Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Operations Support, Immediate Office of the Executive Assistant Commissioner, Mission Support Division, located in Washington, DC. Additional selections may be made to include other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

Duties

As a Strategic Communications Specialist located within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Operations Support (OS), Immediate Office of the Executive Assistant Commissioner's (EAC) and provides leadership with advice and assistance in writing and developing communication materials and vehicles to ensure coordination and communication throughout the office. This position starts at a salary of $82,764.00 (GS-11, Step 1) to $128,956.00 (GS-12, Step 10) with promotion potential to $153,354 (GS-13 Step 10). While serving as a Strategic Communications Specialist, your duties may include: Working closely with the Communications Director to develop and produce internal communication plans and tools to improve the CBP EAC operations and objectives through a more effective communication process. Planning, researching, writing, and editing internal and external publications to keep employees acquainted with current EAC programs at CBP. Developing measures to ensure that all levels of personnel understand their communication roles and how they will be held accountable. Analyzing and evaluating the information flow issues encountered in communicating CBP EAC programs. Identifying and carrying out internal communication requirements needed to support leadership. 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.

Requirements

Qualifications

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: Analyzing plans, prototypes, and measures, and consulting with management concerning policies and solutions that tie communication processes with results. Serving as a web content administrator responsible for the posting of new information in a careful and timely manner. Identifying, recommending, and demonstrating effective methods and techniques for managers and supervisors to us in improving communications with employees. Utilizing communication approaches such as mailings which may involve using SharePoint, fact sheets, newsletters, posters, reports, press releases, surveys, and PowerPoint presentations. 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: Assessing, developing, implementing, and evaluating the effectiveness of internal communication strategies, materials, and programs that support and promote organizational change and agency goals. Establishing and maintaining a working relationship with a variety of internal offices, vendors, or the public. Developing communications related briefs. Recommending specific communication approaches to the nature of information and the targeted audience. 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-11: A Ph.D. or an equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.M. degree may substitute for experience required at this level. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise three years of graduate study. If that information is not available, use 54 semester hours or 81 quarter hours. Combining Education and Experience GS-11: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, 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-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 12/13/2024. 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 Immediate Office of the Executive Assistant Commissioner Please read entire announcement Please apply online Washington, D.C., DC 20229 US
• Name: CBP Hiring Center
• Phone: 952-857-2932
• Email: [email protected]