Supervisory CBP Agriculture Specialist

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Chicago Field Office, Inspection Division, & Area Port of Cleveland, OH, Port of Cleveland, OH, located in Chicago, IL and Middleburg Heights, OH.

Qualifications:

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.

All applicants must meet the Basic Requirement in order to be considered for this position. Eligibility will be verified based on your submitted transcripts and resume. More information on this requirement can be found in the CBP Agriculture Specialist Qualification Aid and in the OPM Qualification Standards.

Basic Requirement for the CBP Agriculture Specialist:

1. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, animal science, plant science, pest management, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

2. 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%.

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.

You qualify for this position if you meet the basic requirement listed above and possess one year of specialized experience as described below.

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 coordinating operations at local and remote sites involving airfreight, maritime cargo, overland freight/truck cargo, rail cargo, and passenger clearance, to resolve technical and regulatory questions and approve the method of final disposition.
• 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.
• Serving as a technical consultant and provides expert guidance to CBP Off icers, 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.
• Conducting visual/physical inspection of cargo, baggage, conveyances, and packing materials for regulated agricultural items. Applying interviewing and observational techniques, document review, behavioral and cultural analysis to identify, release, or refer persons, conveyances, or cargo for compliance with agriculture concerns.
• Serving as coach and mentor of lower level CBP Agriculture Specialists on a regular and recurring basis.

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 06/01/2026.

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.

Responsibilities:

Joining the Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations will allow you to use your expertise to detect and prevent terrorists and instruments of terror from entering the U.S. Apply for this exciting opportunity to strengthen Homeland Security by applying the laws and regulations related to the import and export of agriculture, commodities and baggage entering and/or exiting the United States.

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

In this first-line supervisory position you will become a key member of a team of Homeland Security professionals performing a full range of inspection relative to the importation and exportation of agricultural and commercial commodities, and plant products. Typical work assignments include:

• Supervising shift operations and overseeing the Agriculture Program with the Port of Entry (POE).
• Resolving conflicts between CBP Agriculture Specialists, travelers or importing public considering requirements of laws, regulations, and procedures, facts surrounding a particular situation.
• Responding to and resolving technical and operational questions regarding the Agricultural function or operation supervised.
• Providing guidance and training, communicating intelligence and enforcement information, and disseminating new procedures and policy changes. Making recommendations regarding significant internal and external program and policy issues regarding the management of agriculture operations at the port of entry
• Maintaining security of CBP areas by assuring adherence to security guidelines and recommending penalties and/or disciplinary actions for violators.

Salary : $106,437