Supervisory CBP Officer (Watch Commander - POE)

Customs and Border Protection; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 135,000 - 176,000; Full time

Job summary

Customs and Border Protection, part of the Department of Homeland Security, seeks a Supervisory CBP Officer (Watch Commander) at the Buffalo Field Office in New York. The position oversees cross-location port operations and incident management with a Secret clearance requirement.

Training at the CBP Field Operations Academy is required, with pre- and post-academy sessions. The job offers a GS-14 level salary starting at $135,167 and progressing to $175,722 per year, with local commuting area

Qualifications

• Training: This position has a training requirement.

Responsibilities

• Plan, direct, coordinate, assign, organize, and evaluate work activities across multiple locations at a large port of entry.
• Review procedures, test and recommend process improvements for operational effectiveness.
• Interpret laws and regulations related to admissibility of people, cargo and conveyances; including international mail compliance; vessel and aircraft arrival/departure.

Job description

Supervisory CBP Officer (Watch Commander - POE)

• Hiring Agency: Customs and Border Protection
• Department: Department of Homeland Security

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Buffalo Field Office, located in Buffalo, New York.

Key Responsibilities

Joining the Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations will allow you to use your expertise to manage one or more national programs in order to help to detect and prevent terrorists and instruments of terror from entering/exiting the U.S. This position starts at a salary of $135,167.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $175,722.00 (GS-14, Step 10).

In this Watch Commander position for the Office of Field Operations, you will become a key member of a team of homeland security professionals responsible for managing all reportable incidents, emergent activities within the port. Major duties may include: Planning, directing, coordinating, assigning, organizing, and evaluating all work activities conducted in multiple locations in one or many environments at a large port of entry.

Reviewing current procedures and gathering, testing, and recommending process improvements for operational effectiveness. Managing technical and operational activities regarding the full range of functions or programs supervised. Interpreting laws and regulations of a broad range of Federal, state, and local agencies, relating to the admissibility of people, cargo and conveyances; international mail compliance; arrival and departure of vessels and aircraft.

If going from a LEO Covered Position to a Secondary CBPO Special Retirement Covered (SRC) Position: Please be advised that when you enter on duty in this Secondary CBPO SRC position you will no longer be covered under the Special Retirement System for Law Enforcement Officers, but will only be covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).

For further information on the Secondary CBPO Enhanced Retirement Coverage, please see the Qualifications section If going from a Primary CBPO Special Retirement Covered (SRC) Position to a Secondary CBPO SRC Position and you have less than 3 years in a Primary CBPO SRC Position: Please be advised that when you enter on duty in this Secondary CBPO SRC position you will no longer be covered under the Special Retirement System for CBP Officers, but will only be covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or covered under your applicable non-special retirement system depending upon previous service.

For further information on the Secondary CBPO SRC, please see the Qualifications section.

This vacancy has a local commuting area requirement, as defined below: The area surrounding the duty station by which people reasonably travel back and forth from home to work; Or The employee's permanent duty station is located within the reasonable travel area surrounding the duty station of this vacancy; Or if applicable For employees who are detailed or temporarily promoted for more than 1 year to another duty location, the detailed or temporary duty location is considered to be the duty location of record for commuting area purposes.

For employees detailed or temporarily promoted for less than one year, the permanent duty location is considered the duty location of record for commuting area purposes.

Requirements & Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position. Training: This position has a training requirement. Selectee(s) are required to attend and successfully complete 101-days of paid training at the CBP Field Operations Academy (FOA) in Glynco, GA. Prior to arriving at the FOA, selectee's must complete approximately 7-10 days of pre-academy training.

Upon successful completion of FOA training, selectee's must complete an additional 14-17 weeks of post-academy training the selectee(s) assigned duty station. You may be required to successfully complete the training requirement as a condition of employment.

Failure to successfully complete the required course(s) of training in accordance with CBP standards and policies will result in placement into either a former or different position, demotion, or separation as determined by management and appropriate procedures.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $135167 – $175722/yr.

What security clearance is required?

This position requires a Secret security clearance.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-11-10.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.

Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government · Retrieved 2026-11-05 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.gov