Executive Writer
Office of the Secretary
Posted: February 23, 2026 (0 days ago)
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Customs and Border Protection
Department of Homeland Security
Location
Washington, District of Columbia
Salary
$169,279 - $197,200
per year
Type
Full-Time
More Management & Supervision jobs →Closes
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).
This role involves leading trade operations programs at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, guiding teams on strategies, policies, and process improvements to meet organizational goals.
It requires coordinating with government staff on sensitive issues and ensuring long-term plans align with customer needs.
Ideal candidates are experienced senior leaders with strong management skills and a background in federal operations or policy implementation.
Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Trade, Operations Directorate, 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: Providing guidance and leadership in carrying out program strategies and ensuring policies and plans to include a long-term outlook consistent with customer needs.
Coordinating with DHS and CBP staff on major and sensitive issues. Interpreting and implementing local and higher echelon policies and regulations.
Directing business process improvement efforts, including process development, workload and workflow analysis, quality review and evaluating performance against standards.
Developing and prescribing procedures and techniques and furnishing policy guidance to subordinates.
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 02/27/2026.
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:
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.
This position starts at a salary of $169,279.00 (GS-15, Step 1) to $197,200.00 (GS-15, Step 10). The Program Manager (Deputy Executive Director) serves in a leadership capacity within the U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Trade (OT), Operations Directorate as a third-level supervisor.
In coordination with the Executive Director, responsible for managing and directing operations related to programs, policies, and new and continuing initiatives of the Operations Directorate which is comprised of the following Divisions: Planning, Accountability, and Evaluation Division; International Engagement and Incident Management Division; Trade Intelligence Division, and Trade Investigations Division.
Typical work assignments include: Directing various components of the Program Office and overseeing the production of a wide variety of communications programs and services.
In close coordination with the Executive Director, incumbent plans for short- and long-term operations with a particular focus on interactions with and support from various Program Office personnel across CBP.
Establishing managerial and administrative objectives, developing short- and long-range plans and identifying required resources in order to promote an efficient, economical, and progressive organization.
Assigning responsibility for accomplishment of specific function; and establishing direction in setting organizational goals.
Evaluating overall work accomplishment of the staff; reviewing projects, reports, group and individual performance for consistency with policies, compliance with procedures and regulations, utility, technical adequacy, timeliness and effective utilization of resources.
Identifying operating problems, conflicting priorities, program deficiencies, and potential problem areas. Reviewing plans for completeness and compliance within established parameters.
Independently directing the initiation of organizational planning as determined necessary for successful operation of the Operations Directorate.
Maintaining effective management- employee relations through communications and recognition of employee performance.
Hearing and resolving grievances and complaints not resolved by subordinate supervisors. 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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