lower grade, which may reduce their salary based on Federal pay regulations. Note: If you are a current GS-12 step 1, your salary may be reduced to a GS-9 step 10, which equates to an approximate $7,471 salary reduction (based on locality). Re-promotion is not guaranteed. Timeframes and grade level re-promotion is at the discretion of the agency and will be subject to a probationary period.

Probationary Period: You must serve a one-year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment.

Formal Training: You will complete a paid pre-academy orientation for approximately 30 days at your home port prior to attending the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) for approximately 17 - 19 weeks at Glynco, GA. Candidates selected for duty locations where they are required to be proficient in reading, writing and speaking Spanish will be required to either pass a Spanish language proficiency examination or attend a 6-week long Spanish immersion class at FLETC.

Uniform: This position requires wearing an officially approved uniform while in a duty status.

Shift Work/Overtime: You must be willing and available to work rotating shifts. You may also be rotated between assignments and work units. You may be required to work overtime on a regular and recurring basis. Fully trained officers may be compensated up to $35,000 in overtime in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Residency Requirement: If you are not a current CBP employee you must meet one or more of the following primary residency criteria for at least three (3) of the last five (5) years, prior to completing an application for CBP employment:

1. Resided (lived) in the United States or its protectorate or territories (excluding short trips abroad, such as vacations); or
2. Worked for the United States government as an employee overseas in a federal or military capacity; or
3. Been a dependent of a US federal or military employee serving overseas.

Exceptions may be granted to the above requirement if you can provide complete state-side coverage information required to make a waiver determination

Qualifications

The qualification requirements listed below must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

If you do not have previous or current law enforcement or military experience, you may qualify for the GS-5/7 grade level announcement: Apply Here!

You qualify for the GS-9 grade level (starting salary $49,765) if you possess one of the following:

a. One year of specialized work experience that demonstrates the ability to make rapid, accurate judgments and decisions with respect to the application of the regulations, instructions, and procedures for importing and exporting merchandise to and from the United States, or enforcement and administration of laws relating to the right of persons to enter, reside in, or depart from the United States; OR

b. Two full years of graduate level education in a field of study related to law enforcement (e.g., criminology, criminal justice, law enforcement, courts and judicial systems, corrections and rehabilitation, justice studies, homeland security, forensic technology and forensic psychology) at an accredited or pre-accredited college or university; OR

c. A combination of graduate level education completed in a field of study related to law enforcement (e.g., criminology, criminal justice, law enforcement, courts and judicial systems, corrections and rehabilitation, justice studies, homeland security, forensic technology and forensic psychology) at an accredited or pre-accredited college or university and specialized work experience. This will be calculated using your resume and official or unofficial transcripts submitted with your application. If basing qualifications on education, then a graduate's degree or higher must be attained within 9-months of the closing date of the announcement.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer 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.

Age Requirement: Effective May 1, 2016, the Commissioner of CBP has approved a temporary increase in the maximum allowable age for original placement into a CBPO position; therefore, candidates must be referred for selection before reaching their 40th birthday (increased from age 37). In accordance with Public Law 110-161, this position is covered under enhanced retirement provisions. However, the age restriction may not apply if you are currently serving or have previously served in a federal civilian law enforcement (non-military) position covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or Title 5 U.S.C. 8412(d). This measure will increase the statutorily mandatory retirement to an age of up to 60 to allow individuals the opportunity to complete 20 years of Enhanced Customs and Border Protection service (See U.S.C 8425 (b)(1) and 8335 (b)(1)).

The age restriction does not apply if you are a veterans' preference eligible. For more information on eligibility as a veterans' preference eligible please see the OPM veterans' guide.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience 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.

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 functions of this position.  Candidates will be asked to demonstrate their ability to perform of these KSAOs in an online job questionnaire.  The KSAOs 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

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of three categories based on your experience and training.

• Best Qualified: Applicants possessing the type and quality of experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications.
• Well Qualified: Applicants possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and who demonstrate average proficiency in most of the critical competencies.
• Qualified: Applicants possessing the type and quality of experience that meets the minimum qualifications.

Veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed at the top of the highest quality category depending on grade levels. Veterans with 5-point preference or 10-point non-compensable preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligible within the category in which they qualify.

Reasonable Accommodations will be provided on a case-by-case basis to qualified individuals with a disability covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, both as amended.