Supervisory CBP Agriculture 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 Field Operations, San Juan Field Office, Port of Saint Croix, Saint Croix, Virgin Islands.
Major duties
This position is located within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO), and stationed at varying Ports of Entry (POE). The primary mission of OFO is to detect and prevent terrorists and instruments of terror, harmful pests and diseases, illegal drugs and contraband, and undocumented individuals and importations/exportations contrary to law and trade agreements from entering/exiting the United States. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a first-line Supervisory CBP Agriculture Specialist (SCBPAS), responsible for directing, coordinating, assigning, organizing, and evaluating work activities. This position starts at a salary of $106,437.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $138,370.00 (GS-13, Step 10) Salary above excludes COLA. Please see the following link for specific COLA Rates COLA Rates In this first-line supervisory position you will become a key member of a team of Homeland Security professionals responsible for directing and evaluating work activities, such as inspection, intelligence analysis, examination, and enforcement activities relative to the importation and exportation of plants, plant products, restricted or prohibited miscellaneous articles, meat, and animal by-products in commercial cargo, by passengers and their baggage, foreign mail, and via all means of conveyances at Port of Entries (POEs). Typical work assignments include: Overseeing the full and proper use of all available automated systems. Providing guidance and training, communicating intelligence and enforcement information, disseminating new procedures and policy changes to direct reports, and ensuring work is performed so that legitimate traveling and importing public will experience as little delay as possible. Making recommendations regarding significant internal and external program and policy issues regarding the management of agriculture operations at the port of entry to address regulatory changes and complexities in politics, media attention, public perception, and impact to the economy. Monitoring and evaluating employee work production. Establishing the unit area of responsibility and setting priorities and deadlines on major projects. 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.
What you need to qualify
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: Providing guidance in the areas of inspection, intelligence, analysis, examination, and activities relating to the importation or exportation of plants, plant products, and miscellaneous articles of restricted/prohibited agricultural commodities. Reviewing and analyzing a wide variety of commercial and passenger documents to establish the validity, authenticity, admissibility, and extent of inspection determination of merchandise or cargo. Conducting visual and physical inspection of cargo, baggage, conveyances, and packing materials to recognize the presences of prohibited agriculture commodities. Serving as a technical consultant and providing guidance to CBPAS, CBP Officers, researchers, brokers, industry, travelers, Federal/state/local agencies, and others on the interpretative techniques and regulatory requirements pertaining to the processing of all agriculture-related cargo and material. Serving as coach and mentor of lower level CBP Agriculture Specialists on a regular and recurring basis. This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement. Undergraduate Education-Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of education and experience: Completed at least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in a qualifying field of study, as shown above, PLUS qualifying experience or additional education. To determine if you meet the combination, you must divide the months of qualifying experience by 48; next, divide the number of undergraduate semester hours by 120 (or 180 for undergraduate quarter hours) and the two percentages must total at least 100%. 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. Transcripts: If you have never held a position in the GS-0401 series with Customs and Border Protection, you are required to submit a copy of your transcripts 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 08/06/2026. 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 Supervisory CBP Agriculture 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. Physical and Environmental Conditions: The work environment includes offices, aircraft operation areas, airline passenger and cargo areas, and marine docks. Periods of outdoor work may be required in snow, rain, or extreme heat. Occasional periods of outdoor work may be required in remote areas with no modern comfort facilities. The work may involve the use of toxic chemicals, pesticides and fumigants. Protective clothing may be required such as hard hats, gloves, goggles, hearing protection, and respirators. Medical Requirements: Following a tentative job offer, candidates must undergo and successfully complete a medical screening process. Individuals must be medically and physically capable of performing the essential job functions and duties of the position safely and efficiently without endangering the health and safety of the individual, others, or national security. For more information regarding the medical screening process and requirements, check out our video and visit our website. Please view the video "Protecting America 24/7" to learn more about CBP's Office of Field Operations. CBP employees demonstrate the highest level of commitment to protect and serve the United States of America and to exemplify the CBP Core Values of Vigilance, Service to Country and Integrity. Learn more about CBP's mission, core values and careers at https://www.cbp.gov/about
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