Storage Specialist

U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 62,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is seeking a Storage Specialist in Newark, NJ, within the Office of Laboratories and Scientific Services. The role involves accepting, documenting, storing, preserving, and disposing of samples and forensic materials, with duties spanning chain-of-custody and secure storage.

Starting salary ranges from $61,722.00 to $97,087.00, GS-09 to GS-11, with potential promotion and locality adjustments as applicable.

Qualifications

• Experience receiving, reviewing, and processing evidence or controlled property.
• Ability to track location and status of samples using an automated system.
• Knowledge of packaging, labeling, inventory, and chain-of-custody requirements.

Responsibilities

• Receiving, verifying, documenting, and preparing evidentiary samples and forensic materials.
• Using automated systems to log, track, monitor, and update evidence records.
• Ensuring compliance with packaging, labeling, inventory, and chain-of-custody requirements.
• Coordinating storage, transfer, and disposition of samples and evidence, including vault operations.

Job description

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 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.

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.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service. Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years. 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. As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties.

Bargaining Unit: This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the National Treasury Employees Unions - NTEU. For local chapter contact information see Chapter Websites - National Treasury Employees Union - NTEU.

Motor Vehicle Operation: You must possess the ability to operate a Government Owned Vehicle. A valid, non‑restricted driver’s license is required. You must maintain the ability to access all data systems necessary for duty execution. This position is a designated drug testing position. This position may also require unscheduled overtime.

Only resumes up to a total of two pages will be accepted. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. Do not submit documents as a PDF Portfolios.

Qualifications

• 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.
• 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.

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.).

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.

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.

Education

Are you qualifying based on education? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable at this time; however, official copies will be required prior to entrance on duty) or a list of coursework with hours completed provided from the institution. Education must be from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Education obtained from a foreign university or college is not creditable unless it has been evaluated by an organization that specializes in interpretation of education credentials. Note: If submitting documentation of an evaluation, transcripts are still required.

Disability

• 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service‑connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR
• 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non‑competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Additional Information

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case‑by‑case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.

Additional Hiring and Special Appointing Authorities: See "THIS JOB IS OPEN TO" section above for what additional Appointing Authorities may apply. Veterans, military spouses, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and people with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility and to understand what documentation would be required with your application, please click on the appropriate link below. You must provide documentation supporting your eligibility prior to the closing date of this announcement. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, please contact the CBP Hiring Center via the contact information listed at the end of this job opportunity announcement.

Veterans Military spouses Effective until December 31, 2028, any spouse of a member on active duty may be eligible.

Individuals with Disabilities: The proof of disability documentation must specify that you are eligible to apply using Schedule A. It does NOT need to detail your specific disability, medical history or need for accommodation. For more information visit this link.

Peace Corps and VISTA Land Management Hiring Flexibility Act: The following documents are required at the time of application: SF‑50s to demonstrate that you meet the eligibility requirements and the most recent performance rating signed by your supervisor or a statement from your supervisor documenting acceptable performance.

Other miscellaneous hiring authorities Positions with known promotion potential do not guarantee promotion, nor is the promise of promotion implied.

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 at https://www.cbp.gov/about