Student Trainee (Administrative & Office Innovation)

Full Job Description

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

You must be a student who has been accepted for enrollment or who is currently enrolled and seeking a degree on a full or half-time basis in one of the federally administered, organized educational programs or accredited educational institutions below such as a public or private high school; state-approved home school; technical or vocational school; two (2) year or four (4) year college or university; graduate or professional school; a registered apprenticeship program, job corps or postsecondary home school curriculum.

Review Pathways Interns for additional eligibility information AND: GS-03: Completion of one (1) academic year of post-high school study.

One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school.

GS-04: Completed 2 full academic years of post-high school study or an associate's degree.

Two years of full-time academic study is defined as 60 semester hours, 90 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university.

You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 01/14/2026.

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 Schedules: Positions can be filled on full-time and part-time basis. Part-time schedules are typically 16 to 32 hours per administrative workweek, prearranged on a scheduled tour of duty.

Trial Period: The entire period served under the Internship Program counts as the participant's trial period.

Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement: Pathways students are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 for undergraduate studies or lower program, and a minimum GPA of 3.0 for a master's program or higher program.

Major Duties:

The Pathways Program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school and while getting paid for the work performed.

Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent position in the civil service.

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 $37,112.00 (GS-03, Step 1) to $54,160.00 (GS-04, Step 10).

Positions with known promotion potential do not guarantee promotion, nor is the promise of promotion implied.

Your promotion potential will ultimately be determined by your qualifications and will be initiated at management's discretion.

In this position, you will serve as a Student Trainee providing technical assistance to specialists assigned to Office of Trade that perform vital line-program and/or administrative functions and responsibilities.

Typical duties may include: Performing a variety of record keeping, reporting, and informational duties in support of the office's programs.

Compiling, maintaining, and updating data, lists, and reports.

Checking and verifying data by direct comparison with source documents, pointing out discrepancies, and checking or verifying textual material. Updating manuals on policies, directives, and memoranda.

Assisting in preparing reports utilizing various databases and automated systems, and developing tracking/filing systems for all incoming and outgoing documents including mail.

Performing other miscellaneous duties such as reviewing and maintaining reports, making copies, and arranging for conference rooms, records, sorts, assembles, and files information on specific cases, current projects, or studies.