Operations Specialist

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Base Metals Center for Excellence and Expertise (BM-CEE). Located in the following locations.

Chicago, Illinois
Boston, Massachusetts
Buffalo, New York
Cleveland, Ohio
Seattle, Washington

Qualifications:

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:

• Assisting in developing methods and reports to provide analytical insight into Trade processes and making recommendations as to necessary enhancements to operational effectiveness, by gathering and analyzing trade intelligence, and coordinating with stakeholders.
• Assisting in developing guidance or techniques on business process improvement as they relate to Trade Operations, leading and participating in business process improvement teams by designing, implementing, and evaluating guidance or techniques related to Trade Operations and organizational efficiency.
• Participating in a wide variety of analytical studies and projects related to business process improvement and procedures productivity improvement, management controls, and long-range planning, by applying advanced analytical methods to improve procedures, productivity, management controls, and long-range planning across CBP core processes.
• Conducting detailed analyses of complex functions and work processes, by examining interrelated issues of effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity, and recommending streamlined procedures for trade operations.
• Assigning and consolidating work products by guiding subject matter specialists and team members, developing new program objectives, and evaluating CBP processes and policies for continuous improvement.

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 04/21/2026.

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

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.

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP eligible. View information about CTAP eligibilityon OPM's Career Transition Resources website. You must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement. To be considered well qualified under CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position.

Responsibilities:

Salary: Salary listed reflects the rest of U.S. scale and, if applicable, will be adjusted to meet the locality pay or cost of living expenses of the duty location upon selection.

This position starts at a salary of $106,437.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $138,370.00 (GS-13, Step 10).


Major duties include

• Coordinating with managers from the Center of Excellence and Expertise (CEE) and Ports of Entry to implement a trade enforcement strategy to identify and interdict high-risk shipments and effectively administer Executive Orders and the legislative requirements to include the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (TFTEA).
• Garnering input, participation and assistance from stakeholders required for studies, projects, and assignments to address operational problems.
• Ensuring that trade intelligence is used as a critical component for trade enforcement and ensuring proper oversight and coordination of Trade facilitation and enforcement.
• Participating in efforts to examine CBP Core Trade processes and procedures. Applying business process improvement methods and devising streamlined processes that make maximum use of work teams, shared databases, and other world-class practices.
• Developing or recommending new program objectives or initiatives required to accomplish new CBP goals or to implement streamlined processes.

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.

Salary : $106,437