International Relations Specialist

Full Job Description

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of International Affairs, located in Washington DC.

Basic Requirements 1.

Degree: major or equivalent, or a combination of courses totaling at least 24 semester hours in international law and international relations, political science, economics, history, sociology, geography, social or cultural anthropology, law, statistics, or in the humanities; or 12 semester hours in one of the above disciplines and 12 semester hours in statistics/quantitative methods.

OR 2.

Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, in one or more of the social sciences, or in the humanities, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

OR 3. Experience: four years of appropriate experience in one or more of the fields listed above in work associated with international organizations, problems, or other aspects of foreign affairs.

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: Conducting research and analysis of international policies, agreement or events.

Gathering information and assisting in preparation of reports, briefings, or requests for information related to diplomatic, political, military, economic, and significant developments in a global region.

Assisting with the recommending, planning, and coordination of engagements between foreign and U.S. officials.

Collaborating with other U.S government agencies and foreign counterparts on developing plans to enhance trade, diplomacy and security cooperation.

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: Analyzing geopolitical risk factors that impact legitimate flows of people and goods in relations to United States trade and security goals, and developing recommendations based on identified impacts.

Preparing and conducting reports and briefings and responding to requests for information related to diplomatic, political, military, economic, and significant developments in a global region.

Recommending, planning, and coordinating engagements between foreign and U.S. officials.

Assisting in developing, implementing, and managing technical assistance and capacity building programs such as training, international visits, and advisory services, for foreign partners.

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 04/06/2026.

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.

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 is responsible for conducting analyses of the geopolitical risk factors that impact legitimate flows of people and goods in relation to U.S.

trade and security goals in the respective region(s), and for developing and managing related technical assistant and capacity building programs.

Additionally, the IRS will serve as a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) subject matter expert and liaison with the U.S.

inter-agency for the assigned region(s) and an agency representative on policy discussions impacting the CBP mission and regional objectives.

This position starts at a salary of $102,415.00 (GS-12, Step 1) to $158,322.00 (GS-13, Step 10).

Typical duties include: Collaborating with federal interagency partners to assess the economic potential, diplomatic capabilities, and border security of the assigned country, region, or organization in an assigned area of responsibility (AOR).

Developing plans for international trade and travel, enhanced border security for the U.S. and host nation.

Promoting outreach activities and programs with the assigned country, region, or organization in an assigned AOR to strengthen diplomatic ties with the U.S by recommending, planning, and coordinating engagements with U.S.

government representatives, leaders, and congressional members.

Developing proposals and recommendations for future development and outreach activities with the assigned country, region, or organization in an assigned AOR and supporting the assigned country, region, or organization in assessing the effectiveness of economic, diplomatic and border security initiatives and recommending courses of action for improvement.

Participating in assigned country, region, or organization in an assigned AOR development and providing input on sensitive and controversial issues; collaborating with assigned country, region, or organizations representatives to formalize strategic plans to facilitate and substantially enhance trade, diplomacy and border security between the host nation and the U.S.

To learn more about CBP's Office of International Affairs, please visit https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/international-initiatives or visit us on X/Twitter: @CBPIntlAffairs 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.