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Posted: February 17, 2026 (4 days ago)

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Chief of Staff

Customs and Border Protection

Department of Homeland Security

Fresh

Location

Washington, District of Columbia

Salary

$169,279 - $197,200

per year

Closes

February 23, 2026More CBP jobs →

GS-15 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $123,041 - $159,950

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-14. Senior leader or top expert.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This role serves as the top advisor and coordinator to the executive leadership in U.S.

Customs and Border Protection, focusing on guiding major decisions, managing programs, and handling sensitive policy issues to keep the agency running smoothly.

It involves building partnerships inside and outside the organization while tackling complex staff and operational challenges.

Ideal candidates are experienced senior leaders with strong strategic thinking, communication skills, and a background in government or law enforcement operations.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience at GS-14 level or equivalent, including executive leadership and strategic decision-making
  • Proven ability to lead and coordinate organizational programs, policies, and long-range strategic plans
  • Experience conducting sensitive policy studies, analyses, and reporting, including interpreting legislation and regulations
  • Skills in providing authoritative guidance on complex personnel issues, such as grievances, disciplinary actions, and performance management
  • Effective communication and coalition-building across organizational levels and with external stakeholders
  • Meet Time in Grade requirements (52 weeks at GS-14 or equivalent for current federal employees)
  • Pass a thorough background investigation, including checks for criminal history and drug use
  • U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (for non-CBP applicants)

Full Job Description

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S.

Customs and Border Protection, Operations Support, Immediate Office of the Executive Assistant Commissioner, located in Washington, DC.

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

Experience: You qualify for the GS-15 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Exercising executive leadership, strategic decision-making, coalition-building, and effective communication across multiple organizational levels and with external stakeholders.

Leading, directing, and coordinating organizational programs and initiatives, including the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies, procedures, and long-range strategic plans Conducting and overseeing sensitive policy studies, analyses, and reporting activities, including the interpretation and implementation of legislation, regulations, and agency guidance.

Making decisions and providing authoritative guidance on complex personnel, organizational, or operational issues that directly affect staff, including resolving grievances, disciplinary actions, and performance management concerns.

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 02/23/2026.

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.

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. Major Duties:

This position starts at a salary of $169,279.00 (GS-15, Step 1) to $197,200.00 (GS-15, Step 10).

Typical duties include: Advising the Executive Assistant Commissioner (EAC) and the Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner (DEAC) on a variety of policy issues of interest to DHS, CBP, and Operations Support (OS) officials, as well as other Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies.

Participating fully with the EAC, DEAC, and other CBP officials in the review and appraisal of major policy issues and questions with major implications for CBP's stance on a variety of germane issues.

Overseeing the overall planning, direction, and timely execution of all resource management and programs that support OS by enhancing the achievement of goals and objectives.

Hearing and resolving group grievances and serious employee complaints not resolved at the division level, and reviews serious disciplinary problems.

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.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/17/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/17/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: IEAC-IMP-12889298-CCL