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

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 $62,281.00 (GS-09, Step 1) to $97,958.00 (GS-11, Step 10) with promotion potential to $117,411 (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 processing cases within the Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures (FPF) Officer's authority through to solution. Assuring that all due process considerations are met and that the elements necessary to establish violation are present and supported by appropriate documentation necessary to establish a violation. Reviewing investigative reports and case records, requesting additional information from appropriate officers and special agents within DHS. Reviewing all evidence, facts, and circumstances relating to cases and making recommendations as appropriate within the requirements of the mitigation guidelines, laws, and regulations. Receiving and examining petitions filed by individuals, corporations, or attorneys seeking relief from seizures, penalties, fines, or liquidated damages.

Requirements

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-09 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Providing assistance reviewing and processing cases within the Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures Officer's authority. Providing assistance assuring that all due process considerations are met and that the elements necessary to establish violation are present and supported by appropriate documentation. Receiving and examining petitions filed by individuals, corporations, or attorneys seeking relief from seizures, penalties, fines, or liquidated damages. Reviewing acceptability of evidence in some seizure, fines, and penalty cases and all liquidated damages. Experience: You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Developing and evaluating all evidence, facts, and circumstances relating to cases Making determinations and recommendations as appropriate within the requirements of the mitigation guidelines, laws, and regulations. Reviewing and making decisions as to the acceptability of evidence in some seizure, fines, and penalty cases and all liquidated damages. Preparing and recommending decisions on cases within the jurisdiction of the Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures Officer. Education Substitution: GS-09: Successful completion of a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level education leading to such a degree in an accredited college or university, or a J.D. or L.L.B degree may be substituted for experience at the GS-09 grade level. Such education must demonstrate the skills necessary to do the work. One year of full-time graduate is considered to be the number of credits hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours should be considered as satisfying the 2 years of full-time study requirement. GS-11: Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in an accredited college or university, or L.L.M degree, may be substituted for experience at the GS-11 grade level. Such education must demonstrate the skills necessary to do the work. One year of fulltime graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information is not available, use 54 semester or 81 quarter hours should be considered satisfying the 3 years of full-time study requirement. Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the GS-09 and GS-11 grade levels, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11. 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 01/17/2024. 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]