Supervisory Import Specialist (Director)

Customs and Border Protection; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 148,000 - 192,000; Full time

Job summary

Customs and Border Protection seeks the Director of the CBP Trade and Cargo Academy in Charleston, SC. This role leads strategic management and nationwide training operations to prepare CBP personnel for cross-border commerce threats while supporting legitimate trade and border security.

You will oversee planning, policy, staffing, budget, workforce development, and program integration; supervise a multidisciplinary team; apply expert trade enforcement knowledge to ensure curricula are current,

Responsibilities

• Direct nationwide Trade and Cargo Academy training programs.
• Establish strategic priorities and oversee design, delivery, evaluation, and improvement.
• Ensure training supports CBP's mission and operational requirements.
• Apply knowledge of import/export laws to keep curricula current.
• Lead workforce development and organizational improvements.
• Represent the Academy in high-level engagements with CBP, DHS, and partners.

Job description

Supervisory Import Specialist (Director)

• 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 Training and Development, Trade and Cargo Academy located in Charleston, South Carolina.

Key Responsibilities

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 & Education

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

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 $147945 – $192331/yr.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-10-13.

Who is eligible to apply?

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