Clarification from the agency

Current U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees who are currently working in a permanent competitive service position; within the local commuting area; Career Transition Assistance Plan CBP employees.

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CBP Office of Trade is the architect of the most robust customs system in the world and the second largest revenue source for the U.S. Government. We facilitate legitimate trade, enforce U.S. laws, and protect the American economy as well as consumer health and safety. Collaborating with industry and government partners, we create a fair, competitive, and safe trade environment, and we enforce U.S. trade law to protect national economic security. Our expertise in the trade community allows us to lead the development of streamlined and efficient processes that provide certainty for legitimate importers, while combatting transnational crime.

This position starts at a salary of $167,603.00 (GS-15, Step 1) to $195,200.00 (GS-15, Step 10).

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the Supervisory Program Manager (Deputy Executive Director) within CBP, Office of Trade, Operations Directorate as a third-level supervisor. In coordination with the Executive Director, responsible for managing and directing operations related to programs, policies, and new and continuing initiatives of the Operations Directorate which is comprised of the following Divisions: Planning, Accountability, and Evaluation Division; International Engagement and Incident Management Division; Trade Intelligence Division, and Trade Investigations Division.

Typical work assignments include:

• Directing various components of the Program Office and overseeing the production of a wide variety of communications programs and services. In close coordination with the Executive Director, incumbent plans for short- and long-term operations with a particular focus on interactions with and support from various Program Office personnel across CBP.
• Establishing managerial and administrative objectives, developing short and long range plans and identifying required resources in order to promote an efficient, economical, and progressive organization. Assigning responsibility for accomplishment of specific function; and establishing direction in setting organizational goals.
• Evaluating overall work accomplishment of the staff; reviewing projects, reports, group and individual performance for consistency with policies, compliance with procedures and regulations, utility, technical adequacy, timeliness and effective utilization of resources. Identifying operating problems, conflicting priorities, program deficiencies, and potential problem areas.
• Reviewing plans for completeness and compliance within established parameters. Independently directing the initiation of organizational planning as determined necessary for successful operation of the Operations Directorate.
• Maintaining effective management- employee relations through communications and recognition of employee performance. Hearing and resolving grievances and complaints not resolved by subordinate supervisors.

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.
• 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.
• Financial Disclosure is required.
• Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.

This vacancy has a local commuting area requirement, as defined below:

• The area surrounding the duty station by which people reasonably travel back and forth from home to work; Or
• The employee's permanent duty station is located within the reasonable travel area surrounding the duty station of this vacancy; Or if applicable
• For employees who are detailed or temporarily promoted for more than 1 year to another duty location, the detailed or temporary duty location is considered to be the duty location of record for commuting area purposes. For employees detailed or temporarily promoted for less than one year, the permanent duty location is considered the duty location of record for commuting area purposes.

Qualifications

Experience: You qualify for the GS-15 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Providing guidance and leadership in carrying out program strategies and ensuring policies and plans to include a long-term outlook consistent with customer needs.
• Coordinating with DHS and CBP staff on major and sensitive issues.
• Interpreting and implementing local and higher echelon policies and regulations.
• Directing business process improvement efforts, including process development, workload and workflow analysis, quality review and evaluating performance against standards.
• Developing and prescribing procedures and techniques and furnishing policy guidance to subordinates.

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 06/18/2025.

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

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.

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/12744176

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 plan, organize, and coordinate team efforts across organizational lines and monitor progress to ensure that realistic objectives and milestones are established and met.
• Ability to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing, and ability to grasp conceptual ideas and exercise original thought where there is an established time limit for deliberation, consultation and evaluation, and to present well-considered and sound recommendations or decisions.
• Ability to identify strategies and implement programs, which contribute to providing top quality service and organizational development and improvement.
• Ability to direct complex studies requiring application of advanced analytical and statistical methods and techniques, and lead studies and analysis teams, as necessary.
• Knowledge of Department and CBP rules, regulations, and policy as it relates to OT programs and priorities.

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/12744176

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.