Job opening: Paralegal Specialist
Salary: $83 854 - 109 011 per year
Published at: Nov 09 2023
Employment Type: Full-time
Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Baltimore Field Operations, Area Port of Norfolk, located in Norfolk, Virginia.
Duties
Joining the Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations will allow you to use your expertise to provide legal support to those executing law enforcement duties at the port level. This position starts at a salary of $83,854.00 (GS-12, Step 1) to $109,011.00 (GS-12, Step 10) with promotion potential to $109,011 (GS-12, Step 10).
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.
In this paralegal position, you will become a key member of a team of homeland security professionals providing key legal support for the law enforcement duties at the port level. Typical work assignments include:
Reviewing and adjudicating seizures, penalties, prior disclosures, immigration carrier fines, and claims for liquidated damages within the Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures (FPF) Officer's authority through to resolution
Evaluating all evidence, facts, and circumstances relating to cases and making determinations and recommendations as appropriate within the requirements of the mitigation guidelines, policies, laws and regulations, and violators' participation in partnership programs
Reviewing and making determinations as to the presence of probable cause and/or the acceptability of evidence in order to ensure the sufficiency of cases within the jurisdiction of the FPF Officer
Examining, analyzing, drawing conclusions, recommending decisions and dispositions, based upon review of petitions, offers in compromise, and other submissions, filed by individuals, corporations, or attorneys seeking relief from seizures, penalties, fines, or liquidated damages
Maintaining proficiency with CBP automated systems and utilizes these systems to accurately track case management progress and optimize efficiency
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.
Experience: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:
Providing technical direction on complex issues and resolving differences of opinion among employees or between employees, and members of the trade community
Processing cases that require extensive interpretation of guidelines and modifying guidelines for new situations
Reconciling conflicting policies and facts, identifying and eliciting additional information and making a number of decisions at various stages
Defining the problem in terms compatible with the laws, policies, or regulations; interpreting considerable data, weighing facts in order to formulate a legally and factually supportable position; and giving advice, counsel, or instruction to individual employees on both work and administrative matters, setting priorities, planning work and meeting deadlines
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 11/16/2023.
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 more information visit this link.
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 eligibilityon 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.
Education
Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.
Contacts
- Address Office of Field Operations
Please read entire announcement
Please apply online
Washington, DC 20229
US
- Name: CBP Hiring Center
- Phone: 952-857-2932
- Email: [email protected]
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