Realty Specialist

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Facilities and Asset Management, Integrated Services Division, Real Property Program Management Office in Aliso Viejo, CA; Euless, TX; and Washington, DC. The open period for this job opportunity announcement may be extended to allow for a sufficient applicant pool.

Duties

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 This position is located within the Integrated Services (IS) Division, which brings together a diverse workforce, including Certified Program Managers, acquisition professionals, Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs), energy and environmental specialists, real estate professionals, architects, engineers, and technical designers to develop optimal solutions to meet the needs of OFAM and business partners. The Realty Specialist serves as a senior technical expert and program manager for CBP real estate services, leading complex acquisition, leasing, portfolio-planning, space-management, and property-disposal activities. The position provides strategic advice on real estate transactions, evaluates utilization and cost options, negotiates lease terms, and manages multi-year realty projects with CBP, DHS, GSA, and other stakeholders. This work supports CBP's mission by ensuring the agency has cost-effective, compliant, and strategically located facilities and real property needed to sustain operations and meet evolving mission requirements. This position starts at a salary of $125,776.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $163,514.00 (GS-14, Step 10). 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. Performs work involving complex issues within CBP's realty program by assessing and addressing the space needs of multiple organizations; providing expert guidance on real property acquisition, utilization, lease administration, and disposal; managing strategic space and portfolio planning; and ensuring the interests of tenants and other affected stakeholders are considered in realty documents and project decisions. The work encompasses the lifecycle of acquiring, managing, and disposing of real property and associated legal interests. Performs technical and administrative duties related to real property transactions, assignments, utilization, lease administration, and disposal in accordance with applicable Federal laws, regulations, policies, and agency guidance. Applies extensive knowledge of real estate law, principles, practices, markets, property acquisition, leasing, portfolio management, and space utilization to resolve complex or sensitive realty issues. Serves as a spokesperson and technical representative for real property matters, engaging with senior OFAM, CBP, DHS, and external Federal, state, and local stakeholders. Performs project planning and management functions, including developing project-management strategies, schedules, tracking mechanisms, and budget estimates for proposed and approved realty projects, including construction, alteration, relocation, and space-management initiatives. Develops and evaluates alternatives for meeting CBP space requirements, including leasing, purchase, construction, reconfiguration, consolidation, co-location, or relocation, and prepares lease-versus-purchase and other cost analyses to support realty decisions.

Qualifications

Experience: You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Providing technical expertise to customers and external partners on a variety of real property actions to include fee acquisitions, leases, permits, and more covering the entire acquisition process from requirements development, market survey, instrument drafting and execution. Negotiating, resolving, and implementing advice and technical guidance from a variety of sources to include legal, environmental, construction, and technical sources. Obtaining, reviewing, and approving real property instruments such as surveys, title reports, appraisals, and title transfer documentation. Performing lease administration capabilities including enforcement of lease provisions, requests for rent adjustments, and resolution of day-to-day lease issues and negotiations. Developing project management strategies, schedules, requirements development, cost estimates, and coordination of various supporting activities (IT, security, furniture acquisition, etc.) to demonstrate project planning and management capabilities. 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 by 10/06/2026. 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. 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 leas