Job Description

CBP Agriculture Specialist

This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Tucson Field Office, located in Lukeville, AZ. In this first-line supervisory position you will become a key member of a team of Homeland Security professionals detecting and preventing terrorists and instruments of terror from entering the U.S. Typical work assignments include:

• Supervising shift operations and oversees the Agriculture Program within the Ports of Entry (POE).
• Providing technical advice on the interpretive techniques and regulatory requirements pertaining to the processing of all agriculture-related cargo and material.
• Guiding CBP Agriculture Specialists and interacts with carriers, brokers, researchers, industry, travelers and other agencies and foreign entities to exchange information and provide guidance on agriculture cargo admissibility and/or compliance.
• Applying the laws and regulations of a wide range of Federal, state, and local agencies, including those relating to the admissibility of agriculture commodities and the introduction of harmful pests, diseases, and potential agro-terrorism into the United States.

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. As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties.

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.

Qualifications:

You must provide supporting documentation in your application to show you meet the basic requirement below. 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:

• 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.
• 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.

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:

• Serving as a technical consultant and providing guidance to CBPAS, CBP Officers, 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.
• Advising CBP management and industry on a wide variety of complex determinations, including referral to other agencies, on the entry requirements of agriculture-related cargo.
• Compiling data, maintains logs, and prepares daily/monthly work accomplishment reports on inspection operations.
• Applying the laws and regulations of a wide range of Federal, state, and local agencies, including those relating to the admissibility of agriculture commodities and the introduction of harmful pests, diseases, and potential agro-terrorism into the United States.
• Serving as coach and mentor of lower level CBP Agriculture Specialists on a regular and recurring basis.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience, if applicable.

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.

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.

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.

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 a total of 10 weeks of paid training by the US Department of Agriculture and CBP Field Operations Academy in a combination of virtual and residential formats. This is followed by 10 weeks of post-academy training at the selectee(s) assigned duty station. You may be required to successfully complete the required course(s) of training 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.

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.

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