Supervisory Import Specialist (Director)

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Training and Development, Trade and Cargo Academy located in Charleston, South Carolina.

Duties

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The Director of the CBP Trade and Cargo Academy leads strategic management and nationwide training operations that prepare CBP personnel to address cross-border commerce threats while supporting legitimate trade and border security. The position oversees planning, policy, staffing, budget, workforce development, and program integration; represents the Academy with CBP and other officials; and applies expert trade enforcement knowledge to ensure training is legally sound, operationally effective, and consistent nationwide.

This position starts at a salary of $147,945.00 (GS-15, Step 1) to $192,331.00 (GS-15, Step 10).

Major duties include:

• Directing the nationwide Trade and Cargo Academy training enterprise, establishing strategic priorities and providing executive leadership for the design, development, delivery, evaluation, and continuous improvement of basic, advanced, and specialized training programs for CBP trade occupations. Ensures training supports CBP's mission, strategic objectives, and operational requirements.
• Serving as the principal technical authority on trade enforcement and compliance training, applying expert knowledge of import and export laws, the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, CBP regulations, trade agreements, and related authorities to ensure national curricula, instructional materials, and training guidance are legally sound, current, and operationally effective.
• Exercising fully delegated second-line supervisory and managerial authority over a multidisciplinary workforce through subordinate supervisors and senior staff. Establishes performance expectations; evaluates subordinate supervisors; approves or recommends personnel actions; resolves significant employee relations matters; and directs workforce development, succession planning, and organizational improvements.
• Leading strategic planning, program evaluation, and resource management for assigned training operations. Develops long-range plans; identifies budget, staffing, facility, and technology requirements; evaluates program effectiveness and internal controls; and directs corrective actions to address national training gaps, operational risks, and changing mission demands.
• Representing the Trade and Cargo Academy in high-level engagements with CBP and DHS executives, field leadership, other federal agencies, congressional stakeholders, and trade-industry partners. Provides authoritative advice, negotiates resource commitments and program agreements, and resolves sensitive, complex issues affecting nationwide trade training and workforce capability.

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

Qualifications

Specialized Experience: You qualify for the GS-15 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Leading the planning, development, delivery, and evaluation of national basic, advanced, or specialized training programs involving import/export operations, trade enforcement, commercial inspection, auditing, or compliance.
• Applying expert knowledge of customs and trade authorities, including the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, federal statutes, CBP regulations, trade agreements, and related import/export requirements, to develop training, guidance, or operational initiatives.
• Managing or coordinating complex, cross-functional programs or projects involving training needs assessments, curriculum reviews, performance analysis, resource planning, and implementation of corrective actions.
• Providing technical and administrative direction to professional staff, instructors, subject-matter experts, or team leads; establishing priorities and performance expectations; and resolving significant operational or program issues.
• Representing an organization in meetings with senior officials, field leadership, external partners, or other government stakeholders to coordinate national initiatives, negotiate resources, and resolve sensitive training or trade-related issues.

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 10/13/2026.

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.

Education

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

Additional information

Supervisory Probationary Period: You may be required to serve an 18 month supervisory 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 5 weeks of in residence training in Harpers Ferry, WV. Note: This training may be waived if previously completed.

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 federal benefits.

Review our 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.