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Strategic Communications Specialist

Department of Homeland Security
Customs and Border Protection
Office of Facilities and Asset Management (OFAM)
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 Facilities and Asset Management Front Office, Washington DC.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
08/11/2025 to 08/15/2025
Salary
$142,488 to - $185,234 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
OFAM-IMP-12779902 -ANP
Control number
842893700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Current U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees who are currently working in a permanent competitive service position; Career Transition Assistance Plan CBP employees

Duties

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This position is in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Enterprise Services (ES), Office of Facilities and Asset Management (OFAM), OFAM Front Office (OFAM FO)'s Communication Program. The OFAM Communication Program is responsible for defining and amending the OFAM Communications Strategy and ensuring its effective execution. The incumbent serves as a key communications advisor to OFAM leadership and other offices within CBP, including support management programming for OFAM and for the development of service-wide strategies and programs that ensure communication and outreach to customers and stakeholders is of the highest quality.

This position starts at a salary of $142,488.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $185,234.00 (GS-14, Step 10).

Major duties may include but are not limited to:

  • Directing and guiding internal and external communication strategies, plans, projects, activities, and tools to support OFAM operations and program objectives.
  • Accompanying the Assistant Commissioner, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, and Chief of Staff on site visits, including exposure to CBP operations, leadership, and CBP facilities.
  • Planning, researching, writing, and serving as the subject matter expert and editor on internal and external publications, briefing materials, and tools to keep executives and employees acquainted and engaged with current programs within OFAM.
  • Overseeing the planning and directing the design, presentation, and issuance of visual and video products for use in executive-level publications, products, and presentations throughout OFAM and across CBP. Audiences for whom visual products are developed include CBP executives, OFAM, ES, various CBP Offices, DHS, OMB, Congress, and representatives from the news media, and the public.
  • Developing, implementing, and evaluating the effectiveness of OFAM communications strategies, materials and programs that support and promote enhanced engagement with OFAM stakeholder communities.

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)
  • All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English
  • 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.
  • Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.

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:

  • Planning, researching, writing, and editing internal and external publications, briefing materials, and tools to keep executives and employees acquainted and engaged with current programs within Office of Facilities and Asset Management (OFAM)
  • Developing, implementing, and evaluating the effectiveness of Assistant Commissioner (AC) and Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC) communication strategies, materials, and programs that support and promote enhanced engagement with AC and DAC stakeholder communities
  • Analyzing organizational policy issues to identify and anticipate communication needs and potential reaction from stakeholders, including congressional, media, non-governmental, state, local and tribal, and other AC and DAC stakeholder communities; and
  • Advising and providing analytical support on problem definitions, planning methodologies, policies, and procedures relative to the OFAM Communications Program.

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 08/15/2025.
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.

Education

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

Additional information

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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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/12779902

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

  • Problem Solving
  • Written and Oral Communication
  • Technical Credibility (Strategic Communications)
  • Technology Application

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/12779902

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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