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Assistant Center Director

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, Center for Excellence and Expertise, Consumer Products and Mass Merchandise. Location Negotiable After Selection.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
03/07/2024 to 03/13/2024
Salary
$122,198 to - $158,860 per year

Salary listed reflects the rest of U.S. scale and, if applicable, will be adjusted to meet the locality pay of the duty location upon selection.

Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection,
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
OFO-IMP-12334732-KEG
Control number
780226900

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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As the Assistant Center Director you will be responsible for management and supervision of one of the Center three divisions which focus on either the Enforcement, Validation & Compliance, or Partnership aspects of the Center's strategic mission and responsibilities.

This position starts at a salary of $122,198.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $158,860.00 (GS-14, Step 10) with promotion potential to $158,860.00 (GS-14 Step 10).

Major duties for this position include but are not limited to:

  • Managing the daily activities and provides oversight of operational and tactical trade responsibilities within a Center.
  • Directing the national trade policy and national trade program functions of CBP by administering account-based principles, providing uniformity and clarity for the development of CBP's national trade strategy.
  • Overseeing and interpreting the laws and regulations pertaining to a broad range of Federal, state and local agencies, relating to trade compliance. Directs and provides guidance for effective enforcement actions and tactical operations to sustain a secure import process focusing on national priority trade issues such as intellectual property rights, revenue, and health and safety violations.
  • Coordinating with senior level law enforcement managers both internal and external to the agency to manage and approve significant enforcement actions, including criminal investigations and prosecutions.
  • Planning, directing, and timely executing all trade program activity pertaining to an assigned industry, including development and assignment of goals and objectives for supervisors of subordinate employees.
  • Resolving conflicts with the importing public that cannot be resolved by subordinate supervisors. Considers requirements of laws, regulations and procedures, facts surrounding a particular situation, intent of rules discussed, and local/national priorities in determining a course of action. Ensures full and proper use of all available automated systems including the Advanced Targeting System (ATS), Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and Automated Commercial System (ACS).

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
  • CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures.
  • 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

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:

  • Supervising, managing, or directing trade operational programs (e.g., port director, special agent in charge, district director, regional manager, supervisory inspector, etc.).
  • Interpreting and applying CBP laws, regulations, and precedents, as well as Office of Field Operations policies and procedures concerning the import and export of merchandise and cargo to the U.S. (including characteristics of items imported/exported to determine or verify classification, value, and property of transport).
  • Processing and controlling operations for merchandise/cargo along with managing regulatory requirements of multiple existing trade laws and legislation.

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.

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 03/13/2024.
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.

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
Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Supervisory Probationary Period: You may be required to serve an 18 month probationary period upon appointment and complete a supervisory training course within 12 months of assignment.

Education

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

Additional information

Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.

Financial Disclosure is required.

Telework may be available on a regular recurring or situational basis.

Leadership Training: All newly appointed second level Supervisors/Managers are required to complete mandatory training. The training will be scheduled by the Office of Training and Development within the first 90 days of appointment. The duration of the training will include 4 weeks of in-residence training in Harpers Ferry, WV. Note: This training may be waived if previously completed.

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.

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.

Applicants will only be considered for the Eligibilities for which they claim in the job questionnaire AND must provide the supporting documentation. Applicants will not be considered for Eligibilities for which they did not claim, regardless of the documentation submitted with the application. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12334732

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:

  • Knowledge of CBP laws, regulations and precedents, as well as OFO policies and procedures to oversee and manage trade activities for an industry sector nationwide.
  • Ability to use good judgment and demonstrate interpersonal competence when dealing with the importing community.
  • Ability to plan, organize and direct team or task force efforts across organizational lines, which includes the ability to monitor progress, to ensure that realistic objectives and milestones are established, to clearly assign responsibilities, and to accomplish mission requirements in a timely manner.
  • Ability to direct others in the research of CBP laws, regulations and procedures in order to identify ways importers, brokers and shippers have circumvented agency controls.
  • Knowledge in planning and organizing work and the effective negotiation with management to accept and implement recommendations where the proposals involve substantial agency resources and/ or require extensive changes in established procedures.
  • Knowledge required to provide oversight for entry summary processing, and post-release activities, such as the filing of protests, reconciliation entries, and validation of revenue transactions associated with the importation of merchandise into the United States. Comprehensive knowledge of the workings of the various commercial trade intelligence-gathering capabilities of CBP and other government agencies.

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/12334732

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. To be considered well qualified under CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position.

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