Summary
U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP): Securing America's Borders
CBP Agriculture Specialists safeguard American agriculture by preventing the introduction of harmful plant pests, foreign animal diseases, potential agricultural bioterrorism, and dangerous pests that threaten the health and safety of U.S. agriculture. This is done through the inspection of vessels, vehicles, and baggage for restricted materials and assessing the agricultural risk of entry into the United States.
Duties
Being a CBP Agriculture Specialist makes you a valuable member of CBP. Typical assignments include:
- Serve as a consultant in the areas of inspection, analysis, intelligence gathering, examination, and law enforcement activities regarding the importation of agricultural/commercial commodities and conveyances at ports of entry
- Apply laws and regulations when determining the admissibility of agriculture commodities while preventing the introduction of harmful pests, diseases, and potential agro-terrorism into the United States
- Participate in special enforcement, targeting or analysis teams charged with collecting and analyzing information and identifying high-risk targets
- Plan and conduct remedial actions such as treating, disinfecting, and decontaminating prohibited commodities, conveyances, contaminants or agricultural materials
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Salary: Selections from this announcement will be at the GS-5, GS-7 or GS-9 grade levels with promotion potential to GS-11 and GS-12. Promotions are not guaranteed and are at the discretion of the agency. Your pay will be determined after you successfully complete all pre-employment processes. Pay rates are based on the
2025 OPM Salary Tables - these tables do not take into consideration any potential overtime earnings, recruitment incentives, location incentives or yearly cost of living increases.
Duty Locations: You will be asked to select your preferred location for one of the following mission critical locations: Douglas, San Luis, AZ; San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; Miami, FL; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Newark, NJ; El Paso, Hidalgo, TX.
NOTE: The above preference locations are expected to have vacancies available in the future, however, if the duty locations do not have vacancies at the time of your final offer, you may be offered a duty location in another geographic location within the United States. Locations offered at the time of your final offer are based on operational and mission requirements, and critical agency hiring needs for entry level Agriculture Specialists as determined by the CBP Office of Field Operations.
If you accept the duty location of San Francisco, you may be eligible to receive an additional 25% of your salary each year for the first 3 years of employment in addition to any overtime pay. These incentives only apply to new federal employees and are dependent upon the availability of funds.
Duty location offering 25% recruitment incentive: San Francisco, CA
If you accept San Francisco, California as your location you will be eligible for the Special Salary Rate based on the
San Francisco Special Salary Rate Table
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position.
Probationary Period: You must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of your initial permanent federal appointment.
Formal Training: You will be required to complete a paid pre-academy orientation for approximately 2 weeks at your home port. You will then attend a 59-day training program conducted at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) located in Glynco, GA. This training consists of determining the admissibility of agriculture commodities, preventing introduction of harmful pests/diseases, etc. For more information, please visit CBP Field Operations Academy. Successful completion of the academy is required for this position.
Uniforms: This position requires you to wear an officially-approved uniform while in a duty status.
Residency Requirement: CBP has a residency requirement that applies to all applicants not currently employed by CBP. You are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates as (as declared under international law) for at least three (3) of the last five (5) years, before completing an application for CBP employment. If you do not meet the residency requirement as stated above and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two (2) of the last five (5) years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency wavier 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 of a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. Government
- Working as a contractor employee, a volunteer, a consultant or an intern for the U.S. Government
- Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
If selected for a position, you must provide documentation to support a request for an exception to the residency requirement.
Driver's License: You must possess the ability to operate a Government Owned Vehicle. A valid driver's license is required. Any legal restrictions on a driver's license are not acceptable.
More requirements for this position are listed in the Additional Information section below.
Qualifications
All applicants must meet the Basic Requirement in order to be considered for this position. Eligibility will be verified based on your submitted transcripts and resume.More information on this requirement can be found in the
CBP Agriculture Specialist Qualification Aid and in the
OPM Qualification Standards
Basic Requirement for the CBP Agriculture Specialist:
1.
Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher) in biological sciences, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
2.
Combination of Education and Experience: Completed at least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in a qualifying field of study, as shown above,
PLUS qualifying experience or additional education.To determine if you meet the combination, divide the months of qualifying experience by 48; divide the number of completed undergraduate semester hours by 120 (or 180 for undergraduate quarter hours); add the two percentages; the total must equal 100% or more.
GS-5 Grade Level: To qualify at the GS-5 grade level, you must meet the Basic Requirement above.
GS-7 Grade Level: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement, to qualify for the GS-7 applicants must also possess one of the following:
- One year of graduate-level education (equivalent to 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours) from an accredited college or university leading to a Master's degree in a qualifying field of study; OR
- A Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (i.e., GPA 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 scale), from an accredited college or university that includes 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in a qualifying field of study; OR
- One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level that includes: effectively dealing with individuals or groups of persons in a courteous / tactful manner in connections with agricultural matters; researching information for reports and providing information to others; analyzing information rapidly and making prompt decisions; enforcing regulations while inspecting vessels, vehicles, aircraft and/or baggage for the presence of restricted plant materials, pests or diseases; and reviewing and analyzing passengers or commodity documents to assess the agricultural risk of their entry into the United States; OR
- A combination of graduate-level education which includes a qualifying field of study from an accredited college or university AND specialized work experience. Divide the months of qualifying experience by 12; divide the number of completed graduate semester hours by 18 (or 27 for graduate quarter hours); add the two percentages; the total must equal 100% or more.
GS-9 Grade Level: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement, to qualify for the GS-9 applicants must also possess one of the following:
- A Master's degree or 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education from an accredited college or university that includes a major in a qualifying field of study; OR
- One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that includes: coordinating, planning, and executing inspection assignments, and investigating violations; compiling data, logs, and preparing reports in connection with agricultural matters and inspection operations; conducting and overseeing treatments such as disinfection, sterilization, and decontamination treatments; OR
- A combination of graduate-level education in a qualifying field of study, beyond the first 18 semester hours, from an accredited college or university AND specialized work experience listed above. Divide the months of qualifying experience by 12; for education count only completed courses after the first 18 semester hours, then divide the remaining number of completed graduate semester hours by 18; add the two percentages; the total must equal 100% or more.
Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer 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, and 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.
Benefits
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling on those who want to help protect American interests and secure our Nation. DHS Components work collectively to prevent terrorism; secure borders and our transportation systems; protect the President and other dignitaries; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters. We achieve these vital missions through a workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS.
DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service- connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.
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How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, transcripts, and supporting documents) and the responses you provide on the application questionnaire. It is your responsibility to verify that any information submitted with your application is accurate. If you are found qualified and receive a tentative job offer, you will be required to complete and pass all required pre-employment steps before you can receive a final offer.
You will be assessed on the following competencies: General Ability Frontline Staffing
If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:
- Best Qualified: Substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position
- Well-Qualified: Exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position
- Qualified: Meets the minimum qualifications of the position
The knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are:
- Knowledge of inspection programs, policies, practices, and methods
- Ability to evaluate, analyze, review and assess prohibited items, pests or diseases
- Ability to communicate orally and in writing
Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. This position is considered scientific/professional. Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. Please see
Veterans' Preferencefor more information.
Required Documents
All applicants must submit a resume and qualifying transcripts.
Resume: A resume in English is required. It must contain your full legal name, address, phone number, complete work history, a detailed description of your duties, the dates you performed those duties (MM/DD/YY), as well as your hours worked per week. If you are a current or former Federal employee you must include your grade and step information to receive credit for that work experience. Note: Many applicants are screened out for insufficient information on their resume.
Transcripts: All applicants are required to submit college transcripts that include the name of the institution, courses, credits earned, GPA, and conferred degree (if applicable). Unofficial transcripts are accepted at the time of application however, official transcripts will be required before a final offer of employment can be extended. Education must be from an accredited college or university by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Foreign Education Evaluation: Education obtained from a foreign college or university is not creditable unless it has been evaluated by an organization that specializes in interpretation of educational credentials. The evaluation and foreign education transcripts must be submitted with your application. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.
Your online submitted responses to the job questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12759398
Are you a veteran? If you claim veterans' preference you will be required to submit proof of eligibility as appropriate for your preference type. For more information, see Veterans' Preference
- 5-point Preference (TP): Submit DD-214 listing the character of service and either qualifying medal(s) or service period.
- 10-point Preference (CP or CPS): Submit DD-214 listing the character of service and a VA Disability Award letter dated 1991 or later showing the total percentage of the service-connected disability. Submitting an SF-15 with your application is encouraged.
- 10-point Preference (XP): You MUST submit a Standard Form 15, DD-214 listing the character of service, and the required documentation stated on the SF-15.
- Currently Serving: If you are currently serving on active duty, you can submit a written signed statement from the Armed Forces certifying your dates of service, rank, campaign badge(s) and expeditionary medal(s) (if applicable), expected character of service, and anticipated date of separation which must be within 120 days from the closing date of this announcement. Prior to entering on duty, you will be required to provide a final DD-214.
A you a current or former federal employee? It is recommended that you submit your most recent SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" form. Please do not submit a Performance Award SF-50.
Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)? To be eligible you must submit:
- a copy of your agency notice;
- a copy of your most recent performance rating; and
- a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
Are you a current or former political appointee? If you are or have been a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential appointee employee you must submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Apply as soon as possible in order to receive consideration as this announcement will close on 08/01/2025 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time OR on the day we receive 600 applicants (whichever comes first).
Before you apply, it is critical that you acknowledge each of CBP's Conditions of Employment. We expect our employees to uphold these conditions throughout their tenure with CBP. This video will detail each of our main categories: appearance and health; examinations, investigations, and tests; fitness and the academy. The goal of this video is to provide you with upfront knowledge of CBP's expectations - Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: Conditions of Employment
To begin your online application, click "Apply Online" to create a login.gov account or sign in to your existing login.gov account. Your USAJOBS application packet must include responses from the online assessment questionnaire, a resume, and any applicable and/or required supporting documentation. See the Required Documents section for additional information. If you are planning to apply using your phone or tablet, see Browser Compatibility.
Please upload your resume under "Resume" and any other applicable supporting documents mentioned above under the appropriate Document Type. If your Document Type is not listed, upload as "Other." Do notsubmit documents as a PDF Portfolios.
It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Applicants may not update any part of their application after initial submission. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. The email address posted below is for inquiries only.
Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions. View more information on applying for federal employment.
Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you 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.
Next steps
Your application and supporting documents will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications. If you are among the best qualified, your application will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration at the highest grade for which you are determined eligible. A valid application does not guarantee selection. Please ensure that all required documents are uploaded at the time of application.
You will be notified by email with any status updates to your application.
If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine or imprisonment.
Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.
All agency employees are required to participate in Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer for salary payments.
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to hc-recordsmgmt@cbp.dhs.gov
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 and core values at https://www.cbp.gov/about.