CBP Officer

About the role

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, in various locations across the United States.

Mission: Join the Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations to use your expertise in detecting and preventing terrorists and instruments of terror from entering the United States, performing law enforcement activities such as inspection, intelligence analysis, examination, and interpretation of laws and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Perform inspection, intelligence analysis, examination, and law enforcement activities including apprehension, detention, and arrest relative to the arrival and departure of persons, conveyances, and merchandise at Ports of Entry (POE).
• Conduct developmental level officer duties to protect the U.S. homeland, enforce federal laws, and efficiently facilitate legitimate trade and travel.
• Develop, plan, and participate in tactical operations.
• Interact with carriers, other agencies, and foreign entities to exchange information and provide guidance on admissibility and compliance.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years; if not met and you have been physically located abroad for more than two of the last five years, you may request a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following:
  • Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military.
  • Being a dependent authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military 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.
• All pre‑employment processes will be conducted in English.
• May be required to pass a background investigation and/or polygraph.
• Must comply with the CBP Drug‑Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures.
• Must adhere to government ethics standards, including obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity to avoid conflicts of interest.
• Firearm requirement: Must 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. Applicants with any of the following are ineligible:
  • Convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year.
  • Has any outstanding warrants or is a fugitive from justice.
  • Unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance.
  • Adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution.
  • Illegally or unlawfully present in the United States.
  • Has renounced U.S. citizenship.
  • Subject to a court‑ordered restraining (protection) order for harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child.
  • Convicted under Federal, State, or Tribal Court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against an intimate partner or child.
• Bargaining unit: This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU).

Qualifications

• Experience:
  • GS‑09: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, performing duties such as utilizing observational techniques and monitoring traveler behavior to assess risk for terrorism, criminal activity, or other violations; conducting record checks using law enforcement databases and systems; conducting visual and physical inspections of cargo, baggage, conveyances, and packing materials using non‑intrusive technology.
  • GS‑11: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, performing duties such as performing inspections and enforcement of persons, merchandise, and conveyances at U.S. ports of entry to ensure legal entry and prevent terrorists and instruments of terror from entering; interpreting and applying laws, rules, and regulations; applying behavioral and cultural analysis and decision‑making skills for risk assessment; identifying known or potential terrorists, instruments of terror, criminals, smuggling tactics, and threats to U.S. borders and national security; determining admission/release or referral for secondary inspection.
  • GS‑12: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, performing duties such as gathering and analyzing intelligence from all available sources; interacting with carriers, other agencies, and foreign entities on admissibility and compliance; determining admission/release or referral for secondary inspection; conducting visual and physical inspections of cargo, baggage, conveyances, and packing materials using non‑intrusive technology; providing advice and guidance on work methods, practices, and agency policy and procedures.
• Education substitution:
  • GS‑09: A Master’s or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education (≈36 semester or 54 quarter hours), or an LL.B. or J.D. from an accredited institution may substitute for the required experience.
  • GS‑11: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education (≈54 semester or 81 quarter hours), or an LL.M. from an accredited institution may substitute for the required experience.
  • GS‑12: No education substitution available for this occupation.