Storage Specialist

U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Laboratories and Scientific Services, is seeking qualified candidates for GS-9/GS-11 positions at multiple locations including Long Beach, CA.

The role involves managing evidence, samples, and controlled property, ensuring proper storage, handling, labeling, and disposition in accordance with procedures. Responsibilities include inventory, tracking, and review of documents, maintaining chain-of-custody, and ensuring accuracy across records.

Qualifications

• 1 year of specialized experience at GS-8 level or equivalent performing evidence handling duties.
• Experience tracking location/status of samples using tracking systems.
• Reviewing records for accuracy and requesting missing information.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate receipt, storage, and disposal of evidence or controlled property.
• Monitor secure storage areas and maintain accountability records.
• Ensure compliance with chain-of-custody requirements.

Skills

Evidence handling

Inventory tracking

Documentation review

Chain-of-custody

Security compliance

Education

Master's degree or 2 years grad education or JD/LLB

PhD or 3 years grad education or LLM

Tools

Automated tracking system

Inventory management software

Records reconciliation tools

Job description

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

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 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, 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) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles:

If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement.