Customs and Border Protection Technician - Entry Level

Customs and Border Protection Technician (CBP Technician)

Become a Customs and Border Protection Technician (CBP Technician) with the Office of Field Operations at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Apply your expertise in office administration by performing work to support CBP Officers, Agricultural Specialists, and other CBP Specialists and Officers.

Duty locations include Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, El Paso, Houston, Laredo, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan, Seattle, Tampa, Tucson. Applicants will be able to select one Field Office when they submit their application and can be offered any location within that Field Office that has a vacancy.

Typical work assignments include:

• Assisting and providing support to CBP Officers and Agricultural Specialists on inspection, intelligence, analysis and examination of passengers, baggage conveyances and cargo.
• Operating scanning equipment to review contents of packages; and, screening incoming parcels for completeness of declarations, admissibility, entry status, and contraband.
• Examining cargo and merchandise; applying appropriate tariff number, value, and rate of duty and tax to merchandise; comparing passenger baggage to declarations.
• Preparing complex broker/importer cases for decision by specialists; and reviewing declarations and cargo manifests for completeness and compliance with applicable regulations.
• Coordinating and processing of data (permits, entries, declarations) into various automated systems.

Salary and Benefits

This position starts at a salary of $37,696 (GS-05, Step 1) to $60,703 (GS-07, Step 10) with promotion potential to $60,703 (GS-7 Step 10). It is being filled at the GS-5, GS-6 or GS-7 grade levels. See Qualifications section below to determine which grade level for which you qualify based on your experience and education.

Employees receive the full package of federal employment benefits that include health and insurance plans, a generous annual and sick leave program, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, a retirement plan akin to a traditional 401(k) offering.

Qualifications

Experience: You qualify for the GS-05 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Maintaining and preparing files, records, and correspondence
• Entering information into automated systems
• Performing query functions to obtain information.
• Collecting fees for applications and services

Education Substitution for the GS-5 grade level: You may substitute the successful completion of a bachelor’s degree or a full four-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor’s degree for the experience required at the GS-5 grade level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

Experience: You qualify for the GS-06 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Providing technical and clerical duties in support of inspection functions
• Conducting searches of records and automated systems
• Reviewing documents for accuracy and validity
• Providing information to brokers, prospective importers, and other inquiries

Experience: You qualify for the GS-07 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Conducting inspections of baggage, packages, cargo, parcels, and/or persons
• Reviews documents for completeness and ensure compliance with laws, policies, rules, and regulations.
• Reconciling accounts and resolves and corrects errors.
• Responding to complaints and inquiries from internal and external customers

Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-6 or GS-7 grade level.

How to Apply

Click this site’s APPLY link to access the official Job Opportunity Announcement (JOA) on USAJOBS.gov, the federal government’s official employment site. You will be linked to the CBP Technician GS-5/6/7 grade level announcement. At that site you will learn what documents you will need to submit and exactly how to submit your application package, which will include your resume and an online assessment questionnaire. You will also learn about the competencies on which you will be assessed.

The closing date for this employment opportunity is April 10, 2023.

Interested in other career opportunities with CBP? Visit www.cbp.gov/careers and check the CBP calendar at www.cbp.gov/cbp-events-calendar frequently for upcoming informational webinars, in-person recruiter events, and virtual career events.