PROGRAM MANAGER

U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is seeking a qualified professional for a GS-14 level role in Washington, DC.

The position involves managing acquisition programs, setting objectives, and leading program reviews to support senior leadership with actionable analyses and recommendations. Responsibilities include supervising staff, ensuring policy adherence, and coordinating implementation strategies across major acquisition initiatives.

Qualifications

• Resume must explicitly indicate how you meet the qualification requirements.
• Time-in-grade: 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent by 09/23/2026.
• Residency requirement: must have resided in the United States or its protectorates for at least three of the last five years.

Responsibilities

• 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 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 issues, identifying training needs, and improving program processes or productivity.

Skills

Acquisition management

Program oversight

Leadership and supervision

Policy implementation

Data analysis

Job description

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.

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 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 eligibility on 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.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons 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 for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, you may contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.