CBP Agriculture Specialist (Biological Threat Operations Specialist)

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Los Angeles Field Office, in Long Beach, CA.

Qualifications:

This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement.
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:

• Analyzing a wide variety of agriculture-related material, pests or diseases including the very difficult, complex and unusual finds submitted by other agriculture inspection personnel.
• Serving as a consultant in identifying a wide range of insects and related pests associated with the inspection of conveyances and passengers.
• Serving as a trouble-shooter, handling the most unusual agriculture commodity or pest problems.
• Compiling data, maintaining logs, and preparing reports on inspection operations.

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 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 04/24/2026.

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 CBP Agriculture Specialist (Biological Threat Operations 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.

Responsibilities:

This is a Reassignment Opportunity Bulletin: You must be currently serving or have previously served as a fulltime permanent GS-12 with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and are currently serving or have served in the 0401 series within the last five years to qualify under this Bulletin. If you hold or have previously held the GS-0401-13 level or higher and are willing to take a change to lower grade, you will also be considered for this position.

If you are not a current GS-0401, and you are selected, you will have to meet the following medical standards: 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.

The primary purpose of the Biological Threat Operations Specialist (BTOS) is to serve as an expert in the areas of inspection, intelligence, analysis, examination and regulatory activities relating to the importation or exportation of plants, plant products and miscellaneous articles of restricted, regulated or prohibited agriculture commodities, biological agents, live animals, animal products and animal by-products through passenger baggage, foreign mail, and all means of conveyances at Ports of Entry (POE).

This position starts at a salary of $104,349.00 (GS-12, Step 1) to $135,657.00 (GS-12, Step 10).

In this CBP Agriculture Specialist (Biological Threat Operations Specialist) position you will become a key team member of Homeland Security professionals inspecting agricultural products to protect the U.S. homeland, enforce federal U.S. laws, and efficiently facilitate legitimate trade and travel. Typical work assignments include:

• Collecting and evaluating raw data on agriculture and biological terrorism.
• Researching and analyzing sensitive security information.
• Preparing and disseminating reports that identify tactical intelligence regarding possible agriculture bioterrorism trends or suspected activities.
• Developing, planning, and coordinating tactical operations in participation with other Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
• Preparing reports to supervisory and management officials on such activities.

Salary : $104,349