Associate Director of Public Engagement and Learning
Smithsonian Institution
Posted: January 27, 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 job involves leading a program that supports the families of fallen or surviving officers in U.S.
Customs and Border Protection by providing crisis help, resources, and coordination with law enforcement and government partners.
The role requires planning projects, ensuring effective advocacy, and understanding the challenges of border protection work.
It's a good fit for someone with experience in victim support, trauma response, and working in high-stakes government or law enforcement environments.
Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S.
Customs and Border Protection, Office of Human Resources Management, AC Front Office, Survivor Advocate, located in Washington D.C..
Additional selections may be made to include other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.
Specialized 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 effective support to surviving family members through survivor advocacy practices, procedures, programs, and theories.
This includes crisis intervention, Agency resources, grief and loss theory and responding to trauma in order to appropriately provide the necessary resources and services.
Planning and coordinating projects and effectively liaise with various law enforcement personnel and state and local governmental entities in order to establish a unified approach to survivor advocate.
Ensuring advocate programs are effective and supportive to surviving family members which involves a thorough understanding of CBP field operations, the mission and functions of law enforcement and customs officers.
and challenges to identify areas where support is needed. 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 02/02/2026.
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:
In this position, you will be responsible for directing the operations of the Survivor Advocate program and manage CBP's Survivor Advocate Policy, products, programs, and services.
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: Directing daily operations of the Survivor Advocate program and overseeing the production and delivery of survivor advocacy policy, products, programs, and services Coordinating with the Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Human Resources Management (HRM) and CBP senior leaders to plan for short- and long- term operations and modifying resource allocations if required Leading the CBP Valor Memorial Committee and the Annual Valor Memorial Ceremony, in close coordination with program offices Reviewing and evaluating plans of action, products, and services for completeness and compliance with established goals and objectives Intervening independently on operational matters, as determined necessary, for successful program development that is in the best interest of CBP and other Federal, state, and local entities Reviewing programs continually for efficiency of operation and identifies functional areas where revisions may be necessary 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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