STAFF ASSISTANT @ Customs and Border Protection

Job Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, Blaine Sector, Sector Headquarters located in Blaine, WA. Additional selections may be made beyond the total number of vacancies specified using this vacancy announcement. Further selections may also be made for additional organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

Qualifications

Experience: You qualify for the GS-7 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Independently researching, coordinating, and completing non-routine administrative assignments, including developing reports, responses, or other written products; Analyzing projects, programs, or operational processes by gathering and reviewing data from multiple sources to identify issues, trends, or improvement opportunities; Preparing written reports that summarize research and analysis, present relevant facts, and provide options or recommendations to support management decisions; Applying administrative procedures and established methods to resolve operational problems and support office or program activities; Coordinating with internal staff and stakeholders to obtain, verify, and organize information needed to complete assignments within established deadlines.

Experience: You qualify for the GS-9 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Analyzing, reviewing, and evaluating established administrative procedures to assess effectiveness and efficiency, and developing or modifying procedures to address new, changed, or specialized operational needs; Independently completing non-routine administrative assignments requiring research, coordination, and preparation of reports or responses in support of an office's programs, priorities, and management objectives; Analyzing projects or programs by gathering data from multiple sources, evaluating relevant facts, developing options and recommendations, and preparing comprehensive reports for management review; Preparing written analytical reports that clearly present options, anticipated benefits and costs, supporting facts, and recommended courses of action for management decision-making; Coordinating administrative projects or work efforts with organizational stakeholders to obtain and verify information, resolve issues, and ensure timely completion of assigned actions.

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-7: Graduate Education. Successful completion of one year of full-time graduate education from an accredited college or university may substitute for the 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 a year of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 18 semester or 27 quarter hours. -OR- GS-7: A bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) may also substitute for the experience required. It is based on

• (1) class standing,
• (2) grade-point average (i.e., GPA 3.0 or higher of a possible 4.0, excluding pass/fail credits. Pass/fail credits cannot be more than 10% of total credits), or
• (3) honor society membership.

Review Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) to see if you qualify under this provision. Please see www.opm.gov for additional information. GS-9: A Master's degree, two full years of graduate education, a J.D. or an LL.B. degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for experience required at this level. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise two years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 36 semester or 54 quarter hours. Combining

Education and Experience

Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels and may be computed by first determining your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining your 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 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.

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 10/27/2026. 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. 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. 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 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.

Major Duties

• In this position, you will provide administrative and clerical support to an office supervisor or senior manager, helping ensure the smooth operation of the immediate office and its subordinate organization.
• Your work will improve organizational and program efficiency and effectiveness by supporting workflow, resource management, and solutions to routine operational issues.
• This position starts at a salary of $56,715.00 (GS-7, Step 1) to $90,190.00 (GS-9, 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 Staff Assistant, you will be responsible for providing administrative, clerical, and program-support services that enable the manager and office to operate effectively.
• Typical duties will include: Managing the manager's schedule, correspondence, travel, meetings, conferences, and related arrangements.
• Screening calls and visitors, addressing nontechnical inquiries, and routing technical matters to the appropriate staff or office.
• Coordinating administrative projects, researching and analyzing information, developing recommendations, and preparing comprehensive reports and briefings.
• Monitoring administrative functions and transactions, analyzing operational trends, identifying potential shortfalls, and recommending solutions.
• Preparing and reviewing letters, memoranda, reports, charts, briefing materials, and talking points to ensure clarity, accuracy, and timely completion.

Requirements

• 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 and/or polygraph CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards.
• Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes.
• Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties.
• Please review further details via the following link.
• DHS uses E-Verify, an internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
• Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.
• Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.