Program Manager (Assistant Director)

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Trade, Trade Regulatory Audit (TRA), located in Washington, DC.

Duties

As a Program Manager you will provide authoritative leadership and ensure consistency and alignment with executive guidance and strategic imperatives. This position starts at a salary of $143,913.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $187,093.00 (GS-14, Step 10). CBP Office of Trade is the architect of the most robust customs system in the world and the second largest revenue source for the U.S. Government. We facilitate legitimate trade, enforce U.S. laws, and protect the American economy as well as consumer health and safety. Collaborating with industry and government partners, we create a fair, competitive, and safe trade environment, and we enforce U.S. trade law to protect national economic security. Our expertise in the trade community allows us to lead the development of streamlined and efficient processes that provide certainty for legitimate importers, while combatting transnational crime. Major duties for this position include but are not limited to: Managing and directing all operations and facilities related to a specific or several program areas within Office of Trade (OT) Supporting directorate leadership by planning, evaluating, integrating and coordinating initiatives within OT Overseeing program areas, creative and measurable solutions in their programs' issue areas and is accountable for program performance and reporting performance measurement to OT senior leaders, to CBP senior leaders and to DHS. Managing staff, utilize standard program management processes and tools, develop technology-use strategies to streamline and coordinate program activities, and be able to coordinate and interpret quantitative analysis to measure program performance in order to implement new program strategies Maintaining a thorough knowledge of federal government, DHS and CBP rules and regulations that are applicable to their assigned OT program area. 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 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. Qualifications

Experience: You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Overseeing the planning, directing, and timely execution of programs that include but are not limited to budget, training, travel, and contracts by setting measurable milestones, coordinating requirements, monitoring deliverables, and aligning program activities with organizational priorities. Planning and leading projects, providing recommendations for process improvements on current and long-range plans pertaining to managerial and administrative procedures, operations programs, and financial management by analyzing requirements, assessing gaps, developing alternatives, and presenting actionable recommendations to leadership. Developing and implementing program strategies, performance measures, and program goals by defining achievable objectives, establishing tracking methods, evaluating progress, and supporting alignment with mission requirements. Coordinating with senior leaders, program offices, DHS components, contractors, and external stakeholders to improve end-to-end processes throughout the Program Office by facilitating meetings, gathering input, resolving issues, and maintaining communication across participating organizations. Managing multiple program segments assigning resources, tracking milestones, reviewing, and advising on operating procedures by prioritizing work, monitoring schedules, assessing resource needs, and recommending adjustments to support program execution. 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. 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 10/06/2026. 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 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.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position. How You Will Be Evaluated

Applicants will only be considered for the Eligibilities for which they claim in the job questionnaire AND must provide the supporting documentation. Applicants will not be considered for Eligibilities for which they did not claim, regardless of the documentation submitted with the application. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13069523 You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses to the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. Failure to demonstrate sufficient detail in the body of your resume may impact your final rating. This position requires a 90-minute timed General Supervisor Test Battery consisting of two parts: 1) Managerial Writing Skills; 2) Critical Thinking Skills. The assessments are administered unproctored and online. Questions are multiple-choice; candidates select the best answer and can mark items for review. The General Supervisor Test Battery will be used to assess the following Supervisory competencies: Written Communication Decision Making Problem Solving Reasoning Your final rating will be determined by your cumulative score on the General Supervisor Test Battery. All applicants who have not yet completed the exam will be contacted via email (from: [email protected]) to complete it. Applicants who do not complete the entire exam will be removed from consideration. To be considered for the position, you must demonstrate minimum proficiency and achieve a passing score on the exam. A passing score does not guarantee selection. Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990, as amended, that would interfere with completing the assessment, you are able to request a Reasonable Accommodation prior to the Managerial Writing Skills and Critical Thinking Skills tests. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be contacted for an interview. As a part of the interview process, additional selection criteria may be administered by the hiring manager. Failure to demonstrate sufficient detail in the body of your resume may impact your final rating. Please note you are not required to provide specific narrative responses to the skills and competencies described in this section. If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be contacted for an interview. 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 eligibility on 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. Other Information

Relocation Incentive: Upon selection, you may be eligible to receive a Relocation Incentive, pending budgetary approval and per the terms outlined in agency policy. Motor Vehicle Operation: You must possess the ability to operate a Government Owned Vehicle. A valid, non-restricted driver's license is required. Supervisory Probationary Period: You may be required to serve an 18 month probationary period upon appointment. Leadership Training: All newly appointed first-time CBP second level Supervisors are required to complete mandatory training. The training will be scheduled by the Office of Training and Development within the first 90 days of appointment. The duration of the training will include 3 weeks of in-residence training in Harpers Ferry, WV. Note: This training may be waived if previously completed. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.