Supervisory Paralegal Specialist

Summary Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, New York Field Office, located in Newark, NJ. Responsibilities Joining the Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations will allow you to use your expertise to provide legal support of those executing the law enforcement duties at the port level. This position starts at a salary of $121,485.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $157,934.00 (GS-13, Step 10). Apply for this exciting opportunity to strengthen Homeland Security by performing paralegal activities such as reviewing and finalizing claims, preparing cases, and participating in the work of a paralegal team. To meet agency needs, this position will be filled on a temporary basis not-to-exceed (NTE) 1 year, with possible extension(s) for an additional 2 years. You may be returned, at any time, to the position from which temporarily promoted, or to a different position of equivalent grade and pay, and that the return is not subject to the procedures found in 5 C.F.R. § 351, 432, 752, and 771. If you are currently a permanent GS-13 you will be laterally reassigned into this position, and may be returned upon completion of the assignment or at any time it is determined that there is no longer an Agency need for this assignment, to the position held prior to this NTE assignment or to a similar permanent position. Return to your original location will be prioritized, but is not guaranteed. At management's discretion, you may be permanently promoted to this position without further competition, or if laterally reassignment, management may decide to remove the NTE terms of this assignment. In this Supervisory Paralegal Specialist position you will become a key member of a team of Homeland Security professionals providing key legal support for the law enforcement duties at the port level. Typical work assignments include: Reviewing and processing all cases within their area of authority through final adjudication and solution Developing and evaluating all evidence, facts, and circumstances relating to cases and makes determinations, decisions, and recommendations within the requirements of the laws and regulations Conducting long-range planning and evaluation activities Providing technical and administrative guidance and assignments to subordinates Identifying developmental and training needs of employees and provides such development and training as necessary Requirements 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) You may be required to pass a background investigation CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures. As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link. DHS uses E-Verify, an internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities. Financial Disclosure is required. Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit. 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. Qualifications Experience: You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Developing and evaluating all evidence, facts, and circumstances related to the case Receiving, examining, and evaluating petitions seeking relief from seizure, penalty, or liquidated damages Applying in-depth knowledge of pertinent laws, regulations, and procedures Overseeing and managing the Seized Property program and expenditures Providing technical training to employees, relative to the implementation of new and/or revised laws, regulations, and programs relevant to the Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures process 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 11/27/2024. 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, review the following links: Background investigation and the e-QIP process. 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 probationary period upon appointment. Leadership Training: All newly appointed first-time 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 SLT three (3) weeks, of in residence training in Harpers Ferry, WV. Note: This training may be waived if previously completed. Training: This position has a training requirement. Selectee(s) are required to attend and successfully complete the following paid training:- Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures Basic Training; 3 weeks, Charleston, SC- Custody and Management of Seized Property Alternate Class; 2 weeks, Charleston, SC- Designated Agency Representative: Treasury Executive Office for Asset Forfeiture webinar. 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. Selectee must attend FOIA/PA training or must have previously attended FOIA/PA training. Selectee may be required to carry an electronic communication device. Please view the video "Protecting America 24/7" to learn more about CBP's Office of Field Operations. 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, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Created: 2024-11-24