CBP Agriculture Specialist (Canine)

Full Job Description

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Boston Field Office, Located in Boston, MA.

Additional selections may be made to include other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

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. Basic Requirement for the CBP Agriculture Specialist: 1.

Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, animal science, plant science, pest management, 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, you must divide the months of qualifying experience by 48; next, divide the number of undergraduate semester hours by 120 (or 180 for undergraduate quarter hours) and the two percentages must total at least 100%.

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: Applies interviewing and observational techniques, document review, behavioral and cultural analysis, and decision-making skills in order to perform the risk assessment required to process, identify, release, or refer persons, conveyances, or cargo.

Participates in target and analysis teams (e.g., Manifest Review Units, Document Analysis Units, and Passenger Analysis Units) to collect and analyze advanced information and identify potential high-risk targets.

Reviews and analyzes a wide variety of commercial and passenger documents such as carriers, importers, and exporters, manifests, permits, certificates, entries, invoices, and associated documents to establish validity.

Combines the technical expertise of a CBP Agriculture Specialist with information management technology to coordinate and monitor local information management through established CBP activities, programs, and database systems.

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: Gathers and analyzes information from all available sources, conducts a wide range of record checks using a variety of databases and systems and uses tactical intelligence to identify associated risks.

Responds to a wide range of technical and regulatory agricultural inquiries from within CBP, other agencies, the public and industry which requires expertise, experience, sound judgment, diplomacy, tact and in-depth knowledge of applicable laws, quarantines, regulations, regulatory requirements of other agencies, and port operations.

Advises CBP management and industry on a wide variety of complex determinations Serves as the liaison between headquarters and the field, working with other ports and headquarters coordinators to assess and refine liaison and outreach initiatives.

Accurately documents incident reports, prepares investigative reports, and provides testimony in support of third-party proceedings. Education Substitution: GS-11 Successful completion of Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M.

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 credits comprise three years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 54 semester or 81 quarter hours.

You are required to submit proof of your claim.

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-9 and GS-11.

More information on this qualification standard is located here. There is no Education Substitution at the GS-12.

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 03/25/2026.

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 Polygraph Examination: CBP has the authority to conduct a polygraph for the CBP Agriculture Specialist (Canine) position, however, at this time a polygraph is not a pre-employment requirement.

If CBP decides to implement the polygraph as a pre-employment requirement while you are in the hiring process, CBP will notify you and provide additional information.

Polygraph Examination: The CBP Agriculture Specialist (Canine) position is a polygraph-required position.

If you are not a current CBP employee in a law enforcement position, you may be required to take a polygraph exam and have favorable results in order to continue in the pre-employment process.

Please see Polygraph Examination. Polygraph Reciprocity: CBP may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of a CBP polygraph exam.

You will receive information to request reciprocity in your Background Investigation Package. Polygraph Waiver: Certain veterans may be eligible to obtain a polygraph waiver.

You will receive information to request a waiver in your Background Investigation Package. Major Duties:

Joining the Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations will allow you to use your expertise to detect and prevent terrorists and instruments of terror from entering the U.S.

This position starts at a salary of $84,579.00 (GS-11, Step 1) to $131,790.00 (GS-12, Step 10).

In this CBP Agriculture Specialist position you will become a key team member of Homeland Security professionals detecting and preventing terrorists and instruments of terror from entering the U.S.

Typical work assignments include: Employs risk management principles and techniques to effectively manage workload.

Uses agency certified canines to detect plant and animal materials, which may be prohibited from entering the United States, or may be a threat to the security of the United States.

Research questions dealing with unusual or unique issues, and obtains, when necessary, answers/rulings from headquarters via OFO Field Offices.

Responsible for safe canine handling practices both on and off the job and for ensuring the canines maintain optimal health conditions through regular grooming, feeding, daily health checks, and periodic veterinary checkups.

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.

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 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. 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