Appraiser

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

• $125K — $163K *
Real Estate & Construction
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in real property appraisals and valuation analyses.
  • Proficient in analyzing market data and property characteristics for accurate valuations.
  • Experience managing real estate service contracts and contractor deliverables.
  • Ability to communicate valuation findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Strong knowledge of relevant appraisal standards, including USPAP and FIRREA.

Responsibilities

  • Manage nationwide appraisal activities and contracts for real property.
  • Develop and review complex property valuations, ensuring legal and professional compliance.
  • Advise management on real estate decisions involving condemnation and property-value disputes.
  • Coordinate appraisal activities with various stakeholders to support real estate planning.
  • Critically review appraisals prepared by staff and contractors to ensure standards compliance.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package for federal employees.
  • Access to health insurance, retirement plans, and paid leave.
  • Opportunities for professional development and training.
  • Job stability and the ability to serve the public interest.
Full Job Description
Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Facilities and Asset Management, Integrated Services, Real Property Program Management Office located in Washington, DC; Indianapolis, IN; Euless, TX; and Aliso Viejo, CA.

Additional selections may be made for other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

Duties

The Appraiser serves as CBP's senior real property valuation expert, managing appraisal activities and contracts for a nationwide portfolio of owned and leased properties. The position develops and reviews complex property valuations, analyzes market and financial data, advises on acquisitions, leasing, dispositions, and site selection, and ensures appraisal work meets applicable professional and legal standards.

This work supports CBP's mission by enabling informed, cost-effective real estate decisions that provide and preserve the facilities and property resources needed for effective operations.

This position starts at a salary of $125,776.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $163,514.00 (GS-14, Step 10).

GS Salary: Visit this link to view the locality pay tables by geographic area. If you do not see your geographic area listed, select the "Rest of United States" pay table. Some positions fall under a special pay rate depending on the series, grade level and location of the position.Please visit this link to view special pay rate charts.

  • Supports the Real Property Program Management Office (RPPMO) by providing well-supported valuation analyses to inform decisions involving potential condemnations, property-value disputes, or other real estate matters with legal implications.
  • Provides management with guidance on valuation methodologies and appraisal practices to support compliance with applicable professional standards, including the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), and relevant laws and regulations.
  • Coordinates appraisal activities with RPPMO staff, real estate specialists, attorneys, engineers, contractors, and internal and external stakeholders to integrate valuation information into overall real estate planning and management decisions.
  • Initiates, obtains, and critically reviews staff and contractor-prepared appraisals to ensure compliance with applicable appraisal standards, regulations, and contract requirements, including FIRREA, USPAP, and other relevant guidance.
  • Serves as a technical expert by developing and reviewing appraisal analyses and providing valuation findings and recommendations that support management decisions on property acquisition, leasing, disposition, site selection, and other critical real estate matters.


Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • 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
  • CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
  • As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.
  • 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.
  • Financial Disclosure is required.
  • Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.


Qualifications

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:

  • Conducting, reviewing, or managing appraisals and valuation analyses for complex real property, such as commercial, industrial, mixed-use, specialized, or environmentally impacted properties.
  • Analyzing real estate market data, comparable sales, income and expense information, property characteristics, and cost data to develop or validate property-value, rental-rate, or restoration-cost estimates.
  • Managing appraisal or real estate service contracts, including developing scopes of work, reviewing contractor deliverables, monitoring performance, and resolving issues affecting cost, schedule, or quality.
  • Providing valuation findings, real estate recommendations, and technical briefings to senior leaders and stakeholders to support property acquisition, leasing, disposition, site-selection, investment, or portfolio-management decisions.
  • Reviewing appraisal reports for compliance with applicable professional appraisal standards, contract requirements, and valuation methodologies, and explaining appraisal conclusions to technical and non-technical audiences.


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 10/06/2026.


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

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.

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibilityon OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.

Additional information

Additional Hiring and Special Appointing Authorities: See "THIS JOB IS OPEN TO" section above for what additional Appointing Authorities may apply. Veterans, military spouses, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and people with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility and to understand what documentation would be required with your application, please click on the appropriate link below. You must provide documentation supporting your eligibility prior to the closing date of this announcement. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, please contact the CBP Hiring Center via the contact information listed at the end of this job opportunity announcement.

  • Veterans
  • Military spouses Effective until December 31, 2028, any spouse of a member on active duty may be eligible
  • Individuals with Disabilities The proof of disability documentation must specify that you are eligible to apply using Schedule A. It does NOT need to detail your specific disability, medical history or need for accommodation. For more information visit this link.
  • Peace Corps and VISTA
  • Land Management Hiring Flexibility Act: The following documents are required at the time of application: SF-50s to demonstrate that you meet the eligibility requirements and the most recent performance rating signed by your supervisor or a statement from your supervisor documenting acceptable performance.
  • Other miscellaneous hiring authorities


Please upload your resume under the "Resume" document type. Any other relevant supporting documents should be uploaded under their appropriate document types as mentioned above. Only resumes up to a total of two pages will be accepted. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. Do notsubmit documents as a PDF Portfolios.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about fe

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