Paralegal Specialist jobs at Department of Homeland Security - 108 jobs

Organizational Location: The positions are with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, within one of the following office locations: * Miami Field Office, located in Miami, FL. * New York Field Office, located in Queens, NY. Summary Organizational Location: The positions are with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, within one of the following office locations: * Miami Field Office, located in Miami, FL. * New York Field Office, located in Queens, NY. Overview Help Accepting applications Open & closing dates 01/09/2026 to 01/15/2026 Salary $90,925 to - $118,204 per year Salary listed reflects the rest of U.S. scale and, if applicable, will be adjusted to meet the locality pay of the duty location upon selection. Pay scale & grade GS 13 Locations Miami, FL 2 vacancies Queens, NY 1 vacancy Remote job No Telework eligible No Travel Required Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position. Relocation expenses reimbursed No Appointment type Permanent Work schedule Full-time Service Competitive Promotion potential 13 Job family (Series) * 0950 Paralegal Specialist Supervisory status Yes Security clearance Not Required Drug test Yes Financial disclosure Yes Bargaining unit status No Announcement number OFO-IMP-12860227-KSH Control number 853956700 This job is open to Help Internal to an agency Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement. Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants. Clarification from the agency Current U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees who are currently working in a permanent competitive service position; Career Transition Assistance Plan CBP employees. Duties Help Joining the Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations will allow you to use your expertise to perform and supervise administrative and operational work of the Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures (FPF) Program. This position starts at a salary of $90,925.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $118,204.00 (GS-13, Step 10). In this Supervisory Paralegal Specialist position, you will become a key member of a team of Homeland Security professionals responsible for the initiation and/or adjudication of civil liabilities arising from seizures, penalties, and claims for liquidated damages. Typical work assignments include: * Supervising the day-to-day operations of a Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures office service area and processing the adjudication of all liquidated damages, penalty, and seizure cases. * Examining and evaluating petitions and supplemental petitions filed by individuals, attorneys, corporations, or other legal entities seeking relief from forfeiture of seizures, penalties, and liquidated damages. * Developing and evaluating all evidence, facts, and circumstances related to the case and makes determinations, decisions, and recommendations within the requirements of the law and regulations. * Applying in-depth knowledge of pertinent laws, CBP regulations, and procedures. * Providing technical training to all CBP employees relative to the implementation of new and/or revised laws, regulations, and programs relevant to the Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures process. 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. Requirements Help 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 * 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. * Financial Disclosure is required. * Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit. Qualifications 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: 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: * Initiating, reviewing and/or adjudicating*seizures, penalties, prior disclosures, immigration carrier fines, and/or claims for liquidated damages through resolution. * Evaluating all evidence, facts, and circumstances relating to cases and making determinations and recommendations as appropriate within the requirements of the mitigation guidelines, policies, laws and regulations, and violators' participation in partnership programs. * Reviewing and making determinations as to the presence of probable cause and/or the acceptability of evidence. * Formulating concise, written responses to official correspondence*which include a summary of the arguments, analysis, and the conclusions of law supporting the decision. * Developing and providing guidance, training, and feedback to CBP and ICE/HSI field personnel regarding seizures, penalties, fines and/or liquidated damages case processing. 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 01/15/2026. 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 eligibilityon 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. Education Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position. Training: This position has a training requirement. You are required to attend and successfully complete the following paid training: * Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures Basic Training for a duration of 3 weeks in Charleston, SC * Custody and Management of Seizure Property Alternative Class for a duration of 2 weeks in Charleston, SC * Designated Agency Representative: Treasury Executive Office for Asset Forfeiture Webinar Incumbent must attend Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act (FOIA/PA) training or must have previously attended FOIA/PA training. You may be required to successfully complete the training requirement as a condition of employment. Failure to successfully complete the required course(s) of training in accordance with CBP standards and policies will result in placement into either a former or different position, demotion, or separation as determined by management and appropriate procedures. Additional information Supervisory Probationary Period: You may be required to serve an 18 month probationary period upon appointment. Leadership Training: All newly appointed first-time CBP Supervisors are required to complete mandatory training. The training will be scheduled by the Office of Training and Development within the first 90 days of appointment. The duration of the training will include 3 weeks of in residence training in Harpers Ferry, WV. Note: This training may be waived if previously completed. Drug Testing: Position is a designated drug testing position. Electronic Communication Device: You may be required to carry an electronic communication device. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here. Please view the video "Protecting America 24/7" to learn more about CBP's Office of Field Operations. 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. Expand Hide additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered. How you will be evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Applicants will only be considered for the Eligibilities for which they claim in the job questionnaire AND must provide the supporting documentation. Applicants will not be considered for Eligibilities for which they did not claim, regardless of the documentation submitted with the application. ******************************************************** You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics). To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The Federal Supervisory Assessment will be used to assess the following Supervisory competencies: * Accountability * Customer Service * Decisiveness * Flexibility * Interpersonal Skills * Problem Solving * Resilience If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be contacted for an interview. As a part of the interview process, additional selection criteria may be administered by the hiring manager. Preview ******************************************************** In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Benefits Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered. Required documents Required Documents Help * 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. A resume in English is required. It must contain your full legal name, address, phone number, complete work history including a detailed description of your duties, the dates you performed those duties (MM/DD/YY), your hours worked per week, job title, as well as series, grade, and salary (if applicable). For additional required items, see the link. *Note- It is recommended that you upload your resume as a PDF instead of a Word document to ensure document quality. Ensure that your uploaded resume is not a password protected document, to include Office 365 passwords. Your resume must only be two pages or less and uploaded under the document type - Resume. No additional document types will be reviewed as part of your resume, only the most recently uploaded version of your resume will be reviewed. * Your responses to the job questionnaire: ******************************************************** * Your responses to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment * 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 an 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 encouraged, but not required, to submit an SF-50(s) for CBP experience; however, additional SF-50(s) are required when using federal experience outside of CBP to receive credit towards the requirements above. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, within-grade increases, and accessions. * 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 copy of your most recent performance rating; 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. * Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your initial and termination SF-50s, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment. * If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here. * 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).