Customs Entry Officer

Job description

Summary Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Center of Excellence and Expertise, located in the following locations.

Mobile, AL Douglas, AZ Nogales, AZ San Luis, AZ Long Beach, CA Otay, CA Miami, FL Chicago, Il Baltimore, MD Detroit, MI Kansas City, MO Newark, NJ Queens, NY Middleburg Heights, OH Philadelphia, PA Providence, RI Saint Thomas, VI San Juan, PR Seattle, WA Responsibilities Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Center of Excellence and Expertise.

The selections will be made and oversight of these positions will be maintained by the Field Offices, but the physical locations of the positions will remain in the duty location chosen.

Field Office Center: Atlanta- Consumer Products & Mass Merchandising (CPMM) Buffalo- Industrial & Manufacturing Materials (IMM) Chicago- Base metals (BM) Detroit- Automotive & Aerospace (AA) Houston- Petroleum, Natural Gas & Minerals (PNGM) Laredo- Machinery (MACH) Los Angeles- Electronics (ELEC) Miami- Agriculture & Prepared Products (APP) New York- Pharmaceuticals, Health & Chemicals (PHC) San Francisco- Apparel, Footwear & Textiles (AFT) This position is located in an organization within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations, Center of Excellence and Expertise (Center).

The primary purpose of this position is to provide advanced training in the analytical and judgmental aspects of entering merchandise and goods into the United States; and to learn about marketing efforts for various automated systems and for new programs.

The primary mission of CBP is to detect and prevent terrorists and instruments of terror from entering the United States, enforce applicable laws, and facilitate the orderly and efficient flow of legitimate trade and lawful travelers.

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

This position starts at a salary of $73,939.00 (GS-11, Step 1) to $115,213.00 (GS-12, Step 10) with promotion potential to $115,213 (GS-12 Step 10).

Major Duties: Acting as the principal authority on entry processing, providing expert guidance to supervisors, team members, clients, and the public on all matters related to the admissibility, classification, valuation, and processing of imported merchandise.

Offering expert-level assistance on a wide range of entry-related challenges, including approving specialized entry types, applications, and permits for merchandise of exceptional variety and complexity, while mediating disputes between lower-graded entry officers and the import community to ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.

Authorizing the use of specialized entry types, such as Temporary Importation under Bond (TIB), American Goods Returned, appraisement entries, and entries for federal government use or diplomatic officers, ensuring adherence to applicable laws and regulations.

Directing and aligning trade and entry-related activities within the team and across CBP offices, ensuring consistency in enforcement actions, facilitating collaboration, and maintaining compliance with national trade laws and regulations.

GS Salary: Visit this link to view the locality pay tables by geographic area.

If you do not see your geographic area listed, select the Rest of United States pay table.

Some positions fall under a special pay rate depending on the series, grade level and location of the position.

Please visit this link to view special pay rate charts.

Requirements 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 is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the National Treasury Employees Unions - NTEU.

For local chapter contact information see Chapter Websites - National Treasury Employees Union - NTEU.

Qualifications Experience: You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Examining and validating entry documents to ensure compliance with legal requirements, including determining the eligibility and acceptability of specialized entries such as Temporary Importation under Bond (TIB), American Goods Returned, and entries for federal agencies, while resolving discrepancies and applying enforcement actions when necessary.

Conducting trade compliance and enforcement activities, such as analyzing account data to identify non-compliance, monitoring national account activities, and recommending or executing enforcement actions like penalties, liquidated damages, or referrals for investigations.

Providing technical guidance and customer service to importers, brokers, and other stakeholders by interpreting legal rulings, resolving entry processing issues, and advising on procedures for filing post-summary corrections, protests, and claims, while promoting informed compliance.

Utilizing automated systems such as the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and Automated Targeting System (ATS) to analyze data, identify compliance risks, and ensure accurate processing of entries, liquidations, and revenue collections, while maintaining audit trails and addressing system discrepancies.

Experience in analyzing customs documents; applying customs laws, regulations, and procedures; interpreting customs requirements; or similar experience involving determinations of rates of duty, classification of merchandise, and entry requirements.

Education Substitution: GS-11: You may substitute a Ph.D., an equivalent doctoral degree, or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a qualifying field for experience at the GS-11 grade level or an LL.M., if related.

Such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise three years of graduate study.

If that information is not available, use 54 semester or 81 quarter hours.

Combining Experience and Education: To combine your education and experience, you must convert each to a percentage, and then add the percentages.

The combined total of your percentage of education and experience must equal at least 100% in order to qualify.

If your education is currently described in quarter hours, convert the quarter hours into semester hours by multiplying the quarter hours by the fraction 2/3.

To calculate your percentage of graduate education, divide the number of graduate semester hours in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level, by 18.

To determine your percentage of qualifying experience, you must divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by the required number of months of experience.

Add your percentages of education and experience.

The two percentages must total at least 100.

You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Performing as the technical expert and advisor to the supervisor, clients, team members, and the general public on all matters relating to entry processing.

Rendering advice and assistance on all types of entry problems and matters, approving the use of various special types of entries, approving various special applications and permits pertaining to entries of merchandise of exceptional variety and unusual complexity, and resolving differences of opinion between lower grade entry officers and the import community.

Authorizing the use of various types of entries which involve special requirements, such as appraisement entries, articles for use by the federal government, and diplomatic officers of foreign governments.

Coordinating and directing trade/entry activities within the team and with other CBP offices.

Experience in analyzing customs documents; applying customs laws, regulations, and procedures; interpreting customs requirements; or similar experience involving determinations of rates of duty, classification of merchandise, and entry requirements.

There is no education substitution for the GS-12 grade level.

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 10/24/2025.

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 Are you qualifying based on education?

Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable at this time; however, official copies will be required prior to entrance on duty) or a list of coursework with hours completed provided from the institution.

Do not submit transcripts as a PDF Portfolio.

Education must be from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Education obtained from a foreign university or college is not creditable unless it has been evaluated by an organization that specializes in interpretation of education credentials.

Note: If submitting documentation of an evaluation, transcripts are still required.

For a listing of some accrediting agencies see NACES | Credentials Evaluations Provided by NACES Members.

See https://www.accreditation.info/education-quality/usa-recognition.html for more information.

Additional Information 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 eligibility on 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.

Training: This position has a training requirement.

You may be required to successfully complete the training requirement as a condition of employment.

Failure to successfully complete the required course(s) of training in accordance with CBP standards and policies will result in placement into either a former or different position, demotion, or separation as determined by management and appropriate procedures.

Selectee(s) are required to attend and successfully complete 2.5 weeks of paid training at the CBP Trade and Cargo Training Academy, Charleston, SC.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.

Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments.

Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.

If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.

You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.

Positions with known promotion potential do not guarantee promotion, nor is the promise of promotion implied.

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.

Required Skill Profession

Other General