Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Operations Support, Law Enforcement Safety and Compliance Directorate located in Harpers Ferry, WV.
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: Developing media content to support communication goals and initiatives. Writing, editing, and creating communication materials such as articles, newsletters, website content, pamphlets, presentations, fact sheets, communication plans and scripts. Establishing and maintaining communication with external stakeholders. Writing, editing, and posting social media content on behalf of a government agency on multiple social media platforms. Experience: 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: Working with senior level colleagues to maintain a social media program. Developing and executing complex communication plans for major trips, engagements, and strategic initiatives. Developing graphics and videos to support an organization's goals and initiatives. Assessing, developing, implementing, and evaluating the effectiveness of internal communication strategies, materials, and programs that support and promote organizational change and agency goals. Manage websites on behalf of a government agency, including designing and organizing the web pages and content. Establishing and maintaining a working relationship with a variety of internal offices, vendors, or the public. 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. Education Substitution GS-11: A Ph.D. or an equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.M. degree may substitute for experience required at this level. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. 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 hours or 81 quarter hours. Combining Education and Experience GS-11: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-11. 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 09/26/2025. 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.
As a Strategic Communications Specialist located within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Operations Support (OS), Law Enforcement Safety and Compliance Directorate (LESC) and provides leadership with advice and assistance in writing and developing communication materials and vehicles to ensure coordination and communication throughout the office. This position starts at a salary of $84,601.00 (GS-11, Step 1) to $131,826.00 (GS-12, Step 10) with promotion potential to $131,826.00 (GS-12 Step 10). While serving as a Strategic Communications Specialist, your duties may include: Managing and maintaining an established media program including creating, drafting, clearing, and posting social media content requiring the ability to use multiple camera platforms to obtain content and the ability to utilize editing software such as Adobe Creative Cloud. Handling various camera platforms to take photos and videos documenting LESC events. Editing the content using a variety of software, such as Adobe Creative Cloud, and using the content to create communication materials. Writing, editing, and creating LESC communication materials such as articles, newsletters, website content, infographics, social media content, news releases, brochures, pamphlets, communication plans, talking points, scripts, publications, presentations, fact sheets, and reports. Ability to use a variety of software to create communication materials such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Cloud. Managing and maintaining LESC websites on Microsoft SharePoint, including designing pages, uploading content, creating web graphics and infographics, and making sure the information on the web is up to date. Working with LESC branches to ensure most recent and relevant content is displayed and working correctly. Supporting external outreach by establishing and maintaining communication between Federal, State, and local stakeholders including the community. Support any stakeholder events as needed and requested by LESC, external agencies or the community.