PROGRAM MANAGER

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

$143K — $187K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience managing acquisition programs or portfolios, including cost, schedule, and performance analysis.
  • Proven track record in developing and implementing acquisition goals and policies for large organizations.
  • Experience leading acquisition program reviews with senior officials through presentations and recommendations.
  • Strong analytical skills with a focus on complex acquisition requirements and operational standards.
  • Supervisory experience in assigning work, evaluating performance, and enhancing team productivity.

Responsibilities

  • Supervise and guide acquisition staff, setting performance expectations and evaluating their work.
  • Prepare reports and briefings detailing acquisition program issues for senior management.
  • Analyze operational standards and metrics to support program evaluations and planning.
  • Develop and implement acquisition goals, objectives, and policies for the agency.
  • Participate in contract source selection and manage acquisition activities fairly and impartially.

Benefits

  • Join a dedicated team at the forefront of national security.
  • Opportunities for career advancement within a federal agency.
  • Engage in leadership training immediately upon appointment.
  • Work in a critical role that impacts the efficiency of DHS operations.
Full Job Description
Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters, Program Management Operations Directorate located in Washington, D.C.

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

Duties

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In this position, you will serve as a Program Manager overseeing an acquisition program, portfolio of acquisition programs, or acquisition staff support function within CBP's Office of Acquisition. Your work directly supports CBP and DHS mission execution by managing acquisition activities that affect agency operations, logistics support, and the delivery of services across CBP and DHS components.

This position starts at a salary of $143,913.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $187,093.00 (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.

As a Program Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing acquisition program management functions and supervising acquisition staff in support of CBP and DHS mission requirements. Typical duties will include:

  • Supervising acquisition staff by assigning work, setting performance expectations, evaluating performance, resolving complaints, and identifying training needs.
  • Preparing status reports, briefings, and written materials that identify acquisition program cost, schedule, and performance issues for senior officials.
  • Analyzing acquisition requirements, operational standards, and measures of effectiveness to support program planning and evaluation.
  • Developing, coordinating, and implementing DHS and CBP acquisition goals, objectives, policies, practices, and implementation strategies.
  • Participating in contract source selection and other acquisition activities requiring fair and impartial execution of duties.


Requirements

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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 employees demonstrate the highest level of commitment to protect and serve the United States of America and to exemplify the CBP Core Values of Vigilance, Service to Country and Integrity. Learn more about CBP's mission, core values and careers at https://www.cbp.gov/about
  • 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.
  • Financial Disclosure is required.
  • Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.
  • Security Clearance: You will be required to obtain and maintain a Top Secret or higher level clearance for this position.


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:

  • Managing or overseeing acquisition programs or portfolios by monitoring cost, schedule, and performance and preparing reports or briefings for senior leadership;
  • Developing, coordinating, or implementing acquisition program goals, objectives, policies, procedures, or implementation strategies for a major acquisition organization;
  • Leading acquisition program reviews, technical reviews, or key decision point activities by preparing written analyses, presentations, or recommendations for senior officials;
  • Analyzing complex acquisition requirements, operational standards, measures of effectiveness, or program data to identify issues and recommend solutions;
  • Supervising or leading acquisition staff by assigning work, evaluating performance, resolving work issues, identifying training needs, and improving program processes or productivity.


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 09/23/2026.


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.

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.

Education

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

Additional information

Certification: This is a DHS acquisition certification-covered position. This position requires Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) Federal Acquisition Certification (FAC) for Program and Project Managers (P/PM) Senior-Level Program Management certification with DHS P/PM Specialization, or the ability to obtain this certification within 18 months of placement. The position may also require DHS IT Specialization if assigned to an IT or Mixed Program.

Supervisory Probationary Period: You may be required to serve an 18 month probationary period upon appointment.

Leadership Training: All newly appointed second level Supervisors are required to complete mandatory training. The training will be scheduled by the Office of Training and Development within the first 90 days of appointment. The duration of the training will include 4 weeks of in residence training in Harpers Ferry, WV. Note: This training may be waived if previously completed.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.

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
  • 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.


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