Business Specialist (Contracting Officer's Representative)

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Training and Development, Financial Operations Division located in Harpers Ferry, WV. Additional selections may be made for other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

Major duties

In this Business Specialist (Contracting Officer's Representative) position you will become a key team member of Homeland Security professionals support CBP's mission by managing acquisition and procurement requests and providing contract oversight. This position starts at a salary of $85,447.00 (GS-11, Step 1) to $133,142.00 (GS-12, Step 10) with promotion potential to $133,142 (GS-12 Step 10). 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. Typical work assignments include: Creating and reviewing purchase request packages, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance, including Bills of Materials, Independent Government Cost Estimates, Statements of Work/Performance Work Statements, market research reports, executive summaries, funding documentation, and related acquisition materials. Coordinating with budget staff, site points of contact, subject matter experts, Contracting Officers, Local Property Officers, vendors, project managers, and program offices to resolve procurement discrepancies, obtain funding approvals, support equipment delivery, and document contract-related issues and resolutions. Supporting the contract award process by assisting with technical reviews of bids or quotes, updating purchase request documentation, adjusting procurement lines official systems to reflect final award pricing, and notifying stakeholders of contract awards, equipment arrivals, or service start dates. Monitoring assigned contracts, periods of performance, deliverables, contractor payment requests, contract activities, costs, and performance to support continuity of services, timely completion of work, and compliance with cost, schedule, and performance requirements. Serving as a Contracting Officer's Representative within delegated authority by conducting contract surveillance, verifying contractor performance, processing approved invoices documenting performance issues, supporting contract modifications, and preparing official narratives and ratings pertaining to contract performance, 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 You may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards. Due weight will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3). Additionally, if you are a former federal employee, and have been separated from Federal service for over 52 weeks, it is recommended that you submit your most recent rating of record (performance appraisal) when applying.

Qualifications

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: Assisting with reviews of purchase request packages, funding documents, or acquisition materials for accuracy and completeness, including items such as Bills of Materials, cost estimates, statements of work, market research, or supporting justifications. Supporting acquisition or contract award activities by gathering information, updating documents, coordinating with contracting staff, budget staff, program offices, subject matter experts, or vendors, and helping track required actions. Tracking procurement or contract-related activities, including funding status, invoices, deliverables, equipment delivery, periods of performance, or other milestones, and reporting routine status updates to management or stakeholders. Using financial, procurement, or business systems, such as SAP or similar systems, to enter, update, retrieve, reconcile, or report procurement, funding, invoice, or contract information. Identifying routine procurement, funding, delivery, invoice, or contract administration issues and assisting contracting, budget, program, or vendor stakeholders with resolving discrepancies. Education Substitution GS-11: You may substitute a Ph.D. or an equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in any field, or L.L.M for the experience required at the GS-11 grade level. Such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise three years of graduate study. If that information is not available, use 54 semester or 81 quarter hours. You are required to submit proof of your claim. Combining Education and Experience GS-11: 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. More information on this qualification standard is located here. Experience: 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: Independently reviewing and analyzing purchase request packages, funding documents, contract documents, and acquisition materials for accuracy, completeness, consistency, and compliance with applicable procurement regulations, policies, and procedures. Coordinating technical evaluations of bids or quotes with Contracting Officers and subject matter experts, documenting evaluation results, updating purchase request materials, and aligning technical, funding, schedule, and pricing information for contract award. Administering assigned contracts as a Contracting Officer's Representative or equivalent by monitoring contractor performance, costs, deliverables, invoices, contract activities, and periods of performance to ensure compliance with contract terms. Resolving complex procurement, funding, delivery, performance, invoice, or contract administration issues with Contracting Officers, program offices, budget staff, project managers, property officials, and vendors. Preparing or supporting contract modification documentation for changes in terms and conditions, periods of performance, substitutions, terminations, or additional work, and preparing contractor performance inputs such as CPARS narratives or ratings. 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 10/16/2026. 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 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.

Education

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

Requirements

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) All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English 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. Bargaining Unit: This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the National Treasury Employees Unions - NTEU. For local chapter contact information see Chapter Websites - National Treasury Employees Union - NTEU. 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.