CBP Agriculture Specialist

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, International Operations and Advisory Directorate (IOAD), International Field Office, Preclearance, located at various Preclearance locations.

This is a Reassignment Opportunity Bulletin. You must be currently serving or have previously served as a full-time permanent GS-12 with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and are currently serving or have served in the 0401 series within the last five years to qualify under this Bulletin. If you are currently serving in the 0401 series as a GS-12 or higher or have done so within the last five years and are willing to take a change to lower grade, you will also be considered for this position.

This position will be filled through reassignment on a permanent basis through time-limited rotational assignments with a minimum tour of two years. At the end of the reassignment, you will be returned to a position at the same level as this Preclearance position. At the discretion of management, the assignment may be extended for additional periods up to a maximum of six years depending on the host country and the Department of State.

You may be returned at any time to your former position or to a different position of equivalent grade and pay as this Preclearance position. Geographic Location: You may select up to two (2) locations where you would be willing to work. This position starts at a salary of $76,463.00 (GS-12, Step 1) to $99,404.00 (GS-12, Step 10).

Salary above excludes COLA. Please see here for specific COLA Rates. In this position you will become a key member of a team of homeland security professionals responsible for detecting and preventing terrorists and instruments of terror from entering the U.S. Typical work assignments include: Serving as a technical consultant and providing expert guidance to CBP Officers, travelers, host country agencies, and others on the interpretative techniques and regulatory requirements (including complex and unusual issues and requirements) pertaining to the processing of agriculture related material.

Interacting with other CBP units, other agencies, and foreign entities to exchange information and provide guidance on admissibility and/or compliance. Responding to a wide range of technical and regulatory agricultural inquiries from within CBP, other agencies, the public and industry which requires expertise, experience, sound judgment, diplomacy, tact and in-depth knowledge of applicable laws, quarantines, regulations, regulatory requirements of other agencies, and port operations.

Participating in target and analysis teams (e.g., Manifest Review Units, Document Analysis Units, and Passenger Analysis Units) to collect and analyze advanced information, and identify potential high risk agricultural and biological targets (people or conveyance) based on anomalies, emerging agricultural and biological threats, lookouts, links analysis and/or other agency input.

You qualify for this position if you are currently serving or have served as a full-time permanent GS-12 with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and are currently serving or have served in the 0401 series within the last five years. Experience: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Analyzing a wide variety of agriculture-related material, pests or diseases including the very difficult, complex and unusual finds submitted by other agriculture inspection personnel.

Serving as a consultant in identifying a wide range of insects and related pests associated with the inspection of conveyances and passengers. Serving as a trouble-shooter, handling the most unusual agriculture commodity or pest problems. Compiling data, maintaining logs, and preparing reports on inspection operations.

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. This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR). All applicants must meet the Basic Requirement in order to be considered for this position.

More information on this requirement can be found in the CBP Agriculture Specialist Qualification Aid and in the OPM Qualification Standards . Basic Requirement for the CBP Agriculture Specialis:

1. Degree: 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. OR
2. Combination of education and experience: Completed at least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in a qualifying field of study, as shown above, PLUS qualifying experience or additional education.To determine if you meet the combination, you must divide the months of qualifying experience by 48; next, divide the number of undergraduate semester hours by 120 (or 180 for undergraduate quarter hours) and the two percentages must total at least 100%. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, Ameri. Corps) 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 10/21/2026. 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 CBP Agriculture 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. Tour of Duty: The employee will serve a two (2) year initial tour, with an opportunity for the Employee to apply for two (2), two (2) year extensions. As an exception to this general rule , tour duration is subject to the host country and the Department of State. At the end of the reassignment, you will be returned to a position at the same level as this Preclearance position. At the discretion of management, the assignment may be extended for additional periods, up to a maximum of six years. You may be returned at any time to your former position or to a different position of equivalent grade as this Preclearance position. Employees who have not served 2 years at a domestic duty station, subsequent to their initial overseas tour of duty, should not be considered for a second tour of duty in any foreign assignment. Annual Leave Accumulation: Employees assigned to Preclearance ports may carry over 360 hours of annual leave to the next leave year (as opposed to 240 hours). If you are not a current GS-0401, and you are selected, you will have to meet the following medical/physical standards: 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 . Any additional questions for applicants on Preclearance can be sent to: IOADSTAFFING@cbp.dhs.gov

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position. Return Rights: No more than one hundred and fifty (150) calendar days before the end of tour, but not less than ninety (90) calendar days prior to the end of the initial tour, as well as the conclusion of any extensions, employees are expected to formally request, through a fully completed Notice of Intent (NOI), express intent to return to the United States.

Please refer to Article 40 Section 6 of the National Collective Bargaining Agreement for additional information with regards to Extension Request and Return Procedures. Home Leave: In addition to annual leave, you will earn five, ten, or fifteen days home leave on each two year assignment depending on your foreign post assignment and the post differential rate.

This leave is granted to you when you have your Preclearance assignment extended for another tour and is to be used between tours. The Government pays your per diem and transportation expenses from your post of duty in a Preclearance station to your former official residence in the United States. In addition, it also pays for the transportation expenses of your dependents who accompany you on home leave to your residence in the United States.

You must be admissible to the country you are selected for before a final offer is issued. Employees must select the locations of interest and review the admissibility requirements of those countries. You must certify that if accompanied, your family members, are admissible to enter and temporarily reside in the country.

Follow this link to the admissibility requirements of each country. You should review the below concerning inadmissibility: If you are not admissible to a specific country, your applications for that location will not be considered further. If your fail to certify that you have reviewed the admissibility requirements of the country you are applying for, your application will not be considered further.

If you certify that you are admissible, and the Agency later learns that you were inadmissible, your application will not be considered further, and the Agency may pursue other appropriate action, as necessary. If you are selected and report to the country, and the Agency later learns that you were inadmissible, the Agency may curtail the assignment and require you to return to your permanent position in the United States.

The Agency may pursue other appropriate action, as necessary. Living Quarters Allowances (not payable if claiming temporary lodging allowance): Employees receive payment of an annual tax-free quarters allowance for housing while in a Preclearance station. This allowance is intended to cover the cost of suitable, adequate living quarters for the employee and his/her family, plus the cost of heat, light, fuel, gas, electricity, and water.

However, at some duty stations government subsidized housing is provided. Temporary Lodging Allowance (not payable if claiming living quarters allowance): A temporary lodging allowance is a tax-free quarters allowance that is granted to you for the reasonable cost of temporary quarters, which are incurred by you and your family for a period not to exceed (1) 60 days after first arrival at a new post in a foreign area, or a period ending with the occupation of permanent quarters, if earlier; and (2) 30 days immediately preceding final departure from the post subsequent to the necessary vacating of residence quarters.

Education

Payment for most actual costs of education for each dependent are determined by the Department of State and are subject to change. Medical Requirements: The Agriculture Specialist position has medical qualification standards. A pre-placement medical examination is required to ensure those tasked with the position's responsibilities are medically and physically capable of performing the essential tasks and job functions in an efficient and safe manner without endangering the health and safety of co-workers, the public, or oneself.

Persons in this position must demonstrate they are physically and mentally capable of performing the essential functions of the position. The medical qualification standards cover any disease or condition that may potentially interfere with the safe and efficient performance of the job duties or training may constitute grounds for medical disqualification.

The medical standards also include specific vision and hearing requirements as noted below. Vision: Distant Visual Acuity: Must be at least 20/30 or better in the best eye with or without correction. Individuals who have undergone refractive eye surgeries/procedures (e.g., photorefractive laser surgery, keratoplast, LASIK) may be qualified provided they have no post-operative adverse complications and they meet the vision requirements.

Near Vision: Must be 20/30 or better Snellen with or without corrective lenses. Color Vision: Must be able to distinguish colors (i.e., red, green, yellow, blue, orange, purple, pink, brown, black, white, gray). Use of an X-chrome lens is not acceptable. Visual Fields: a minimum of 140 degrees in the horizontal meridian.

Hearing: Hearing level in each ear must not exceed 40 decibels (dB) for the average of the following frequencies: 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hertz (Hz). The difference in hearing level between the better ear thresholds and worse ear thresholds may not exceed 15dB for the average of 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz. The difference in hearing level between the better ear and worse ear may not exceed 30dB at 4000 or 6000 Hz.

The use of hearing aids to meet the standards is acceptable. This link provides an overview of Preclearance overseas locations, the benefits of working in Preclearance and the pre-deployment process.