CUSTOMS LIQUIDATOR (DRAWBACK)
What you'd do
Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Houston Field Office, Petroleum, Natural Gas & Minerals (PNGM) Center of Excellence and Expertise, located in Rosemont, Illinois, Newark, New Jersey and Houston, Texas. Additional selections may be made to include other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.
Major duties
The selection will be made, and oversight of this position will be maintained by the Field Office below, but the physical location of this position will remain in the duty location chosen. This position starts at a salary of $74,678.00 (GS-11, Step 1) to $116,362.00 (GS-12, Step 10) with promotion potential to $116,362.00 (GS-12 Step 10). Salary listed reflects the rest of U.S. scale and will be adjusted to meet the locality pay of the duty location upon selection. 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. In this position, you will strengthen the Department's ability to perform homeland security functions by becoming a valuable member of a team of commercial, inspection, entry, liquidation, and Customs Officer employees. Typical duties include: Reviewing drawback claims and supporting documentation, e.g., certificates of delivery, certificates of manufacture, and proof of exportation to ensure compliance with all drawback laws and regulations, and with trade agreements Participating in the review of company records on-site to establish if goods meet eligibility requirements, and to verify the adequacy of a company's drawback system. Examining the manufacturing process, and various records to determine eligible quantities of goods, to trace imported merchandise through to exportation, to ensure use complies with applicable laws and regulations, and, for Unused Merchandise claims, to ensure imported goods are neither used in the United States nor commercially interchangeable. Assisting in the reviews of claimants' requests for drawback privileges including Accelerated Payment, Exporters Summary Procedure, Waiver of Prior Notice, and use of substitution under 1313(j)(2); this includes determining bond sufficiency under supervision. Responding to basic, repetitive questions regarding reporting requirements, and calculation methods. Presents limited portions regarding basic factual situations in outreach efforts to explain drawback eligibility and requirements to potential, first-time or established drawback claimants; and to inform exporters, importers, customs brokers, and foreign trade officials about new or revised programs.
What you need to qualify
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: Reviewing and processing drawback claims and supporting documentation. Applying customs laws, regulations, and procedures, interpreting customs requirements or similar experience involving determinations of rates of duty. Classifying of merchandise, entry requirements, manufacturing records, export documentation, and accounting & inventory records. Reviewing and making decisions independently on drawback claims of more than average difficulty and complexity. Participating in public outreach programs, which involve presenting seminars and providing guidance to claimant. GS-12: You qualify at the GS-12 level if you possess one year of specialized experience that equipped you with the skills needed to perform the job duties. Examples include experience in Reviewing and deciding complex drawback claims and supporting documents to ensure compliance with all laws, regulations and trade agreements. Performing compliance reviews of records to establish if goods meet eligibility requirements for drawback, and to verify the adequacy of a company's drawback system. Reviewing and making determinations concerning claimants' request for drawback privileges including Accelerated Payment, Exporters Summary Procedure, Waiver of Prior Notice, and use of substitution under 1313(j)(2); this includes determining bond sufficiency. Participating in public outreach programs, which involve presenting seminars and providing detailed guidance to claimants 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 There is no education substitution for the GS-12 grade level. 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 07/17/2026. 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.
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