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Posted: February 11, 2026 (0 days ago)

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SUPERVISORY BORDER PATROL AGENT (WATCH COMMANDER)

Customs and Border Protection

Department of Homeland Security

Fresh

Location

Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

Salary

$109,383 - $142,199

per year

Closes

February 25, 2026More CBP jobs →

GS-13 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $88,520 - $115,079

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-12. Expert-level knowledge in field.

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

Job Description

Summary

This job is for a supervisory role overseeing border patrol operations in Puerto Rico, where you'll manage teams handling law enforcement tasks like detentions, property seizures, and facility maintenance while ensuring everything follows legal rules.

It involves coordinating with communities and other agencies, reviewing cases, and using databases to track information.

A good fit would be someone with strong leadership experience in law enforcement, quick decision-making skills, and proficiency in Spanish, especially if they've worked in high-stakes security environments.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience at GS-12 level in law enforcement, including coordinating detention, processing, seized property, fleet maintenance, and officer management
  • Proficiency in Spanish (speaking and reading)
  • Experience making arrests, using firearms with sound judgment, and dealing tactfully with individuals or groups
  • Ability to analyze information quickly, make prompt decisions, and ensure compliance with laws and procedures
  • Skills in utilizing and managing information systems and databases for searches, queries, and updates
  • Prior experience in a primary/rigorous law enforcement position (mandatory prerequisite for retirement coverage, unless exempt)
  • Meet initial and continuing qualifications for firearms use under the Gun Control Act

Full Job Description

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

Border Patrol, Ramey Sector, Ramey Station, located in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Additional selections may be made beyond the total number of vacancies specified using this vacancy announcement.

Further selections may also be made for additional organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

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: Coordinating various activities related to law enforcement, including detention and processing operations; seized property; fleet maintenance and supplies; and facilities and officer management Facilitating community relations and partnerships with other agencies Ensuring compliance and completion of major duties and responsibilities of subordinate supervisors and agents Reviewing administrative and criminal cases for accuracy in order to ensure that all casework complies with legal guidelines Utilizing and managing a variety of information systems and databases to conduct information searches, queries, update files and disseminate information This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement: Specialized Experience in law enforcement or other responsible work that demonstrated the ability to: Make arrests and exercise sound judgment in the use of firearms; deal effectively with individuals or groups of persons in a courteous, tactful manner in connection with law enforcement matters; analyze information rapidly and make prompt decisions or take prompt and appropriate law enforcement action in light of applicable laws, court decisions, and sound law enforcement procedures; and develop and maintain contact with a network of informants.

Secondary Law Enforcement Officer Special Retirement Coverage: This is a secondary position subject to mandatory retirement under the special retirement provisions for law enforcement officers under CSRS and FERS 5 CFR 842.803, 5 CFR 831.903, 5 USC 8425(b), 5 USC 8335(b),5 USC 8412(d) and 5 USC 8336(c).

Employees in secondary positions must meet the following conditions in order to be eligible for special retirement provisions: moved directly from a rigorous position to a secondary position without a break in service; complete 3 years of service in a rigorous position; and have been continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a rigorous position without a break in service exceeding 3 days.

For more information on required years of service and retirement age, click on this link.

For further information on when an employee continues or discontinues coverage under the special retirement system for law enforcement officers, see the CSRS and FERS handbook, Chapter 46 (CSRS pages 12-14, and FERS pages 41-43).

If you have questions regarding your retirement coverage provisions, contact the CBP Retirement Operations Center at (202) 863-6180.

Mandatory Prerequisite for Secondary Administrative LEO Retirement Covered Position: This position has been identified as Administrative, that is, an executive, managerial, technical, semiprofessional, or professional position for which experience in a primary/rigorous law enforcement or firefighting position, or equivalent experience outside of the Federal government is a mandatory prerequisite, as defined by 5 CFR 831.902 (CSRS) and 5 CFR 842.802 (FERS).

Note: if you currently serve in a permanent Secondary LEO Retirement covered position, you are exempt from this mandatory prerequisite. Language Requirement: Must be proficient in the Spanish language.

(i.e., able to speak and read in Spanish).

Firearms Requirement: This position requires that the incumbent meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996.

An applicant whose background includes any of the following will be ineligible for consideration: 1) convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year; 2) has any outstanding warrants or is a fugitive from justice; 3) unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; 4) adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution; 5) illegally or unlawfully in the United States; 6) renounced U.

S.

citizenship; 7) subject to a court-ordered restraining (protection) order from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner (spouse, former spouse, parent of applicant's child, individual who cohabitates or has cohabitated with the applicant), or child; or 8) convicted under Federal, State, or Tribal Court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against an intimate partner or child.

Medical Requirements: Following a tentative job offer, candidates must undergo and successfully complete a medical screening process.

Individuals must be medically and physically capable of performing the essential job functions and duties of the position safely and efficiently without endangering the health and safety of the individual, others, or national security.

For more information regarding the medical screening process and requirements, check out our video and visit our website.

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 02/25/2026.

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 Polygraph Examination: This is a polygraph-required position.

If you are not a current CBP employee in a law enforcement position, you may be required to take a polygraph exam and have favorable results in order to continue in the pre-employment process.

Please see Polygraph Examination. Polygraph Reciprocity: CBP may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of a CBP polygraph exam.

You will receive information to request reciprocity in your Background Investigation Package. Polygraph Waiver: Certain veterans may be eligible to obtain a polygraph waiver.

You will receive information to request a waiver in your Background Investigation Package. Major Duties:

Relocation expenses have been authorized for this position. See the Relocation Expenses Reimbursed section of this announcement and U.S. Border Patrol Paid Moves for additional details.

This position will allow you to use your expertise to prevent illegal entry of aliens into the United States by land, water, or air; enforce criminal provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Laws; and seek out and apprehend smugglers or aliens who are in the United States illegally.

Apply for this exciting opportunity to strengthen the Department's ability to protect the homeland. This position starts at a salary of $109,383.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $142,199.00 (GS-13, Step 10).

Salary above excludes COLA.

Please see the following link for specific COLA Rates: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-systems/nonforeign-areas/#url=COLA-Rates The Supervisory Border Patrol Agent/Watch Commander serves as a secondary law enforcement officer (under 5 U.S.C.

8331 (6C) and 8412 (d)).

Your duties will include: Overseeing all aspects of station operations and managing, directing and coordinating assignments consistent with the Border Patrol mission and objectives.

Analyzing local conditions of the station's area of responsibility or specialized assignment and deploying resources to mitigate any identified threat.

Providing technical assistance, assuming command of emergency and complex situations that occur, and accountable until the DPAIC, PAIC and/or higher level staff become available.

Reviewing daily work and reports of field units supervised and analyzing the results in order to determine if there is a need for increasing or decreasing operational strengths at various points.

Resolving discrepancies, managing the preparation of criminal complaints, the tracking of suspects and evidence, and the coordination of assignments for agents who testify in court on behalf of the Government.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/11/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/11/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: USBP-IMP-12878365-CLK