Clarification from the agency

Retirees under Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) who are eligible for re-employment as a Federal Annuitant AND previously worked as an 1896 for any Federal Government Agency. Retired applicants must be retired one (1) year on or before the closing date of this announcement. Additionally, your retirement date must have been no more than five (5) years prior to the closing date of this announcement.

As a re-employed annuitant CBP may allow a waiver of Salary Offset (Dual Compensation Waiver). Reemployed annuitants with a dual compensation waiver receive both their full basic annuity and full salary.

Annuitants who are reemployed with a salary offset (dual compensation) waiver are NOT eligible for:

• Additional retirement coverage (other than Social Security coverage).
• TSP Contributions.

In this Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Course Developer Instructor position you will become a key member of a team of homeland security professionals responsible for planning and teaching assigned courses. This position will allow you to use your expertise in the instruction of courses related to illegal entry of noncitizens into the United States by land, water, or air; enforce criminal provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Laws. Apply for this exciting opportunity to strengthen the department's ability to protect the homeland. Participate in the planning and development of training courses and materials for Border Patrol trainees and instructors. Prepare lesson plans, student and instructor texts, and instructional aids, ensuring alignment with agency objectives.

This position starts at a salary of $109,383.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $142,199.00 (GS-13, Step 10).

Major duties includes:

• Participating in the planning and development of training courses and materials for Border Patrol trainees and instructors by preparing lesson plans, student and instructor texts, and instructional aids, ensuring alignment with agency objectives.
• Monitoring and assessing ongoing training programs to ensure relevance and consistency with current enforcement trends, policies, and procedures while conducting research to incorporate new developments and recommending curriculum updates.
• Providing technical expertise in specialized areas of Border Patrol operations by delivering lectures, demonstrations, and scenario-based exercises, and assisting with training for federal, state, local, and foreign law enforcement agencies.
• Planning, assigning, and reviewing work for subordinate instructors and trainees while coordinating training schedules, evaluating performance, resolving grievances, and managing the administrative aspects of training sessions.
• Preparing session reports, managing training budgets, identifying and addressing training needs and shortfalls, ensuring compliance with safety and conduct standards, and reporting significant incidents to senior leadership.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
• Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
• All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English
• You may be required to pass a background investigation
• CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures

Who May Apply: Retired Border Patrol Agents, who have retired within the past five (5) years.

• Must meet eligibility for reinstatement as defined by 5 CFR 315.401.
• Must have passed the Border Patrol Academy and post-Academy prior to leaving CBP.
• Must have successfully completed the requirements of a probationary or trial period.
• Must have satisfactory or pass performance appraisals during the last three years of federal employment.
• Must have been separated at the applicant's choice with no disciplinary action taken within the last three years of CBP employment and with no disciplinary proceeding pending.
• Must have held a competitive permanent position with the Full Performance Level of GS-13.

Retired applicants must have been retired one (1) year before the closing date of this announcement.

TERM Appointment: To meet agency needs, this position will be filled on a term basis not-to-exceed (NTE) 1/20/2029. The minimum time in this appointment is one year.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience: You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Applying U.S. Customs and Border Protection laws, regulations, instructions, and procedures pertaining to border security and law enforcement procedures.
• Assisting, advising, and instructing employees in their work and resolving difficult problems requiring coordination with other operating units.
• Gathering and reviewing evidence, and preparing and evaluating cases to be presented for both criminal and administrative proceedings.
• Apprehending and searching violators of immigration law, seizing contraband and assets, questions violators and other persons involved.

Language Requirement: Must be proficient in the Spanish language. (i.e., able to speak and read in Spanish).

Mandatory Prerequisite for Secondary Administrative LEO Retirement Covered Position: This position has been identified as Administrative, that is, an executive, managerial, technical, semiprofessional, or professional position for which experience in a primary/rigorous law enforcement or firefighting position, or equivalent experience outside of the Federal government is a mandatory prerequisite, as defined by 5 CFR 831.902 (CSRS) and 5 CFR 842.802 (FERS). Note: if you currently serve in a permanent Secondary LEO Retirement covered position, you are exempt from this mandatory prerequisite.

Firearms Requirement: This position requires that the incumbent meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996. An applicant whose background includes any of the following will be ineligible for consideration: 1) convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year; 2) has any outstanding warrants or is a fugitive from justice; 3) unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; 4) adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution; 5) illegally or unlawfully in the United States; 6) renounced U. S. citizenship; 7) subject to a court-ordered restraining (protection) order from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner (spouse, former spouse, parent of applicant's child, individual who cohabitates or has cohabitated with the applicant), or child; or 8) convicted under Federal, State, or Tribal Court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against an intimate partner or child.

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 03/27/2026.

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 on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Selection Certificates: Your application will not be rated, and will be referred to management in name order. A series of vacancy questions will be used to determine your eligibility. If you meet those basic requirements, your application package may be referred to management for selection consideration. Falsification of your application will remove you from consideration and could subject you to disciplinary action.

Preview the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12908250

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

• Your resume: A resume describing your job-related qualifications is required and will be used for the purpose of reviewing your qualifications and determining what training, if any, would be required when placed. Your resume must be in English and must include your job titles and a detailed description of your duties and the dates you performed them (MM/DD/YY), as well as your hours per week for each position listed. Your resume should also contain your full name, phone number, email address, and salary. To ensure all your experience is considered, the U.S. Border Patrol strongly suggests resumes should describe your experiences and accomplishments, assignment dates, duty locations, your current supervisor's contact information and specify whether you have performed duties in investigations, intelligence, or have worked in sector-level or national programs (e.g., horse patrol, BORSTAR, BORTAC, peer support, chaplaincy, canine, etc.), or been assigned to the U.S. Border Patrol Academy, and/or Sector or USBP Headquarters. Include leadership or specialized training and college level courses completed. Resumes should also specify each supervisory position held (clearly listing SBPA, FOS, SOS, WC, DPAIC, PAIC, ACPA, XO, DC, DCPA or CPA). Additionally, include all temporary promotions listing the grade, position, location, and period of time held; temporary details or special assignments held 30 days or more (assignment, location, and period of time); and any prior military or other specialized experience outside of USBP that is relevant to law enforcement work. It is recommended that you upload your resume as a PDF instead of a Word document to ensure document quality. Ensure that your uploaded resume is not a password protected document, to include Office 365 passwords. Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.
• Your responses to the job questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12908250
• SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action): Current CBP Employees are encouraged, but not required, to submit an SF-50(s) for CBP experience; however, additional SF-50(s) are required when using federal experience outside of CBP to receive credit towards the following requirements. Your SF-50(s) should reflect the highest grade or full performance level held on a permanent basis in the competitive service and having met the time-in-grade requirement of having served 52 weeks at the grade level below (or equivalent) the grade level for this position. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, within-grade increases and accessions.
• Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)? You must submit a separation notice; your most recent SF-50 (noting your current position, grade level and duty location); a copy of your most recent performance rating, an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; or a Military Department of National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456.
• Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your initial and termination SF-50s.
• You may be asked to provide a copy of your performance appraisal and/or incentive awards.
• Most Recent Annuity Statement: This is provided by OPM and shows your entitled monthly annuity. Please provide this at the time of application.

Next steps