Chief Operating Officer

Customs and Border Protection

$150K — $200K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of senior executive managerial experience in a federal or comparable organization.
  • Demonstrated experience in operational oversight of large, complex agencies.
  • Expertise in process and performance improvement methodologies.
  • Strong commitment to the rule of law and constitutional principles.
  • Proven ability to lead diverse teams and drive organizational change.

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with the Commissioner to shape agency strategic direction.
  • Prepare and present operational reports to stakeholders.
  • Provide confidential policy advice to agency leadership.
  • Manage and oversee multiple Executive Assistant Commissioners.
  • Direct strategies for enterprise services management and innovation support.
  • Ensure operational support functions are effective and responsive.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package for federal employees.
  • Potential recruitment and relocation incentives up to 25% of basic pay.
  • Paid relocation expenses in accordance with federal regulations.
  • Access to various health, retirement, and wellness programs.
Full Job Description
Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security; within U.S. Customs and Border Protection; in Office of the Commissioner.

Duties

Help

As Chief Operating Officer (COO), you will work with the Commissioner of CBP to bring greater understanding of the operational requirements of the agency and provide strategic direction and oversight of enterprise services and operational support components. You will provide clarity to business-related goals and projections and prepare reports to external stakeholders on agency operations. You will be responsible for positively representing the agency and interfacing with executives at DHS, the White House, Members of Congress, and representatives of other interested parties.

You will provide close and highly confidential policy and operational advice to the Commissioner of CBP on a large and varied number of issues and matters in which the Commissioner is involved on a day-to-day basis. You will research matters and provide the Commissioner with recommended policy and program proposals and solutions. You will be responsible for the oversight and management of the Executive Assistant Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners within the Office of Enterprise Services and Office of Operations Support. You will direct and lead strategies and operations designed to achieve success across a range of enterprise services, to include acquisition services, facilities and asset management, finance, human resources management, information technology, programming, and accountability.

You will be responsible for ensuring that operational support functions, to include centers of innovation, intelligence, planning and evaluation functions, incident and emergency response, international affairs, laboratories and scientific services, and other support functions are agile, visionary, and effective, to promote a stronger CBP.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • 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.
  • Subject to a 1-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
  • If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
  • May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
  • File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
  • You may be required to obtain and maintain a security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
  • Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement.


There are three key documents that contain important information about your rights and obligations. Please read and retain these documents:

  • Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights, for those who undergo an FBI fingerprint-based criminal history record check for personnel vetting, which includes Rap Back,
  • FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI (this is the same statement used when your fingerprints are submitted as part of your background investigation), and
  • SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov), (applicable to those who hold a sensitive position or have eligibility for access to classified information).


If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment.

You must meet the qualification requirements of this position no later than the closing date of the job opportunity announcement.

Qualifications

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. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

As a basic requirement, applicants must demonstrate progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level managerial capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications listed below. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the equivalent of the GS-15 grade level in the Federal service or its equivalent with state and local government, the private sector, or non-governmental organizations.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and the Technical Qualification (TQ) listed below. We recommend that your resume emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of programs managed, and your program accomplishments, including results of your actions.

The application process used to recruit for this position is RESUME-ONLY. YOUR RESUME MUST NOT EXCEED 2 PAGES. Any resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Technical Qualification (TQ).

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (TQ):

Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualification.

TQ 1: Expert knowledge of and experience overseeing the administrative and operational support functions of a large, complex agency or organization, to include experience overseeing process and performance improvements.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs):

In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.

ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding: This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

ECQ 3: Merit and Competence: This core qualification involves demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

ECQ 4: Leading People: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.

ECQ 5: Achieving Results: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

FAILURE TO MEET OR FULLY ADDRESS EACH EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATION AND TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION IN THE RESUME WILL ELIMINATE A CANDIDATE FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION.

If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you must attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

Education

There is no education requirement for this position.

You will be evaluated on the quality and extent of your total accomplishments and experience.

Your resume will be evaluated by a rating and ranking panel, and highly qualified candidates may undergo an interview and a reference check. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection will review results and make recommendations on final selections to the appointing authority. Unless you have already been certified by a Qualifications Review Board (QRB) in the past, your ECQs must be certified by a QRB before an appointment can occur.

Additional information

Recruitment and/or Relocation Incentive: CBP may authorize a recruitment and/or relocation incentive (not to exceed 25% of basic pay) for an eligible selectee. A service agreement would be required.

Relocation Expenses: CBP may choose to pay your relocation expenses in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986: seeks to preserve jobs for those who are legally entitled to them: American citizens and aliens who are authorized to work in our country. This law requires employees to provide a document or documents that establish identity and employment eligibility.

Background Investigation: This position is a sensitive position and the tentative selectee must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation as a condition of placement/retention in the position. A security clearance is required.

Note: The Federal Government does not deny employment to individuals who are currently or who have been unemployed, nor does it deny employment to individuals who have had financial difficulties through no fault of their own.

Drug Testing: This position has been identified as a Testing Designated Position under the Customs and Border Protection, Drug-Free Workplace Program. Satisfactory completion of the drug test is a condition of placement and/or employment in the position and the incumbent(s) of this position is thereafter subject to Random Drug Testing.

Veterans Preference: Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection:

  • is an equal employment employer. Selection for positions will be based solely on merit.


provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

Expand Hide additional information

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

Help

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 federal benefits.

Review DHS benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Customs and Border Protection

More Education, Government & Non-Profit Jobs

Find similar Chief Operating Officer jobs: