Storage Specialist

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Laboratories and Scientific Services. There is (1) vacancies at each of the following locations: Chicago, IL Long Beach, CA Newark, NJ

Duties

In this Storage Specialist position, you will become a key team member of Homeland Security professionals who are responsible for the acceptance, documentation, storage, preservation and disposition of samples related to the analysis of trade samples, controlled substances, controlled substances reference materials and training aids, digital forensics and latent print evidence. This position starts at a salary of $61,722.00 (GS-09, Step 1) to $97,087.00 (GS-11, Step 10) with promotion potential to $97,087 (GS-11 Step 10). Salary: Salary listed reflects the rest of U.S. scale and, if applicable, will be adjusted to meet the locality pay or cost of living expenses of the duty location upon selection. 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. Typical duties may include: Receiving, verifying, documenting, and preparing evidentiary samples, controlled substances, and forensic materials submitted for laboratory analysis; reviewing documentation for accuracy and completeness. Using automated systems to log, track, monitor, and update evidence records from initial receipt through final disposition, ensuring data accuracy and timely system updates. Ensuring samples and evidence comply with established packaging, labeling, inventory, secure storage, and chain-of-custody requirements in accordance with agency property management guidelines and quality assurance standards. Coordinating the storage, transfer, return, and final disposition of samples and evidence, including supporting secure vault operations and physical inventory accountability.

Qualifications

Experience: You qualify for the GS-09 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Receiving, reviewing, and processing documents related to the transfer, return, storage, or final disposal of evidence, samples, or controlled property. Tracking and monitoring the location and status of samples, evidence, or controlled property using an automated tracking system or database. Reviewing forms, records, or reports for accuracy and completeness, identifying discrepancies, and requesting missing or corrected information when needed. Assisting with inventory, storage, packaging, labeling, or chain-of-custody requirements for evidence, samples, or controlled property. Experience: You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Coordinating the receipt, storage, tracking, inventory, transfer, return, or final disposal of evidence, samples, or controlled property in accordance with established procedures. Reviewing and resolving discrepancies involving incomplete, conflicting, or inaccurate records, documentation, inventory data, or tracking information. Determining appropriate storage, handling, packaging, labeling, or disposition requirements for evidence, samples, hazardous materials, or other controlled property. Monitoring secure storage areas, conducting inventories, maintaining accountability records, and ensuring compliance with physical security or chain-of-custody requirements. 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. Education Substitution GS-9: You may substitute a Master's degree or 2 full years of graduate education or a J.D or L.L.B. degree for specialized experience required at the GS-9 grade level. Such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise two years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 36 semester or 54 quarter hours. Education Substitution GS-11: You may substitute a Ph.D. or an equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in any field, or L.L.M for the specialized experience required at the GS-11 grade level. Such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise three years of graduate study. If that information is not available, use 54 semester or 81 quarter hours. You are required to submit proof of your claim. Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11. (When crediting education that requires specific course work, prorate the number of hours of related courses required as a proportion of the total education to be used.). More information on this qualification standard is located here. 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 11/16/2026. 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, producti