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CENTER DIRECTOR

Department of Homeland Security
Customs and Border Protection
Office of Field Operations
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 Field Operations, Automotive & Aerospace Center of Excellence and Expertise - Detroit Field Office - AA CEE. The selection will be made and oversight of this position will be maintained by the Detroit Field Office. The selectee will remain in their current duty station.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
06/30/2025 to 07/07/2025
Salary
$146,481 to - $146,481 per year

Salary listed reflects the rest of U.S. scale and will be adjusted to meet the locality pay of the duty location upon selection.

Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
15
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
OFO-IMP-12754296-KMH
Control number
839574800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

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

Duties

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This position starts at a salary of $146,481.00 (GS-15, Step 1) to $146,481.00 (GS-15, Step 10) with promotion potential to $$190,424 (GS-15 Step 10).

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

Typical work assignments include:

  • Manages, through direct reports, a substantial multi-disciplinary staff.
  • Makes decisions and resolves conflicts regarding subordinate employees presented by direct reports.
  • Assigns and evaluates work based on priorities, level of difficulty, and capabilities of employees.
  • Resolves conflicts with the importing public that cannot be resolved by subordinate supervisors.
  • Interprets the laws and regulations of a broad range of Federal, state and local agencies to sustain a secure import process focusing on national priority trade issues such as intellectual property rights, revenue, and health and safety violations.

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)
  • 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.
  • Financial Disclosure is required.

Qualifications

Experience: You qualify for the GS-15 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

  • Interpreting of CBP laws, regulations, and precedents, as well as Office of Field Operations policies and procedures concerning the import and export of merchandise and cargo to the U.S. (including characteristics of items imported/exported to determine or verify classification, value, and property of transport) for processing and control of cargo,
  • Acting as a CBP liaison with Congress, the trade community, and various outside review groups to accomplish CBP trade goals of effective commercial targeting, coordination with international partners and other agencies, partnerships with the importing community and trade associations, risk-based approaches to identifying and addressing trade issues.
  • Supervising substantial coordination and integration of several professional, scientific, technical, or administrative work assignments, projects, or program segments within the Office of Field Operations (OFO), Center of Excellence and Expertise (Centers).
  • Developing and long-range planning of national policies and processing strategic goals and objectives to align with national trade executives, industry stakeholders, Partner Government Agency's (PGAs), and other internal/external stakeholders to build and foster partnership programs.
  • Directing, planning and execution of assignments, projects, studies, or investigations intended to explore and resolve major operational and law enforcement problems, or to develop, improve, or install new procedures.

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 07/07/2025.
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

Supervisory Probationary Period: You may be required to serve an 18 month probationary period upon appointment.

Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.

Financial Disclosure is required.

Leadership Training: All newly appointed GS-15s are required to complete mandatory training. The training will be scheduled by the Office of Training and Development within the first 90 days of appointment. The duration of the training will include 5 weeks of in-residence training in Harpers Ferry. 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. Note: This training may be waived if previously completed.

Motor Vehicle Operation: You must possess a current valid State driver's license at the time of appointment.

Mobility Agreement: Selectee(s) will be subject to a mobility agreement.

Security Clearance: You may be required to obtain a Secret or higher level clearance for this position.

Data Systems: You will be required to maintain access to all data systems necessary for duty execution.

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.

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/12754296

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education, and training will be rated using an assessment questionnaire.

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

  • Knowledge of CBP laws, regulations and precedents, as well as OFO policies and procedures to oversee and manage trade activities for an industry sector nationwide
  • Ability to interpret a wide variety of laws, rules, regulations, and procedures concerning trade processes within the United States (includes characteristics of items imported/exported to determine or verify classification, value and property of transport) for processing cargo and protecting revenue.
  • Ability to evaluate many kinds of information and to formulate strategies, goals, and objectives that balance conflicting needs, requirements, and priorities of CBP, the specific industry serviced by the Center, other Field Offices, and the various other customers to which CBP provides services.
  • Knowledge of CBP organizational structure, operations and procedures used to provide expert advice to national office and other executives.

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/12754296

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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