Public Affairs Specialist

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Public Affairs, Washington D.C. 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

Major duties

This position starts at a salary of $102,415.00 (GS-12, Step 1) to $158,322.00 (GS-13, Step 10) Typical duties include but not limited to: Developing, coordinating, and executing comprehensive social media content plans and campaigns designed to effectively communicate the CBP mission, programs, and services. This involves researching, creating, and publishing diverse digital content including graphics, video, and written posts while ensuring strict adherence to agency brand guidelines, communication policies, and established clearance procedures to maintain accuracy and relevance. Monitoring social media platforms and online discussions to track public sentiment, emerging trends, and conversations regarding agency operations and policies. The incumbent utilizes specialized analytics tools to evaluate key performance indicators, such as reach and engagement, and prepares detailed reports and actionable recommendations to support leadership in refining messaging and maintaining situational awareness. Managing daily public engagement by reviewing and responding to inquiries and comments across all agency channels. This includes identifying and addressing misinformation related to agency operations and illegal immigration, while coordinating with subject matter experts and legal counsel to ensure all public-facing communications comply with federal privacy, security, and records management requirements. Providing expert strategic advice to Public Affairs leadership and agency officials regarding the development and execution of social media communications. The incumbent participates in planning meetings to integrate digital efforts into broader agency objectives, identifies potential communication risks, and recommends proactive strategies to enhance public understanding of the agency's mission and activities. 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.

Qualifications

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: Responding to complex and sensitive media inquiries regarding agency policies, including those involving the processing of an alien or enforcement actions related to illegal immigration, while strictly adhering to security, privacy, and trade secret requirements. Arranging and coordinating media and community member visits to field and headquarters locations to facilitate transparency and understanding of the agency's mission. Liaised with Federal, state, local, and tribal government officials, to coordinate public affairs efforts and ensure consistent messaging across all levels of government 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, implementing, and overseeing comprehensive, agency-wide social media strategies and campaigns. This includes formulating long-term content plans that align with organizational mission and policy objectives and managing the full lifecycle of digital content creation to ensure accuracy, brand consistency, and impact across diverse platforms. Conducting systematic social media monitoring and sentiment analysis to identify emerging trends, potential rumors, and the spread of misinformation. This includes synthesizing complex data into actionable intelligence reports to inform senior leadership on public perception and to proactively adjust communication strategies in a dynamic online environment Managing public engagement on sensitive, controversial, or high-profile topics, such as the processing of an alien or trends in illegal immigration. This includes providing expert guidance on crisis communications, coordinating with legal counsel and subject matter experts to ensure factual accuracy, and ensuring all public-facing responses strictly comply with the Privacy Act, and other federal regulatory requirements Providing expert strategic advice and comprehensive support to senior leadership regarding the development and administration of an agency's communications program. This includes participating in high-level strategic planning, offering data-driven recommendations to mitigate reputational risk, and ensuring social media efforts are fully integrated with broader organizational goals and strategic communications frameworks. 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 09/10/2026. 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) 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. Positions with known promotion potential do not guarantee promotion, nor is the promise of promotion implied 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.

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 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.