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Agriculture Specialist

U.S. Customs and Border Protection
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Agriculture Specialist (Entry-Level)

The Office of Field Operations (OFO) within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seeks individuals talented in the natural sciences (see Qualifications section below) to serve as Agricultural Specialists in the following mission critical duty locations: Douglas, San Luis, AZ; San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; Miami, FL; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Newark, NJ; El Paso, Hidalgo, TX.

The closing date for this opportunity is August 1, or as soon as 600 applications have been received, whichever occurs first. APPLY TODAY!

Duties

Agriculture Specialists safeguard American agriculture by preventing the introduction of harmful plant pests and foreign animal diseases, as well as potential agricultural bioterrorism. This is done through the inspection of vessels, vehicles, and baggage for restricted materials and assessing the agricultural risk of entry into the United States.

The Agriculture Specialist’s primary responsibilities are to:

  • Serve as a consultant in the areas of inspection, analysis, intelligence gathering, examination, and law enforcement activities regarding the importation of agricultural/commercial commodities and conveyances at ports of entry.
  • Apply laws and regulations when determining the admissibility of agricultural commodities while preventing the introduction of harmful pests, diseases, and potential agro-terrorism into the United States.
  • Participate in special enforcement, targeting, or analysis teams charged with collecting and analyzing information and identifying high-risk targets.
  • Plan and conduct remedial actions such as treating, disinfecting, and decontaminating prohibited commodities, conveyances, contaminants, or agricultural materials.

Duty Locations and Incentives

You will be asked to provide your preference for one of the following mission-critical locations: Douglas, San Luis, AZ; San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; Miami, FL; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Newark, NJ; El Paso, Hidalgo, TX. Duty assignments are determined by the needs of the agency after successful completion of pre-employment requirements.

NOTE: The preference locations listed above are expected to have vacancies available in the future, however, if the duty locations do not have vacancies at the time of your final offer, you may be offered a duty location in another geographic location within the United States. Duty locations offered are based on operational and mission requirements and critical agency hiring needs as determined by OFO.

If you accept the duty location of San Francisco, you may be eligible to receive an additional 25% of your salary each year for the first three (3) years of employment in addition to any overtime pay. These incentives only apply to new federal employees and are dependent upon the availability of funds.

Salary and Benefits

Starting salaries range from $40,332–79,433, dependent on your qualifications, and may be higher in certain duty locations. This is a career ladder position with a grade level progression of GS-5, GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, and GS-12. You will be eligible for an annual promotion to the next higher grade level (without re-applying) once you successfully complete 52 weeks in each grade level. Promotions are offered at the discretion of the agency.

ALSO: This full-time employment opportunity may include rotating shifts, assignments, and overtime on a regular and recurring basis.

Employees receive the full package of federal employment benefits that include health and insurance plans, a generous annual and sick leave program, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, a retirement plan akin to a traditional 401(k) offering.

 

Qualifications

Qualifications vary; to determine which grade level (GS-5, GS-7, or GS-9) you qualify for, refer to the specifics listed in the Job Opening Announcement (JOA) at USAJOBS.gov, the federal government’s official employment site (see How to Apply section below). You will be determined to be hired at the grade level for which you meet the minimum qualifications, as described in the JOA.

Basic Education – All applicants MUST meet one of the following to be considered: a bachelor's degree (or higher) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, animal science, plant science, pest management, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. Note: a bachelor’s degree with Superior Academic Achievement (3.0 GPA or higher out of a possible 4.0 scale) will qualify you for a higher grade level, as described in the JOA.

OR a combination of Education and Experience: Completed at least 24 semester hours in a qualifying field of study, as shown above, PLUS qualifying experience such as the following: effectively dealing with individuals or groups of persons in a courteous / tactful manner in connections with agricultural matters; researching information for reports and providing information to others; analyzing information rapidly and making prompt decisions; enforcing regulations while inspecting vessels, vehicles, aircraft and/or baggage for the presence of restricted plant materials, pests or diseases; and reviewing and analyzing passengers or commodity documents to assess the agricultural risk of their entry into the United States; OR additional education. 

Pending Education: Applications can be accepted from students who expect to complete qualifying education within nine months from the closing date of this job announcement. Transcripts MUST show the student is currently enrolled and in progress to complete the qualifying education within nine months from the closing date of this job announcement.

Other Requirements

Citizenship: You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position.

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 (3) of the last five (5) years. 

Probationary Period: You must serve a one-year probationary period to determine fitness for continued employment.

CBP Agriculture Specialist Training: You will be required to complete a paid pre-academy orientation for approximately two (2) weeks at your home port. You will then attend a 59-day training program conducted at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) located in Glynco, GA. This training consists of determining the admissibility of agricultural commodities, preventing the introduction of harmful pests/diseases, etc. Successful completion of the academy is required for this position.

How to Apply

Apply for this opportunity by clicking on this site’s Apply link to access the official JOA on USAJOBS.gov. Be sure to read the Qualifications and Required Documents sections carefully so that you understand which grade level you may be qualified for and file a complete application.

Note: Your application and supporting documents will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications. If you are among the best qualified, your application will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration at the highest grade for which you are determined eligible.

The closing date for this opportunity is August 1, or as soon as 600 applications have been received, whichever occurs first. APPLY TODAY!

Interested in other career opportunities with CBP? Visit careers.cbp.gov and check the CBP calendar at cbp.gov/cbp-events-calendar frequently for upcoming informational webinars, in-person recruitment events, and virtual career events.