Paralegal Specialist

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO), within the Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures (FPF) Office.

The FPF office is responsible for the initiation and/or adjudication of civil liabilities arising from seizures, penalties, prior disclosures, immigration carrier fines, and claims for liquidated damages initiated under the authority of Title 7 (Agriculture) Title 8 (Aliens and Nationality) and 19 (Customs Duties) of the U.S.

Code (as well as other laws and regulations enforced by DHS). Incumbent is responsible for operational functions of the FPF program. This position starts at a salary of $77,964.00 (GS-11, Step 1) to $121,482.00 (GS-12, Step 10) Salary above excludes COLA.

Please see the following link for specific COLA Rates https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-systems/nonforeign-areas/#url=COLA-Rates Duties include: Initiating and adjudicating civil liabilities arising from seizures, penalties, fines, and claims for liquidated damages initiated under the authority of Title 19 of the United States Code.

Developing and evaluating all evidence, facts, and circumstances relating to cases and makes determinations and recommendations as appropriate within the requirements of the mitigation guidelines, laws, and regulations.

Reviewing and making decisions as to the acceptability of evidence in some seizure, fines, and penalty cases and all liquidated damages. Advising the supervisor/ FPF Officer on problems and solutions involving the relationship of Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures work to broader operations.

GS Salary: Visit this link to view the locality pay tables by geographic area. If you do not see your geographic area listed, select the "Rest of United States" pay table. Some positions fall under a special pay rate depending on the series, grade level and location of the position. Please visit this link to view special pay rate charts.

Experience: You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Receiving, examining, and evaluating petitions filed by individuals, corporations, or attorneys seeking relief from seizures, penalties, or liquidated damages.

Reviewing and making decisions as to the acceptability of evidence in fraud cases, significant seizures cases, and cases involving penalties and liquidated damages. Preparing and recommending decisions on cases within the jurisdiction of the FPF Officer.

Prepares recommendations for granting or denying additional relief and forwards to Headquarters on case under its jurisdiction. Monitoring and organizing own work to ensure timely performance of a satisfactory amount and quality of work.

You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Reviewing and making determinations as to the presence of probable cause and/or the acceptability of evidence in order to ensure the sufficiency of cases within the jurisdiction of the FPF Officer.

Identifying all possible parties with interest and/or liability, ensuring that timely notice is provided, and that all due process requirements are met.

Examining, analyzing, drawing conclusions, recommending decisions and dispositions, based upon review of petitions, offers in compromise, and other submissions, filed by individuals, corporations, or attorneys seeking relief from seizures, penalties, fines, or liquidated damages.

Determining the level of culpability, where appropriate, for the final reviewing office. Providing guidance to CBP and other DHS entities in regards to seizures, penalty, and liquidated damages processing 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.

Education Substitution GS-11: Successful Completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study.

If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement .Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. There is no education substitution at the GS-12 level.

Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages.

The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11.

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 08/04/2026.

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 following link: 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) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP eligible. View information about CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.

You must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement. To be considered well qualified under CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position.