DHS Attache to Central America

DHS Attache to Central America

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

DHS Headquarters

Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans

Open & closing dates

 07/09/2020 to 07/23/2020

Service

Senior Executive

Pay scale & grade

ES 00

Salary

$131,239 to $197,300 per year

Summary

This position is in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans (PLCY), Office of International Affairs (OIA). This position provides DHS leadership with expertise on international partnerships critical to achieving homeland security goals and to the security of the United States, while OIA builds support among countries and international organizations for homeland security initiatives.

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Responsibilities

In this position, you will serve as the representative of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to the Governments of Central America and within the U.S. Embassies and U.S. Consulates in Central America; advise Ambassadors and U.S. Missions in Central America on homeland security issues, which includes making recommendations on law enforcement, policy, and operational issues affecting homeland security, including preventing terrorist attacks, narcotics trafficking, alien smuggling and trafficking, and other threats; coordinate the provision of security sector assistance from the Departments of State and Defense, to include funding for training, technical assistance, and expert advice, to the Governments of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama as they enhance their law enforcement and customs/immigration management institutions. This requires expertise and experience in border law enforcement techniques such as criminal investigation, apprehension, and detention. You will strategically plan to establish coordinated law enforcement operations with a focus on human smuggling and trafficking among Central American and U.S. law enforcement counterparts, which involves criminal investigations, interdiction activities, and information sharing programs. In developing these coordinated actions, the incumbent will utilize his/her own and component expertise and experience in developing coordinated law enforcement operations. You will organize and coordinate DHS participation, including developing recommendations and proposals, for U.S. foreign assistance programs to Central America, including but not limited to, the Central American Regional Security Initiative and other forms of security sector assistance and the U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America, which includes providing border (air, maritime, and land) border security and law enforcement training in areas such as criminal apprehension and detention activities; arrest techniques; border management strategies and techniques; and monitoring, tracking, and interdicting illicit border activity (including counter narcotics) for Central American law enforcement agencies. You will interacts with the Central American immigration, border (air, maritime, and land) security, and law enforcement community on behalf of DHS and work with appropriate officials throughout DHS to resolve issues/difficulties that arise in matters such as the removal of Central Americans from the United States to their home countries and other key issues stemming from activities involving U.S. and Central American interests; serve as principal advisor and key decision-maker for the Department regarding DHS engagement with Central America, especially in situations involving multiple DHS components and/or close coordination with other USG departments and agencies or Central American counterpart ministries and agencies, including on issues relating to policy as well as operational planning and implementation, drawing on the incumbent's law enforcement, border security, and immigration policy expertise and experience. You will lead and be responsible for the strategic direction and unity of effort of DHS activities for the entirety of Central America and as appropriate, engage U.S. and Central American government counterparts, the private sector, and other non-governmental groups throughout Central America, in conjunction and in support of

the goals of DHS and U.S. Embassies in the region; promote DHS objectives and proposals, including, expanding cooperation and collaboration, organizing and/or coordinating DHS participation in meetings and conferences, and leading and/or coordinating DHS participation in negotiations with the Central American governments in areas affecting DHS mission and responsibilities. You will report to DHS headquarters, to the Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans (PLCY) through the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs (Western Hemisphere) and in coordination with the Joint Task Force (JTF) Directors any information derived from host government interaction which may be of interest;

identify issues of concern to DHS; make recommendations and develop background material for use in briefings for the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary, and other senior DHS officials; assist and, as necessary, accompany senior DHS officials on visits to Central America, coordinating the agenda and logistics for the visit. You will initiate professional relationships and work closely with mission representatives from other U.S. Government agencies on issues of mutual concern. At the assigned Diplomatic Post, you will support the Department on the ICASS Budget Committee and the ICASS Council ensuring that DHS PLCY equities are met and served, but also organize the greater DHS Component coalition to maintain and achieve administrative outcomes that benefit the DHS community.