Paralegal Specialist -Open & closing dates 07/25/2018to08/07/2018 -Salary $45,850 to $72,911 per year -Pay scale & grade GS 7 - 9 -Work schedule Full-Time -Appointment type Permanent -Location -Otay, CA -Relocation expenses reimbursed No -Duties -Summary Organizational Location:This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, San Diego Field Office, Otay Mesa Cargo Facility, Otay, CA. The local commuting area (LCA) is defined as the area surrounding the duty station by which people reasonably travel back and forth from home to work. -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 $45,850 (GS-7, Step 1) to $72,911 (GS-9, Step 10) with promotion potential to $88,215 (GS-11, 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. In this 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: -Performing legal support work arising from seizures, penalties, and liquidated damages assessed under applicable laws and regulations -Reviewing and finalizing claims for liquidated damages and penalty cases -Preparing synopses of cases including alternatives and recommended solutions -Holding conferences with the importing public to provide status of cases or required procedures -Travel Required Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position. -Supervisory status No -Promotion Potential 11 -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 -You may be required to pass a background investigation and/or polygraph -You may be required to pass initial and random drug testing -Qualifications Specialized Experience: GS-7:You qualify at the GS-7 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the skills needed to perform the job duties. Such examples include analyzing facts and information and summarizing it for use in penalty notices and decisions on petitions for relief; attending conferences between violators and senior Specialists; providing technical assistance; and searching for citations of law, precedent court and administrative decisions, and regulatory material. GS-9:You qualify at the GS-9 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the skills needed to perform the job duties. Such examples include participating in the substantive development of fines, penalties and forfeiture cases by analyzing and evaluating seizure, fraud, liquidated damages and penalty cases where clear precedents exist and recommending the disposition of cases; reviewing all case documents and evidence to determine nature of violation; and correlating all evidence, investigative reports, and information obtained from other U.S. Customs and Border officials. 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. Education Substitution: GS-7:You may substitute successful completion of one year of full-time graduate education for the experience required at the GS-7 level. This education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise a year of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 18 semester or 27 quarter hours. GS-7:You may also substitute superior academic achievement for the experience required at the GS-7 level. You must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, or have a class standing in the upper third of a graduating class or major subdivision, or membership in a national scholastic honor society. Refer to www.cbp.gov for additional information. GS-9: You may substitute a Master's degree or 2 full years of graduate education in any field or a L.L.B. or J.D. degree for the experience required at the GS-9 grade level. Such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the skills necessary to do the work. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise two years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 36 semester or 54 quarter hours. You are required to submit proof of your claim. 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 08/07/2018.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 more information visit -. Probationary Period: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. Information about CTAP eligibility can be found -. To be considered well qualified under CTAP, you must possess the knowledge, skills and abilities and/or competencies clearly exceeding the minimum requirements of the position. This will be measured by a score of 85 or higher. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed in 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. -Additional information -This position is covered under the bargaining unit. -including your rights and responsibilities. -Applicants will only be considered for the Eligibilities for which they claim (and provide supporting documentation) based on the responses provided in the job questionnaire: -Security clearance -Your resume:A resume describing your job-related qualifications is required and will be used for the purpose of reviewing your qualifications and determining what training, if any, would be required when placed. Your resume must be in English and must include your job titles and a detailed description of your duties and the dates you performed them (MM/DD/YY), as well as your hours per week for each position listed. Your resume should also contain your full name, address, phone number, email address, and salary. NOTE: Resumes stored on USAJOBS will not automatically carry over to this announcement. You must upload your resume and any other applicable supporting documentation. -Your responses to the job questionnaire: -Are you a current or former federal employee?ALL CURRENT AND FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES MUST SUBMIT THE MOST RECENT COPY OF THEIR SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing competitive status: Tenure 1 or 2 in Block 24 and Position Occupied 1 in Block 34. Additionally, applicants should also submit a SF-50 reflecting the highest grade held on a permanent basis in the competitive service or the full performance level of your current position, whichever is higher, AND a SF-50 to support having met the time-in-grade requirement of having served 52 weeks at the grade level (or equivalent) below the grade level(s) for this position. Current CBP Employees are not required to submit SF-50s, but are highly encouraged to do so, especially if you are using federal experience outside of CBP as your highest full performance level or for meeting this position's time-in-grade requirement. -Are you qualifying based on education?Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable at this time; however, official copies will be required prior to entrance on duty) or a list of coursework with hours completed provided from the institution. Education must be from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Education obtained from a foreign university or college is not creditable unless it has been evaluated by an organization that specializes in interpretation of education credentials. For a listing of accrediting agencies see -Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)?You must submit a separation notice; your most recent SF-50 (noting your current position, grade level and duty location); a current (or last) performance rating of record of at least fully successful or equivalent; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; or a Military Department of National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456. -Veterans' preference points are not applicable to Merit Promotion announcements -Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee?Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: -Position title -Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee) -Agency -Beginning and ending dates of appointment -You may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards. Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards as an indication of quality prior experience, no points will be assigned. -will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more. -You must submit your resume, your online questionnaire, and any supporting documents by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on 08/07/2018. It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. -Next steps -Once the job opportunity announcement has closed, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews. You will be notified by email after each of these steps has been completed. Stay informed of changes to your application status by signing up for automatic email alerts with your -(Declaration for Federal Employment), and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment. -A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.