Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of the Commissioner organizational location of Washington, DC.

Duties

This position starts at a salary of $45,146.00 (GS-05, Step 1) to $65,425.00 (GS-06, Step 10) with promotion potential to $72,703 (GS-7 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. As a FOIA assistant your duties will include: Triaging incoming information/requests, and monitoring, coordinating and responding to these requests; Employing the agency record systems to ascertain that the records furnished completely respond to the FOIA request, and ensuring that these requests are properly saved, uploaded and are retrievable from databases; Performing detailed research, analysis, and evaluation to determine whether the documents requested are subject to release under FOIA, Department, and Service regulations; Conferring and negotiating with managers and their staffs at all levels on important FOIA legal/policy questions that arise in the context of processing requests.

Requirements

Qualifications

Experience: You qualify for the GS-5 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Receiving, assigning, monitoring, reviewing and verifying documents through an automated information system; Searching office records to respond to inquiries; Using a personal computer and software to enter and retrieve data from an automation information system; and Completing Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act information requests. You qualify for the GS-6 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Providing written and oral information regarding the status of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)/Privacy Act (PA) cases; Gathering routine program or statistical information to assist FOIA/PA professionals with research; Communicating in writing and/or in person to assist aliens, attorneys, other law enforcement agencies and the general public regarding FOIA/PA requests, processes, and procedures; and Using word processing software to prepare FOIA/PA correspondence, spreadsheets, and project tracking documents. 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. Education Substitution GS-5: A Bachelor's degree or successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a Bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited college or university may substitute for the experience required at this level. One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester or 45 quarter hours. Combining Experience and Education: To combine your education and experience, convert each to a percentage and then add the percentages. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable. If your education is described in quarter hours, multiply by the fraction 2/3 to convert into semester hours, then divide the semester hours by 18. To determine your percentage of qualifying experience, divide your total months of experience by the required number of months of experience. Add your percentages together. The total must equal at least 100% in order to qualify. More information on this qualification standard is located here 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 by 07/17/2024. In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. 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 additional information, review the following links: Background investigation and the e-QIP process. 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) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibilityon OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be placed in the Well-Qualified category for this position, as described within this announcement. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this job announcement.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.

Contacts

• Address Office of the Commissioner Please read entire announcement Please apply online Washington, DC 20229 US
• Name: CBP Hiring Center
• Phone: 952-857-2932
• Email: [email protected]