CBP Representative at Customs and Border Protection

About the role

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of International Affairs, located in Brussels, Belgium. Additional selections may be made to include other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above. 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 https://www.cbp.gov/about As a CBP Representative, you will advance U.S. interests by providing expert policy analysis, research, and recommendations to promote customs reform and international policy development consistent with U.S. priorities. This position starts at a salary of $107,446.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $139,684.00 (GS-14, Step 10). . Does not include Cost of Living Allowance, see this link for current rates. Typical duties in this position may include: Conducting policy analysis, research, and coordination to support CBP representation to the World Customs Organization (WCO) on international customs, trade facilitation, enforcement, compliance, and border security issues. Developing and reviewing policy documents, recommendations, reports, briefing materials, presentations, speeches, guidance, and procedural materials for leadership consideration and international engagements. Coordinating with CBP offices, U.S. government partners, WCO Secretariat staff, member administrations, international organizations, and private sector stakeholders to support information sharing and policy development. Participating in WCO meetings, working groups, conferences, and international engagements to communicate CBP priorities, support U.S. positions, and report on significant developments. Conducting studies, program reviews, cost-benefit analyses, resource assessments, and evaluations of WCO initiatives to support decision-making on international customs policy and operations. To learn more about CBP's Office of International Affairs, please visit https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/international-initiatives or visit us on X/Twitter: @CBPIntlAffairs 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. Temporary/Rotational Assignment: To meet agency needs, this position will be filled on a temporary basis not-to-exceed 3 years. Based on applicable laws and regulations, you may be returned, at any time, to the position from which temporarily promoted, or to a different position of equivalent grade and pay. If you are currently a permanent GS-14, you will be laterally reassigned into this position and may be returned upon completion of the assignment or at any time it is determined that there is no longer an Agency need for this assignment, to the position held prior to this NTE assignment or to a similar permanent position. Return to your original location will be prioritized but is not guaranteed. Applicants who currently hold a permanent position at the advertised grade level will be referred for consideration through an alternative method. Retirement: This position is being filled on a not-to-exceed (NTE) temporary assignment; therefore, in the event the incumbent becomes eligible for retirement and chooses to retire, the incumbent will be returned to the home office of record at least two full pay periods prior to retirement. The incumbent will not be eligible to retire while serving on a NTE assignment in Office of International Affairs. Transportation of Household Effects and Related Expenses: A. Maximum weight of household goods and personal effects, which may be transported or stored at the Governments expense, shall not exceed 18,000 pounds net weight for all employees. B. The transportation of household goods must be accomplished using a Government Bill of Lading. This includes transfers either to or from a foreign post of duty. C. Allowance for Transportation and Accessories Service - The actual cost of transportation of household goods and personal effects, including the packing and crating of materials, lift vans, or other temporary containers with the weights prescribed in the previous paragraph, will be allowed at the Governments expense. D. Temporary Storage of Household Goods - Temporary storage incident to the transportation of household goods is allowable for a period of up to 90 days. Experience: You qualify for the GS 14 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Conducting policy analysis, research, studies, or program reviews on international customs, trade facilitation, compliance, enforcement, border security, or cross-border operations to identify impacts, risks, trends, and recommended courses of action that support U.S. interests and strategic objectives. Developing, reviewing, and evaluating policy proposals, strategic communications, procedural guidance, reports, studies, or formal recommendations related to customs administration, trade facilitation, compliance, enforcement, or international policy implementation. Coordinating with internal program offices, U.S. government stakeholders, foreign customs administrations, international organizations, or private sector representatives to support international customs, trade, border management, or World Customs Organization-related initiatives. Preparing briefing materials, presentations, talking points, speeches, reports, meeting summaries, readouts, training materials, or other written products for senior leadership, international meetings, conferences, seminars, working groups, or policy engagements. Representing or supporting an organization in international forums, working groups, conferences, negotiations, or engagements by presenting policy perspectives, supporting agency positions, gathering information, documenting outcomes, and tracking follow-up actions. Applicants are strongly encouraged to highlight any and all operational, international, language, and regional experience prominently on their resume. 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 08/28/2026. 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. 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. 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 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. 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 CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures. 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. Please review further details via the following link. 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. Incumbent must adhere to WCO policies and procedures, including the WCO Code of Conduct. The incumbent may be required to work extended hours, on holidays and weekends. Return Rights: No later than 365 days prior to the completion of your tour at a foreign post of duty, you will have 60 days to submit a prioritized list of up to five duty locations, to which you prefer to be reassigned, to the Human Capital Division, Overseas Support Branch. This list may contain field or Headquarters duty locations , or a combination of both. If no vacancies are available in the preferred locations you requested, you will be returned to your original duty location held prior to this assignment or to a similar position of equivalent grade and pay.