Customs and Border Protection
Supervisory CBP Officer (Watch Commander - POE)
Department of Homeland Security · Buffalo, New York
- Salary
- $135,167 - $175,722 per year
- Pay grade
- GS-14
- Schedule
- Full-time
- Appointment
- Permanent
- Opened
- Nov 4, 2026
- Closes
- Nov 10, 2026
- Remote
- No
- Telework eligible
- No
- Openings
- 1
- Security clearance
- Secret
- Promotion potential
- 14
- Announcement
- OFO-IMP-13105114-CMK
Who may apply: Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) · Internal to an agency
Applications are submitted on USAJOBS.gov, not on Careers.org. Always confirm details in the official announcement.
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.
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.
Qualifications
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 provisions: moved directly from a primary position to a secondary position without a break in service; complete 3 years of service in a primary position; and, if applicable, have been continuously employed in a secondary position or positions 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 If you have questions regarding your retirement coverage provisions, please contact the CBP Retirement Operations Center at (202) 863-6180. The customs and border protection officer mandatory separation provisions of 5 USC 8425 do not apply to an individual first appointed as a customs and border protection officer before July 6, 2008. Administrative Secondary CBP Officer (CBPO) Special Retirement Coverage (SRC) Requirement: This position meets the definition of secondary administrative CBPO SRC under the laws and regulations defined in 5 U.S.C. 8331 (31), Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and General Provisions for CBPO defined in 5 U.S.C. 8401(36), Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). The criterion is that knowledge, skill and ability in a position deemed to meet primary CBPO SRC is a mandatory prerequisite to satisfactorily perform the major duties and responsibilities of this job. The conditions for coverage of a secondary position are contained in 5 C.F.R. § 831.1604 for CSRS and 5 C.F.R. § 842.1003 for FERS. As defined in 5 C.F.R. § 831.1602 CSRS and 5 CFR 842.1002 FERS, to be eligible for this secondary administrative CBP) SRC position you must have permanently served in a primary CBPO SRC position, e.g. Customs Inspector, GS-1890; Immigration Inspector, GS-1816; Canine Enforcement Officer, GS-1801; or CBP Officer, GS-1895. 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 (cu…
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.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM. Retrieved Nov 4, 2026, 1:51 AM EST.