Chief Operating Officer

Department of Homeland Security

Washington, District of Columbia Full-time $151,661 – $228,000 Closes Jul 6, 2026

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security; within U.S. Customs and Border Protection; in Office of the Commissioner. For more information about U.S. Customs and Border Protection, please visit https://www.cbp.gov/about.

Duties

  • As Chief Operating Officer (COO), you will work with the Commissioner of CBP to bring greater understanding of the operational requirements of the agency and provide strategic direction and oversight of enterprise services and operational support components.
  • You will provide clarity to business-related goals and projections and prepare reports to external stakeholders on agency operations.
  • You will be responsible for positively representing the agency and interfacing with executives at DHS, the White House, Members of Congress, and representatives of other interested parties.
  • You will provide close and highly confidential policy and operational advice to the Commissioner of CBP on a large and varied number of issues and matters in which the Commissioner is involved on a day-to-day basis.
  • You will research matters and provide the Commissioner with recommended policy and program proposals and solutions.
  • You will be responsible for the oversight and management of the Executive Assistant Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners within the Office of Enterprise Services and Office of Operations Support.
  • You will direct and lead strategies and operations designed to achieve success across a range of enterprise services, to include acquisition services, facilities and asset management, finance, human resources management, information technology, programming, and accountability.
  • You will be responsible for ensuring that operational support functions, to include centers of innovation, intelligence, planning and evaluation functions, incident and emergency response, international affairs, laboratories and scientific services, and other support functions are agile, visionary, and effective, to promote a stronger CBP.
  • For an overview of the diverse responsibilities CBP carries out within the Government, visit our website at cbp.gov.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen. 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. Subject to a 1-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed). Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency. If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.

May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests. File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on. You may be required to obtain and maintain a security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.

Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement. There are three key documents that contain important information about your rights and obligations. Please read and retain these documents: Noncriminal Justice Applicant’s Privacy Rights, for those who undergo an FBI fingerprint-based criminal history record check for personnel vetting, which includes Rap Back, FD-258 Privacy Act Statement – FBI (this is the same statement used when your fingerprints are submitted as part of your background investigation), and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov), (applicable to those who hold a sensitive position or have eligibility for access to classified information).

If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment. You must meet the qualification requirements of this position no later than the closing date of the job opportunity announcement.

Education

There is no education requirement for this position. You will be evaluated on the quality and extent of your total accomplishments and experience. Your resume will be evaluated by a rating and ranking panel, and highly qualified candidates may undergo an interview and a reference check. The U.S.

Customs and Border Protection will review results and make recommendations on final selections to the appointing authority. Unless you have already been certified by a Qualifications Review Board (QRB) in the past, your ECQs must be certified by a QRB before an appointment can occur.

Benefits

Review DHS benefits.

Required Documents

Prepare the documents below before applying. Always confirm the exact requirements on the official announcement, since they vary by position:

  • Prepare the documents below before applying.
  • Always confirm the exact requirements on the official announcement, since they vary by position: A complete application includes the items described below.
  • Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive special consideration for which you may be eligible).
  • Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit.
  • Some documents may not apply to all applicants. 1.
  • RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages (i.e., 1 page that is double-sided or 2 pages that are one-sided each) showing all relevant experience.
  • Applicants seeking an initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must include evidence of the ECQs and TQs.
  • PLEASE DO NOT USE USAJOBS RESUME BUILDER.
  • Vacancy announcement number EXSER/26-12976828 -CBP Full name, e-mail and mailing addresses, and day and evening telephone numbers Educational information, including the name, city and state of colleges or universities you attended, as well as the type and year of any degree received.
  • Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S.

About this role

The Chief Operating Officer position with the Department of Homeland Security is based in Washington, District of Columbia. Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security; within U.S. The role pays $151,661 to $228,000 per year.

Day to day, the work involves the core duties of the Chief Operating Officer role as detailed in the announcement below. The full list of duties, conditions, and required documents appears in the official announcement linked on this page.

Who should apply

This role calls for United States citizenship and the ability to obtain and hold a security clearance. Be prepared for a pre-employment drug screening as part of the hiring process. Match your federal resume directly to the announcement's wording so a reviewer can confirm each requirement in writing. For this Chief Operating Officer position with the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, District of Columbia, confirm you meet each requirement before applying.

How competitive it is

At $151,661 to $228,000 per year, this is a mid-to-senior role where a precisely tailored application matters most. Because it is a supervisory or senior position, expect experienced candidates and a strong emphasis on a documented leadership and performance record. The security clearance requirement means a longer hiring timeline, so patience and an early application help. Based in Washington, District of Columbia, it competes within that local market, which can mean lighter competition than major metropolitan postings. The announcement closes on July 6, 2026, and federal postings can close early once enough applications arrive, so applying promptly is wise.

This overview is general guidance from Job Army to help you understand the role. Always read the official announcement for exact duties, qualifications, and requirements before applying.

Job Details

Department Department of Homeland Security
Job Type Full-time
Location Washington, District of Columbia
Salary $151,661 – $228,000
Pay Period Per Year
Closing Date Jul 6, 2026
Posted Jun 22, 2026
Source ID EXSER/26-12976828 -CBP
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