Seized Property Specialist
What you'd do
Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Operations, Laredo Field Office, located in Hildago TX.. Additional selections may be made to include other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.
Major duties
Joining the Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations will allow you to use your expertise to provide for the inventory and safe storage of seized illegal narcotics and prohibited goods that have not met the requirements for entry into the U.S. This position starts at a salary of $61,722.00 (GS-9, Step 1) to $97,087.00 (GS-11, Step 10) with promotion potential to $116,362.00 (GS-12 Step 10) As a Seized Property Specialist, you will become a key team member of Homeland Security professionals overseeing the inventory and safe storage of seized illegal narcotics and prohibited goods. Typical work assignments include: Receiving direction from the FPF Officer (FPFO) in fulfilling Seized Property Program responsibilities. Assisting with monitoring the turnover of seized property for storage in the certified OFO permanent seizure vault or to the national seized property contractors to ensure compliance with established time frames set by national policy and procedures. Assisting with examination of documentation provided to show that the importer/violator representatives are properly vetted to enter the Centralized Storage Facility (CSF) and have workers compensation insurance. Planning, preparing for and participating in seized property destruction operations. Providing guidance to CBP and other DHS entities concerning seized property processing. Providing guidance to CBP and other DHS entities concerning seized property processing. 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. Physical and Environmental Conditions: The work environment includes offices, vaults, warehouses, destruction sites, and courtroom settings. The work setting can be open, confined, or restricted areas with unstable, uneven, or slippery surfaces, around moving vehicles or equipment, and can include exposure to loud noises from machinery. Periods of outdoor work may be required in snow, rain, or extreme heat. There is potential exposure to significant allergens, hazardous materials, gases, and dust specifically affiliated with destruction operations; and in different lighting conditions to include daylight to night time. Protective clothing may be required such as hard hats, gloves, goggles, hearing protection, and respirators. Firearms Requirement: You will be required to carry a firearm and maintain firearm proficiency. This position requires that the incumbent 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. An applicant whose background includes any of the following will be ineligible for consideration: 1) convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year; 2) has any outstanding warrants or is a fugitive from justice; 3) unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; 4) adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution; 5) illegally or unlawfully in the United States; 6) renounced U. S. citizenship; 7) subject to a court-ordered restraining (protection) order from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner (spouse, former spouse, parent of applicant's child, individual who cohabitates or has cohabitated with the applicant), or child; or 8) convicted under Federal, State, or Tribal Court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against an intimate partner or child.
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. GS-09 Experience: To qualify for the GS-09 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-07), performing duties such as: Assisting with planning, preparing, and participating in seized property destruction operations. Assisting with reviewing seized property documentation for accuracy and completeness and requesting additional information from appropriate seizing officer. Ensuring all seized property stored in the permanent seizure vault complies with the packaging, labeling, and storage requirements. Assisting senior seized property specialists with determining special handling requirements for hazardous materials, bio-hazardous, and any other property requiring special transportation and/or unique handling. Assisting with monitoring the turnover of seized property to ensure compliance with established timeframes set by national policy and procedures. GS-11 Experience: To qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-09), performing duties such as: Utilizing automated systems to identify and account for all seizures within the area of responsibility and updating tracking systems. Recommending storage requirements and locations for seized property to include controlled substances, currency and firearms and complying with all physical security standards for certified permanent seizure vaults. Assisting with determining special handling requirements for hazardous materials, bio-hazardous, and any other property requiring special transportation and/or unique handling. Assisting with plans, preparations, and participating in seized property destruction operations. Assisting with the operation of permanent seizure vaults and ensuring all seized property stored complies with the packaging, labeling, and storage requirements. GS-9 Education Substitution: Successful completion of a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in any field, or a L.L.B. or J.D. from an accredited college or university may substitute for experience required at this level. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. 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. You are required to submit proof of your claim. GS-11 Education Substitution: Successful completion of Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. from an accredited college or university may substitute for the experience required at this level. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Check with your school to determine how many credits comprise three years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 54 semester or 81 quarter hours. You are required to submit proof of your claim. Combining Experience and Education: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining your education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11. 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 08/05/2026. 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: CBP has the authority to conduct a polygraph for the Seized Property Specialist position, however, at this time a polygraph is not a pre-employment requirement. If CBP decides to implement the polygraph as a pre-employment requirement while you are in the hiring process, CBP will notify you and provide additional information. 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.
Before you apply
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