CBPO (Headquarters Programs)

Customs and Border Protection•Washington, DC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO), Operations Directorate, in Washington, DC. The CBP Officer will manage one or more national programs and help detect and prevent terrorists and instruments of terror from entering or exiting the United States. The position oversees headquarters field operations and the enforcement and facilitation examination continuum, and supports efforts to prevent terrorism, smuggling, fraud, criminality, contraband, and other violations. The role serves as a subject-matter expert and headquarters liaison to federal agencies, DHS and CBP managers, field leaders, international attachés, trade partners, stakeholders, contractors, business executives, and National Targeting Center watch commanders. It interprets policies from Congress and agency leadership, develops clear guidance for field leadership, and reviews and approves targeting rules, inspection protocols, and enforcement plans. The position may be assigned to one of several Operations Directorate divisions or programs, including briefings and taskings, field liaison, emergency response, enforcement operations, use of force, or national canine enforcement. The position requires prior service in a primary CBPO position and is a secondary administrative CBPO Special Retirement Coverage position. It requires wearing an approved uniform, maintaining access to necessary data systems, and successfully completing 89 days of paid training at the CBP Field Operations Academy in Glynco, Georgia. Assignments and duty locations may rotate. Work may involve shift and rotational schedules and scheduled or unscheduled overtime beyond 40 hours per week. The work environment may include offices, aircraft operations areas, airline passenger and cargo areas, marine docks, and outdoor or remote locations in varied weather and conditions.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
For applicants not currently employed by CBP, physical residence in the United States or its protectorates for at least three of the last five years is required, subject to stated exceptions or a waiver request.
All pre-employment processes must be conducted in English.
Must pass a background investigation and/or polygraph as required; the position requires a polygraph unless an applicable reciprocity or waiver applies.
Must comply with CBP drug-testing procedures.
Must have taken the required CBP Officer Promotional Assessment component and have a passing Total Score.
Must meet initial and continuing firearms qualifications and be eligible to possess a firearm under applicable law.
Must be able to operate a government-owned vehicle and possess a valid, non-restricted driver's license.
Must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, including experience in relevant enforcement, deterrence, policy interpretation, meetings and briefings, review of targeting rules and enforcement plans, or policy and accountability work.
Prior experience in a primary CBPO position is a mandatory prerequisite; eligibility for secondary CBPO special retirement coverage requires applicable prior primary-position service and other stated service conditions.
Must meet all qualification and applicable time-in-grade requirements by November 3, 2026.
May be required to undergo medical screening and meet medical and physical standards; applicants who are not current GS-1895 employees must successfully pass the Pre-employment Fitness Test.
Must successfully complete 89 days of paid training at the CBP Field Operations Academy; failure to complete required training may result in reassignment, demotion, or separation.
May be required to rotate assignments and duty locations and to work shifts, rotational schedules, and scheduled or unscheduled overtime beyond a 40-hour work week.
Must wear an officially approved uniform while in duty status.
Must maintain access to data systems necessary for duty execution.
Current or former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.
Current or former political appointees within the specified categories and period must disclose that information to Human Resources.

Responsibilities

Oversee headquarters field operations and the enforcement and facilitation examination continuum to prevent illegal entry, terrorism, smuggling, fraud, criminality, contraband, and other violations.
Identify areas requiring additional emphasis, develop performance measures, evaluate results, recommend program improvements, and manage assigned resources.
Serve as a CBP Officer subject-matter expert and principal headquarters liaison to federal agencies, DHS and CBP managers, field leaders, international attachés, trade partners, stakeholders, contractors, business executives, and National Targeting Center watch commanders.
Interpret policies from Congress, DHS, and CBP senior management and develop clear guidance for field leadership.
Review, validate, and approve field targeting rules, inspection protocols, and enforcement action plans involving counterterrorism, counter-proliferation, narcotics, currency, weapons, and intellectual-property-rights violations.
Ensure targeting rules, protocols, and plans align with the National Targeting Center and National Security Presidential Directives.
Provide expert direction and guidance to CBP field locations and other law enforcement agencies.
Depending on assignment, support executive briefings and tasking processes, field liaison and situational awareness, emergency preparedness, national enforcement operations, use-of-force oversight and policy, or canine program management.