Public Affairs Specialist

U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, within the Department of Homeland Security, seeks a candidate to draft and curate social media content, schedule posts, and support campaign strategies.

The role emphasizes collaboration with designers and analysts to ensure timely, on-brand messaging across platforms like X, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. The position requires understanding of content creation tools, social media management, and data-driven adjustments to engagement tactics.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience at GS-07 or equivalent and above duties.
• GS-07 substitution: 1 year of graduate education or a Bachelor's with SAA as substitute.
• GS-09 substitution: 2 years of graduate education may substitute for experience.

Responsibilities

• Draft and curate engaging social media content for platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
• Schedule posts and manage campaigns using social media tools.
• Collaborate with designers and photographers to produce high-quality digital assets.
• Monitor online conversations and analyze public perception to guide future campaigns.

Skills

Content creation

Scheduling posts

Team collaboration

Social listening

Content ideation

Data analysis

Education

Graduate education (1 year)

Bachelor's degree with SAA

Tools

Social media management tools

Content creation tools

Job description

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Public Affairs, Digital Media Engagement Division, located in Washington D. C.

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

Experience: GS-07

You qualify for the GS-07 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Collaborating with team members to draft and curate engaging social media content for platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, ensuring alignment with organizational messaging and brand awareness goals.
• Assisting in the implementation of social media campaigns by utilizing management tools to schedule posts, foster community interaction and adapt content to meet platform-specific algorithms.
• Participating in brainstorming sessions to research and develop content ideas, working closely with designers and photographers to produce high-quality digital assets
• Monitoring and analyzing online conversations and user feedback to track audience behavior, contributing to the development of data-driven strategies for future social media campaigns.

Experience: GS-09

You qualify for the GS-09 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Creating, editing, and publishing written, audio, and video content for various social media platforms (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Threads) to support agency communication goals.
• Working collaboratively within a team to execute modern social media programs, including the implementation of engagement tactics, audience growth strategies, and brand awareness campaigns.
• Conducting daily social media listening to monitor public discussions, identify information gaps, detect rumors or misinformation, and analyze public perception regarding agency-related topics.
• Collaborating with designers, photographers, and agency stakeholders to develop effective social media campaigns and ensure content aligns with agency mission, policies, and strategic objectives.

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.

GS-07 Education Substitution

• Successful completion of one year of full-time graduate education from an accredited college or university may substitute for the experience required at this level. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise a year of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 18 semester or 27 quarter hours.

OR

• A bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) may also substitute for the experience required. It is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average (i.e., GPA 3.0 or higher of a possible 4.0, excluding pass/fail credits. Pass/fail credits cannot be more than 10% of total credits), or (3) honor society membership. Review Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) to see if you qualify under this provision. Please see www.opm.gov for additional information.

GS-09 Education Substitution

Two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for experience required at this level. This education must demonstrate the skills necessary to do the work. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise two years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 36 semester or 54 quarter hours

Combining Education and Experience

When combining education with experience, first determine the applicant's total qualifying education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; then determine the applicant's experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; finally, add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. More information on this qualification standard is located here.

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 09/14/2026.

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 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.