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Agriculture Specialist

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Positions

Series and Grade:

GS-401- GS 5/7

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Agriculture specialists serve as expert and technical consultants in the inspection, intelligence, analysis, examination, and law enforcement activities related to the importation of agricultural/commercial commodities and conveyances at the various ports of entry. Responsibilities for this position include applying a wide range of Federal, state, and local laws and agency regulations when determining the admissibility of agriculture commodities while preventing the introduction of harmful pests, diseases, and potential agro-terrorism into the United States. Agriculture Specialists participate in special enforcement, targeting, or analysis teams charged with collecting and analyzing information and identifying high-risk targets. They plan, conduct, and supervise remedial actions such as treating, disinfecting, and decontaminating prohibited commodities, conveyances, contaminants, or agricultural materials. Initial appointments to the Agriculture Specialist position are made at the GS-5, GS-7 and GS-9 levels with promotion potential to the GS-11 level.

Requirements:

Requirements for the Agriculture Specialist position vary by GS Level. All levels require an earned bachelor's or higher degree with a major field of study in biological sciences (including botany, entomology and plant pathology), agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry or a closely related field or a combination of experience and education that includes twenty-four semester hours in the disciplines listed above and job experience in areas such as pest control, pesticide application, inspecting aircraft or passengers, x-ray or environmental monitoring, disease control, insect detection/eradication or pest control.

Education:

• GS-5 - A bachelor's or higher degree with a major field of study in biological sciences (including botany, entomology and plant pathology), agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry or a closely related field is required. A combination of experience and education including twenty-four semester hours in the disciplines listed above and job experience in areas such as pest control, pesticide application, inspecting aircraft or passengers, x-ray or environmental monitoring, or disease control, insect detection/eradication or pest control.
• GS-6 - you must meet the requirements for the GS-5 and have superior academic achievement, one year of graduate level education in a field of study outlined above, or one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level.
• The GS-7 - requirements of GS6 and one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 level, a master's degree or two years of graduate education in a field of study outlined above.

Conditions:

Agriculture Specialists must be willing and available to work overtime and rotating shifts, sometimes under arduous conditions; they may also be rotated between assignments and duty locations. They are subject to random drug testing.

Training:

New hires must successfully complete 8-12 weeks of paid training at the Professional Development Center in Frederick, Maryland. Additional training is provided at the assigned duty location.

Duty Location:

CBP ports of entry including land borders, airports, seaports, and pre-clearance stations