Supervisory CBP Officer (Watch Commander - POE)

USAJOBS pay evidence (raw source values; no currency or annual rate inferred)

Remuneration 1: minimum: 135167; maximum: 175722; rate interval: PA; description as provided: Per Year

Pay plan 1: code: GS

Low grade: 14

High grade: 14

Agency: Customs and Border Protection

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: You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Directing or working on improving processing of passengers, baggage, cargo, and/or carriers. Supervising operational activities related to inspection, intelligence analysis, examination, anti-terrorism, and other law enforcement programs relating to the arrival and departure of persons, conveyances, and merchandise into the United States. Responding to and resolving technical and operational questions regarding function or program supervised. Planning and carrying out assignments, projects, studies or investigations intended to explore and resolve major operations and law enforcement problems or improving new procedures. Monitoring and evaluating employee work products and implementing policies intended to improve and develop employees. 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. Secondary CBPO Special Retirement Coverage: This is a secondary position subject to mandatory retirement under the special retirement provisions for Customs and Border Protection Officers (5 CFR 842.1003; 5 USC 8425(b), 5 USC 8335(b); and 5 USC 8412(d). Employees in secondary positions must meet the following conditions in order to be eligible for special retirement

Job summary:

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Buffalo Field Office, located in Buffalo, New York.

Major duties:

- Joining the Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations will allow you to use your expertise to manage one or more national programs in order to help to detect and prevent terrorists and instruments of terror from entering/exiting the U.S. Apply for this exciting opportunity to direct programs that strengthen the Department's ability to perform homeland security. This position starts at a salary of $135,167.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $175,722.00 (GS-14, Step 10). In this Watch Commander position for the Office of Field Operations, you will become a key member of a team of homeland security professionals responsible for managing all reportable incidents, emergent activities within the port. Major duties may include: Planning, directing, coordinating, assigning, organizing, and evaluating all work activities conducted in multiple locations in one or many environments at a large port of entry.

- Reviewing current procedures and gathering, testing, and recommending process improvements for operational effectiveness. Managing technical and operational activities regarding the full range of functions or programs supervised. Interpreting laws and regulations of a broad range of Federal, state, and local agencies, relating to the admissibility of people, cargo and conveyances; international mail compliance; arrival and departure of vessels and aircraft. If going from a LEO Covered Position to a Secondary CBPO Special Retirement Covered (SRC) Position: Please be advised that when you enter on duty in this Secondary CBPO SRC position you will no longer be covered under the Special Retirement System for Law Enforcement Officers, but will only be covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).

- For further information on the Secondary CBPO Enhanced Retirement Coverage, please see the Qualifications section If going from a Primary CBPO Special Retirement Covered (SRC) Position to a Secondary CBPO SRC Position and you have less than 3 years in a Primary CBPO SRC Position: Please be advised that when you enter on duty in this Secondary CBPO SRC position you will no longer be covered under the Special Retirement System for CBP Officers, but will only be covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or covered under your applicable non-special retirement system depending upon previous service. For further information on the Secondary CBPO SRC, please see the Qualifications section. This vacancy has a local commuting area requirement, as defined below: The area surrounding the duty station by which people reasonably travel back and forth from home to work;

- Or The employee's permanent duty station is located within the reasonable travel area surrounding the duty station of this vacancy; Or if applicable For employees who are detailed or temporarily promoted for more than 1 year to another duty location, the detailed or temporary duty location is considered to be the duty location of record for commuting area purposes. For employees detailed or temporarily promoted for less than one year, the permanent duty location is considered the duty location of record for commuting area purposes.

Requirements:

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below) All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English You may be required to pass a background investigation and/or polygraph CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures You must have taken the required CBP Officer Promotional Assessment component and have a passing Total Score Firearm 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. Motor Vehicle Operation: You must possess the Ability to operate a Government Owned Vehicle. A valid, non-restricted driver's license is required. DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities. Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.

Education:

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position. Training: This position has a training requirement. Selectee(s) are required to attend and successfully complete 101-days of paid training at the CBP Field Operations Academy (FOA) in Glynco, GA. Prior to arriving at the FOA, selectee's must complete approximately 7-10 days of pre-academy training. Upon successful completion of FOA training, selectee's must complete an additional 14-17 weeks of post-academy training the selectee(s) assigned duty station. You may be required to successfully complete the training requirement as a condition of employment. Failure to successfully complete the required course(s) of training in accordance with CBP standards and policies will result in placement into either a former or different position, demotion, or separation as determined by management and appropriate procedures.

USAJOBS listing details

Source listing snapshot; not verification of current availability or your eligibility.

Control number: 891257100

Announcement number: OFO-IMP-13105114-CMK

Announcement URL:

Publication date: 2026-11-04T00:00:00.0000

Applications open: 2026-11-04T00:00:00.0000

Applications close: 2026-11-10T23:59:59.9970

Posting display ends: 2026-11-10T23:59:59.9970

Hiring paths: fed-transition, fed-internal-search

URL:

Search result snapshot observed: 2026-11-04T14:30:32.358497+00:00