Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, New Orleans Field Office located in New Orleans, LA.
Experience: You qualify for the GS-9 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Applying established administrative techniques, procedures, and standard analytical methods to identify issues, analyze relevant facts and conditions, and recommend courses of action on technical administrative problems. Interpreting and adapting applicable guidelines (e.g., policies, procedures, regulations) to address specific or time-sensitive situations and recommending changes where appropriate. Providing advisory and technical services on organizational functions and work practices in a moderately structured setting; drafting reports, correspondence, or briefing materials that present findings and recommendations. Coordinating with managers and employees within and outside the immediate office or related units, and interacting with applicants, retirees, beneficiaries, and/or the general public as needed. Contributing to improvements in work methods, approaches, or procedures that enhance service delivery and operational efficiency. 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: Analyzing and evaluating current administrative practices and operations to identify issues, recommend changes, and improve efficiency and productivity within an organization or program area. Interpreting and adapting laws, regulations, policies, and procedures that may be partially applicable or lack specificity and recommending changes to processes and/or longstanding policies. Planning and carrying out projects or studies that support executive-level administrative actions and enable managers to focus on mission and managerial duties. Preparing and delivering briefings, reports, and correspondence that explain findings and secure acceptance of recommendations. · Coordinating proposed actions with impacted stakeholders (e.g., HRM, budget, logistics/procurement) to ensure aligned implementation. Producing results that contribute to cost savings and improved organizational efficiency. 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-09: A Master's degree, two full years of graduate education, a J.D. or an LL.B. degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for experience required at this level. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise two years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 36 semester or 54 quarter hours. 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 from an accredited college or university may substitute for experience required at this level. (A course of study in business, international business, or a related field is qualifying.) 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 Education and Experience: 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 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%. 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 12/19/2025. 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. 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.
In this position, you will become a key team member of Homeland Security professionals involved in planning and carrying out a wide variety of mission support, human resources, staffing and placements, administrative research, logistics and other program planning activities related to the missions and functions of CBP. This position starts at a salary of $61,111.00 (GS-9, Step 1) to $96,116.00 (GS-11, Step 10) with promotion potential to $115,213 (GS-12 Step 10). In this Mission Support position, you will become a key member of a team of homeland security professionals performing typical work duties such as: Providing senior-level advice in one or more administrative specialty areas; participate in and contribute to management decisions in assigned program areas. Applying a wide range of administrative program concepts, laws, policies, practices, and analytical/diagnostic methods to resolve substantive technical issues that are complex, controversial, and/or sensitive and contain multiple interrelated elements. Providing comprehensive advisory and technical services on organizational functions and work practices; assess current operations and recommend improvements. Developing and implement new or modified administrative program work methods, approaches, and procedures to improve service delivery to customers and stakeholders. Developing and deliver briefings, project papers, status/staff reports, and correspondence to managers to foster understanding and acceptance of findings and recommendations. 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.