Supervisory CBP Officer (Watch Commander - POE)

About the role

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, New York Field Office, located in Newark, NJ.

What you will do

• Joining the Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations will allow you to use your expertise to manage one or more national programs in order to help to detect and prevent terrorists and instruments of terror from entering/exiting the U.S. Apply for this exciting opportunity to direct programs that strengthen the Department's ability to perform homeland security.
• This position starts at a salary of $152,326.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $197,200.00 (GS-14, Step 10).
• In this Watch Commander position for the Office of Field Operations, you will become a key member of a team of homeland security professionals responsible for managing all reportable incidents, emergent activities within the port.
• Major duties may include: Evaluating work performance of subordinates, giving advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters, and finding ways to improve production or increase the quality of the work directed Finding and implementing ways to eliminate or reduce significant bottlenecks and barriers preventing the subordinate workforce from effectively and/or efficiently inspecting persons, cargo, merchandise, and conveyances entering and exiting the port(s) of entry and the enforcement of related laws, regulations, policies, and procedures Monitoring subordinate supervisor approvals, and provides higher-level approval where required, for admissibility, administrative, civil, and criminal proceedings including removal of persons from the U.S. and fines and penalties against carriers and individuals Developing and maintaining relationships with cooperating government agencies, port authorities, foreign entities, and other stakeholders to coordinate efforts, share information, and provide guidance on laws and regulations enforced by CBP Acting as the single accountable official covering all locations within the port for managing normal operations as well as major incidents and emergencies If going from a LEO Covered Position to a Secondary CBPO Special Retirement Covered (SRC) Position: Please be advised that when you enter on duty in this Secondary CBPO SRC position you will no longer be covered under the Special Retirement System for Law Enforcement Officers, but will only be covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).
• For further information on the Secondary CBPO Enhanced Retirement Coverage, please see the Qualifications section If going from a Primary CBPO Special Retirement Covered (SRC) Position to a Secondary CBPO SRC Position and you have less than 3 years in a Primary CBPO SRC Position: Please be advised that when you enter on duty in this Secondary CBPO SRC position you will no longer be covered under the Special Retirement System for CBP Officers, but will only be covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or covered under your applicable non-special retirement system depending upon previous service.
• For further information on the Secondary CBPO SRC, please see the Qualifications section.
• This vacancy has a local commuting area requirement, as defined below: The area surrounding the duty station by which people reasonably travel back and forth from home to work; Or The employee's permanent duty station is located within the reasonable travel area surrounding the duty station of this vacancy; Or if applicable For employees who are detailed or temporarily promoted for more than 1 year to another duty location, the detailed or temporary duty location is considered to be the duty location of record for commuting area purposes.
• For employees detailed or temporarily promoted for less than one year, the permanent duty location is considered the duty location of record for commuting area purposes.
• 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 ***

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below) All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English You may be required to pass a background investigation and/or polygraph CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures You must have taken the required CBP Officer Promotional Assessment component and have a passing Total Score Firearm Requirement: This position requires that the incumbent meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996.
• An applicant whose background includes any of the following will be ineligible for consideration: 1) convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year; 2) has any outstanding warrants or is a fugitive from justice; 3) unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; 4) adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution; 5) illegally or unlawfully in the United States; 6) renounced U.
• S. citizenship; 7) subject to a court-ordered restraining (protection) order from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner (spouse, former spouse, parent of applicant's child, individual who cohabitates or has cohabitated with the applicant), or child; or 8) convicted under Federal, State, or Tribal Court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against an intimate partner or child.
• Motor Vehicle Operation: You must possess the Ability to operate a Government Owned Vehicle.
• A valid, non-restricted driver's license is required.
• DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
• Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.
• Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.

If you are not a current GS-1895, and you are selected, you will have to meet the following medical/physical standards: Physical/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.

Physical Fitness Test: You will be required to successfully pass the Pre-employment Fitness Test. Please view both Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: The Fitness Test and Pre-Employment Fitness Test Physical Readiness Program, a 6-week program designed to assist you in achieving a level of physical fitness that will help you successfully pass the CBP fitness test.

How you will be evaluated

You will only be considered for the Eligibilities for which you claim in the job questionnaire AND you must provide the supporting documentation. You will not be considered for Eligibilities for which you did not claim, regardless of the documentation submitted with the application. ***

A series of vacancy questions will be used to determine your eligibility. If you meet those basic requirements, your application package may be referred to management for selection consideration. Falsification of your application will remove you from consideration and could subject you to disciplinary action.

You will be ranked on the basis of the scores received on your Promotional Assessment.

You must have a current, valid score by 09/29/2026 if you have not held the GS-14 on a permanent basis, or if you have been demoted due to performance or conduct reasons.

You do not need to have a current, valid test score if you have permanently held a position at the GS-14 or higher. Your application record will remain in a pending status until after the announcement closes, at which time we will upload test scores.

The following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) needed to perform this job are: Ability to deal with widely varying and complex or sensitive situations; identify possible violations; and to distinguish criminal intent and admissibility Knowledge of the elements and circumstances of search, detention, and arrest, as well as enforcement techniques and tools Knowledge of a wide range laws, regulations, policies, and procedures concerning the legal entry of persons, merchandise, and conveyances into the United States Knowledge of law enforcement methods, including interrogating, searching, seizing, arresting and self-defense for use in the apprehension of terrorists, inadmissible noncitizens, or others suspected of illegal activity We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be contacted for an interview.

As a part of the interview process, additional selection criteria may be administered by the hiring manager. *** Failure to demonstrate sufficient detail in the body of your resume may impact your final rating.

Please note you are not required to provide specific narrative responses to the skills and competencies described in this section. If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be contacted for an interview.

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP eligible. Information about CTAP eligibility can be found here. View information about CTAP eligibility on 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.

Documents you must provide

• A resume describing your job-related qualifications is required and will be used for the purpose of reviewing your qualifications and determining what training, if any, would be required when placed.
• A resume in English is required.
• It must contain your full legal name, phone number, relevant, work history including a detailed description of your duties, the dates you performed those duties (MM/DD/YY), your hours worked per week, job title, as well as series, grade, and salary (if applicable).
• For additional required items, see the link.
• It is recommended that you upload your resume as a PDF instead of a Word document to ensure document quality.
• Ensure that your uploaded resume is not a password protected document, to include Office 365 passwords. *Note: Limit your resume to no more than two pages.
• The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.
• Your responses to the job questionnaire: *** Are you a current or former federal employee?
• ALL CURRENT AND FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES MUST SUBMIT THE MOST RECENT COPY OF THEIR SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing competitive status: Tenure 1 or 2 in Block 24 and Position Occupied 1 in Block 34.
• Additionally, you should also submit a SF-50 reflecting the highest grade held on a permanent basis in the competitive service or the full performance level of your current position, whichever is higher, AND a SF-50 to support having met the time-in-grade requirement of having served 52 weeks at the grade level (or equivalent) below the grade level(s) for this position.
• Current CBP Employees are encouraged, but not required, to submit an SF-50(s) for CBP experience; however, additional SF-50(s) are required when using federal experience outside of CBP to receive credit towards the requirements above.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, within-grade increases and accessions.
• Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)?
• You must submit a separation notice; your most recent SF-50 (noting your current position, grade level and duty location); a copy of your most recent performance rating; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; or a Military Department of National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C.
• Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee?
• Submit a copy of your initial and termination SF-50s.
• You may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards.

What to expect next

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. The open period for this job opportunity announcement may be extended to allow for a sufficient applicant pool.

Once the job opportunity announcement has closed, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews. You will be notified by email after each of these steps has been completed.

Stay informed of changes to your application status by signing up for automatic email alerts with your USAJOBS account. If you are referred, you will receive a final notification of the disposition of the announcement. We expect to make a tentative job offer within 60 days after the close of the announcement.

If you are selected, we may conduct a suitability/security background investigation. Additional selections may be made beyond the total number of vacancies specified using this vacancy announcement. Further selections may also be made for additional organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty.

False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring.

These authorities are subject to change.

Additional information

Security Clearance: You may be required to obtain a Secret clearance for this position. Supervisory Probationary Period: You may be required to serve an 18 month probationary period upon appointment.

Leadership Training: All newly appointed second level Supervisors are required to complete mandatory training.

The training will be scheduled by the Office of Training and Development within the first 90 days of appointment. The duration of the training will include 4 weeks of in residence training in Harpers Ferry, WV. Note: This training may be waived if previously completed.

Selectees may be required to successfully complete the Essential Supervisory Skills (ESS) course.

Failure to successfully complete the ESS course within the supervisory probationary period will result in the employee being removed from the position.

Rotation of Assignments/Duty Locations: You may be required to rotate assignments and duty locations. Uniform: This position requires you to wear an officially-approved uniform while in a duty status. 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. Training: This position has a training requirement. Selectee(s) are required to attend and successfully complete 89 days of paid training at the CBP Field Operations Academy in Glynco, GA.

You may be required to successfully complete the training requirement as a condition of employment.

Failure to successfully complete the required course(s) of training in accordance with CBP standards and policies will result in placement into either a former or different position, demotion, or separation as determined by management and appropriate procedures.

Data Systems: You will be required to maintain access to all data systems necessary for duty execution. Shift work: You may be required to perform work on a shift and rotational basis. Overtime: You must be readily available to work overtime on a scheduled or unscheduled basis in excess of the 40-hour work week.

Please view the video "Protecting America 24/7" to learn more about CBP's Office of Field Operations.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707.

Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs.

To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.