CBP Officer (SRT Operator)
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, Location Negotiable: Duty location is required to be at a CBP Facility with a nexus to the SRT mission.
Major duties
Joining the Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations will allow you to use your expertise to detect and prevent terrorists and instruments of terror from entering the U.S. Apply for this exciting opportunity to strengthen Homeland Security by performing law enforcement activities such as inspection, intelligence analysis, examination, and interpretation of laws and regulations. This position starts at a salary of $91,985.00 (GS-12, Step 1) to $142,199.00 (GS-13, Step 10) with promotion potential to $142,199.00 (GS-13, Step 10). In this CBP Officer (CBPO) Special Response Team Operator (SRT)) position you will become a key member of a team of Homeland Security professionals detecting and preventing terrorists and instruments of terror from entering the U.S. Typical work assignments include: Assessing and analyzing an evolving threat landscape at our ports of entry (POE) and beyond our nation's borders to identify possible violations, distinguish criminal intent and determine admissibility. Providing tactical response to U.S. POEs and borders to address national security threats, incidents of national significance, and other specialized missions, as directed by DHS and CBP. Coordinating multi-jurisdictional and multi-organizational operations to collect, develop, and evaluate evidence to determine compliance or violation. Developing and providing specialized training in tactical operations, firearms proficiency, emergency medical response, and less-lethal tactics to CBP Officers and other law enforcement personnel. Planning and conducting high-risk and enhanced enforcement operations to identify, pursue, and apprehend individuals in violation of customs and/or immigration law in coordination with other federal law enforcement agencies. Primary CBPO Special Retirement Coverage: This is a primary position subject to mandatory retirement under the special retirement provisions for Customs and Border Protection Officers (5 CFR 842.1003; 5 USC 8425(b); 5 USC 8335(b); and 5 USC 8412(d)). For more information on required years of service and retirement age, click on this link. If you have questions regarding your retirement coverage provisions, please contact the CBP Retirement Operations Center at (202) 863-6180. The customs and border protection officer mandatory separation provisions of 5 USC 8425 do not apply to an individual first appointed as a customs and border protection officer before July 6, 2008.
What you need to qualify
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: 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: Coordinating and conducting operations local and national operations through numerous types of operational requests. Executing threat and vulnerability assessments and developing processes and methods to further secure U.S. POE, foreign borders, federal buildings and facilities, properties, systems, and personnel during inspection of persons and conveyances. Participating in the coordination of complex multi-jurisdictional operations to collect, develop, and evaluate facts, evidence, and pertinent data in assessing compliance with or violations of laws, rules, or regulations pertaining to inbound and outbound persons, merchandise, and conveyances at U.S. ports of entry. Assisting senior team members with advising of security programs for other governmental agencies surrounding expertise in conducting POE and border enforcement special operations. Experience: You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Conducting enforcement operations such as surveillance, port hardening, warrant service, dignitary protection, tactical responses to civil unrest, chemical/biological/ radiological/nuclear and explosives tactical response, as well as terrorist, and natural disaster incidents including leading search and rescue recovery efforts. Advising security programs for other governmental agencies surrounding expertise in conducting POE and border enforcement special operations, curbing threats to U.S. POEs. Coordinating CBP support of high-risk international fugitive recovery operations, including special undocumented noncitizen deserter and absconder operations, manhunt operations, civil unrest, Federal Search and Arrest warrant operations with partner agencies. Executing threat and vulnerability assessments and developing processes and methods to further secure U.S. POE, foreign borders, federal buildings and facilities, properties, systems, and personnel during inspection of persons and conveyances. Conducting real-world operations and training exercises with intelligence and enforcement partners as well as training frontline CBPOs to respond to significant events at the POE, such as large-scale migrant incursions. Selective Placement Factor: Applicants who have not successfully completed the SRT training will be rated ineligible for the position. A certificate of completion must be provided with your application. 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 07/15/2026. 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 Polygraph Examination: The CBP Officer (SRT Operator) position is a polygraph-required position. If you are not a current CBP employee in a law enforcement position, you may be required to take a polygraph exam and have favorable results in order to continue in the pre-employment process. Please see Polygraph Examination. Polygraph Reciprocity: CBP may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of a CBP polygraph exam. You will receive information to request reciprocity in your Background Investigation Package. Polygraph Waiver: Certain veterans may be eligible to obtain a polygraph waiver. You will receive information to request a waiver in your Background Investigation Package. Age Requirement: Pursuant to Public Law 110-161, this position is covered under special retirement provisions for Customs and Border Protection Officers which allows for the imposition of a maximum age requirement. In accordance with Department of Homeland Security Directive 251-03, the day before an individual's 37th birthday is the maximum age for original appointment to a position as a Customs and Border Protection Officer. ** NOTE: The Executive Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Field Operations has approved a temporary increase in the maximum allowable age for original placement into a CBPO position, therefore candidates must enter their original appointment before reaching their 40th birthday. In accordance with Department of Homeland Security Directive 251-03, unless the below criteria applies, you must meet this age requirement by the date of referral to the hiring manager. Creditable law enforcement officer service covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or Title 5 U.S.C. 8412(d), or creditable service covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8401(36) as a Customs and Border Protection Officer on or after July 6, 2008, may be applied toward the maximum age requirement. This age restriction may not apply if you are currently serving in a federal civilian (not military) law enforcement position covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or Title 5 U.S.C. 8412(d). Veterans' Preference Eligibility: To ensure compliance with statutes pertaining to the appointment of preference eligible veterans as determined by the Merit Systems Protection Board in its recent decision of Isabella v. Dept. of State, the maximum age for original appointment articulated above shall not apply to the hiring of individuals entitled to veterans preference eligibility under 5 U.S.C. § 3312. You must submit proof of Veteran's Preference (DD-214 Member 4 Copy) at the time of application.
Before you apply
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