Customs and Border Protection Officer

Job description

Summary U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP): Securing America's Borders Discover a challenging and rewarding career with the sole organization responsible for securing the nation's borders from terrorism, human/drug smuggling, illegal migration, agricultural pests, and enforcing legitimate travel and trade.

CBP employees demonstrate the highest level of commitment to exemplify the core values of Vigilance, Service to Country and Integrity.

Learn more at https://www.cbp.gov/about Responsibilities 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; Enforcing 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 Want to speak to an actual Officer?

Click here to contact one of our recruiters! They are ready to assist you from application to your start date.

Salary: Selections from this announcement will be at the GS-5 or GS-7 grade levels with promotion potential to GS-9, GS-11 and GS-12.

Promotions are not guaranteed and are at the discretion of the agency.

Your pay will be determined after you successfully complete all pre-employment processes.

Pay rates are based on the 2025 OPM Salary Tables - these tables do not take into consideration any potential overtime earnings, recruitment incentives, location incentives or yearly cost of living increases.

Duty Locations: You will be asked to select your preferred location for one of the following mission critical locations: Anchorage, AK; Douglas, Lukeville, Nogales and San Luis, AZ; Calexico, Otay Mesa, San Francisco, San Ysidro, and Tecate, CA; Washington, D.C.; Key West, FL; Honolulu, HI; Calais, Houlton, Jackman, Madawaska, Van Buren, and Vanceboro, ME; Detroit, Port Huron, and Sault Ste Marie, MI; Grand Portage and International Falls, MN; Raymond, Roosville, Sweetgrass, and Wild Horse, MT; Santa Teresa, NM; Alexandria Bay, Champlain, Massena, and Trout River, NY; Dunseith, Pembina, and Portal, ND; Del Rio, Hidalgo, and Progreso, TX; Beecher Falls, Derby Line, Highgate Springs, Norton, and Richford, VT; Blaine, Oroville, and Sumas, WA.

NOTE: The above preference locations are expected to have vacancies available in the future, however, if the duty locations do not have vacancies at the time of your final offer, you may be offered a duty location in another geographic location within the United States.

Locations offered at the time of your final offer are based on operational and mission requirements as determined by the CBP Office of Field Operations.

This announcement is open to the public to attract new entry-level applicants.

Current CBP Officers looking for lateral opportunities within the Office of Field Operations should apply under the National Reassignment Opportunity Bulletin (NROB), Lateral Reassignment Opportunity Bulletin (LROB) and/or other reassignment opportunities identified in the National Collective Bargaining Agreement (NCBA).

If you accept one of the below duty locations you may be eligible to receive an additional 15%-25% of your salary each year for the first 3 years of employment in addition to any overtime pay.

If you accept the duty location of San Francisco, you may be eligible to receive an additional 25% of your salary each year for the first 4 years of employment in addition to any overtime pay.

These incentives only apply to new federal employees and are dependent upon the availability of funds.

Duty locations offering 25% recruitment incentives: Otay Mesa, San Francisco, San Ysidro, and Tecate, CA; Key West, FL; Calais and Jackman, ME; Detroit, MI; Grand Portage, MN; Raymond and Sweetgrass, MT; Dunseith and Pembina, ND; Beecher Falls, VT; Oroville, WA Duty locations offering 15% recruitment incentives: Honolulu, HI; Portal, ND; Derby Line and Richford, VT; Blaine, WA Duty locations offering 10% recruitment incentives: Calexico, CA If you accept Portal, North Dakota as your location you will be eligible for the Special Salary Rate based on the Portal ND Special Salary Rate Table If you accept San Francisco, California as your location you will be eligible for the Special Salary Rate based on the San Francisco Special Salary Rate Table Bargaining Unit: This position is covered under the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU).

For more information, please visit https://www.nteu.org/who-we-are/what-we-do Firearm Proficiency: This position requires you to carry a firearm.

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

Requirements Conditions of Employment All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English.

Polygraph Examination: You will be required to undergo a polygraph exam and must have favorable results in order to continue in the process.

For more information, see Polygraph Examination.

NOTE: CBP may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of a CBP polygraph exam.

Certain veterans may be eligible for a polygraph waiver.

Formal Training: You will be detailed to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA, for 103-days of intensive instruction in basic law enforcement skills, immigration laws, etc.

Candidates assigned to certain duty locations may be required to pass a Spanish training program.

For more information, please visit CBP Field Operations Academy.

Successful completion of the academy is required for this position.

Age Requirement: In accordance with Public Law 110-161, this position is covered under enhanced retirement provisions.

Candidates must be referred for selection to this position before their 40th birthday in accordance with DHS Directive 251-08.

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).

The age restriction does not apply if you are a Veterans' Preference eligible.

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.

More requirements listed below.

Qualifications Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

You qualify for the GS-5 grade level if you possess one of the following: Experience: A minimum of 3 years of general experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least GS-4, performing duties that required the ability to meet and deal with people and the ability to learn and be able to apply a body of facts; OR Education Substitution: A bachelor's degree or successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; OR Combination of Experience and Education: A combination of general experience AND successfully completed college education.

This will be calculated using your resume and official or unofficial transcripts submitted with your application.

You qualify for the GS-7 grade level if you possess one of the following: Experience: A minimum of 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, that includes: Performing physical inspections of persons, documents or goods for criminal activity, fraud, and/or illegal operations.

Utilizing observational techniques, evaluating facts, and reviewing documentation while applying Federal, State, or local laws and regulations.

Making determinations in compliance with laws and regulations that may lead to arrests, seizure of property, fines, and/or penalties based on findings.

The above experience will be applied in connection with the CBPO Individual Occupational Requirement: Performing inspections work at borders, seaports, airports or other ports of entry and/or work involving preliminary screening of persons for entry and immigration status; or compliance/regulatory work.

Education Substitution: A bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement, which is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average (i.e., GPA of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0), or (3) honor society membership.

Submitted transcripts must show the applicant does not have more than 10% pass/fail courses in order to qualify for SAA with GPA.

Go to Superior Academic Achievement to see if you qualify under this provision; OR Successful completion of one full year of graduate level education from an accredited college or university; OR Combination of Experience and Education: A combination of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level AND successfully completed graduate level education.

This will be calculated using your resume and official or unofficial transcripts submitted with your application.

More information on the qualifications can be found on our CBP.gov CBP Officer Qualifications Aid If you have previous or current law enforcement or military law enforcement experience, you may qualify at the GS-9 grade level - Apply Here! National Service 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.

Experience as a CBP Explorer may be qualifying if your resume provides sufficient information to credit your experience.

To receive full credit for your experience, please be sure to describe your duties, roles and responsibilities in detail.

Background Investigation: This position is a sensitive National Security position and, upon selection, applicants will be required to undergo, and must successfully pass, a Tier 5 investigation or equivalent for placement and retention.

For more information, please see the Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: The Background Investigation.

Uniform/Grooming Standards: While in a duty status, this position requires wearing an officially approved uniform and complying with established grooming standards.

Education See the Qualifications Section for education substitution.

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, visit CBP's Medical Exam Process Drug Testing Requirements: Employees are subject to drug testing in compliance with the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Program.

You must complete a drug test as a condition of employment.

For more information, visit our Drug Testing FAQs and the Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: The Drug Test Physical Fitness Test: You will be required to successfully pass the Fitness Test.

For more information, please see the Pre-Employment Fitness Test Physical Readiness Program and the Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: The Fitness Test Interview Process: You will be required to pass a structured interview.

For more information, please see the Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: Structured Interview Primary CBPO Special Retirement Coverage: This is a primary position subject to mandatory retirement under the special retirement provisions for Customs and Border Protection Officers (5 CFR 842.1003, Conditions for Coverage; 5 USC 8425(b) and 5 USC 8335(b), Mandatory Separation; and 5 USC 8412(d), Immediate Retirement).

For more information on required years of service and retirement age, click on this 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.

Additional Information You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position.

Probationary Period: You must serve a one-year probationary period during the first year of your initial permanent federal appointment.

Driver's License: You must possess the ability to operate a Government Owned Vehicle.

A valid driver's license is required.

Any legal restrictions on a driver's license are not acceptable.

Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence: The CBPO position is a weapons-carrying position.

Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition.

Therefore, if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you are not qualified for this position.

After you successfully complete all the pre-employment steps, you will be at the final offer step.

For more information on the final offer, please see the Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: The Final Offer.

Residency Requirement: U.S. Customs and Border Protection has a residency requirement that applies to 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 (3) of the last five (5) years, before completing an application for CBP employment.

If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two (2) of the last five (5) 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 of a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. Government Working as a contractor employee, a volunteer, consultant or an intern for the U.S. Government Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university If selected for a position, you must provide documentation to support a request for an exception to the residency requirement.

Per Executive Order 14170, you will be asked four optional essay questions as part of your application.

These will not be rated but will be viewable by the hiring manager.

Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): To be considered, you must submit the documents listed in the Required Documents section.

View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is committed to ensuring that all of our employees act in a manner that embodies the Department's Mission Statement: With honor and integrity, we will safeguard the American people, our homeland and our values.

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 here

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