Supervisory Import Specialist

Full Job Description

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

Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Center of Excellence and Expertise, Industrial & Manufacturing Materials, located in Buffalo, NY.

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: Applying advanced expertise to resolve complex import assignments, ensuring strict adherence to established guidelines and judicial precedent.

Analyzing operational trends to identify potential compliance risks and contributing to the development of strategic approaches to mitigate them.

Sharing critical insights and best practices with peers, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement within the team, and authoring detailed reports and analyses that inform management decisions on trade enforcement.

Assessing emerging industry trends and trade data to identify potential impacts on import operations and providing actionable recommendations that inform the development of strategic priorities and enforcement approaches.

Interpreting and applying complex Federal laws, regulations, and documentation requirements relating to the entry and examination of prohibited and restricted imports.

Preparing detailed analyses and providing critical guidance to ensure strict compliance, preventing illicit goods from entering U.S. commerce and upholding national security and economic integrity.

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 03/26/2026.

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: CBP has the authority to conduct a polygraph for the Supervisory Import Specialist position, however, at this time a polygraph is not a pre-employment requirement.

If CBP decides to implement the polygraph as a pre-employment requirement while you are in the hiring process, CBP will notify you and provide additional information.

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. Major Duties:

In this role, you will be responsible for directing and coordinating administrative operations performed by a Center of Excellence and Expertise team tasked with enforcing statutory, regulatory, and treaty requirements on behalf of CBP and other federal and state agencies.

You will ensure a uniform and consistent approach within your assigned industry, making nationwide and account-based determinations on merchandise admissibility and other import-related decisions to support CBP's mission effectively.

This position starts at a salary of $111,301.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $144,694.00 (GS-13, Step 10).

Typical work assignments include: Providing technical advice on the admissibility, control, entry, revenue collection, and on the functions and use of the agency's automated systems.

Providing authoritative advice to Import Specialists nationwide on tariff classification and entered value of imported merchandise to ensure appropriate duties, taxes, and fees are assessed.

Coordinating with internal and external stakeholders at a national level to resolve technical and operational questions regarding program(s) supervised, to include interactions with higher-level stakeholders, as necessary.

E.g., Department of Justice, Office of Chief Counsel, external trade associations. Coordinating national account related activities among other Centers and Ports of Entry to address uniformity issues.

Ensuring open communication between Center and local Port Management. Providing expert advice regarding accounts to CBPOs and to Headquarters personnel.

Managing enforcement initiatives to include the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (TFTEA), the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, and the laws and regulations of other agencies regarding values, quota limitations, endangered species, trademark and copyright protections, patents and exclusion orders, Priority Trade Issues(PTI), forced labor, and other initiatives set forth in CBP's National Trade Enforcement Strategy.

Supervising a medium to large sized staff, and performing a full range of supervisory functions. Approving leave, interviewing candidates for vacancies, and recommending appointment.

Recommending awards for performance accomplishments, as well as promotions, within grade increases, etc. Planning and scheduling work on a daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis.

Setting and adjusting priorities, and preparing schedules for completion of work.

Assigning work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of the employees.