Clarification from the agency

Recent graduates who have completed, within the previous two years a qualifying degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or completed a qualifying career or technical education program; Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree due to military service obligation but are within six years from the date on which the requirements for their degree/academic course of study were completed. Refer to the qualifications section for additional information.

This is a Recent Graduate appointment in the Pathways Program. Selected individuals are placed in a dynamic one year development program in the excepted service designed to lead to a competitive civil service career in the Federal government. At the successful conclusion of this program, the agency may non-competitively convert individuals to a term (position lasting 1-4 years with an extension up to 120 days) or permanent position within the competitive service. Conversion to a Federal competitive service position will be at the discretion of the agency and is neither guaranteed nor implied.

This position starts at a salary of $50,460.00 (GS-7, Step 1) to $80,243.00 (GS-9, Step 10) with promotion potential to $116,362 (GS-12 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.

In this position, you will become a key member of the Laboratories and Scientific Services Directorate team. Typical work assignments include:

• Performing chemical and physical tests, forensic analyses, and/or weapons of mass destruction (WMD) detections on samples of imported merchandise or seized materials submitted to the field laboratory. Performs analyses of assigned samples in the laboratory or in the field, develops identity, grade and composition, information regarding origins, methods of manufacture, etc., using wet laboratory procedures or advanced analytical instrumentation.
• Receiving samples submitted for analyses, reviews background material, performs preliminary examination of samples, reviews pertinent regulations, determines information needed to satisfy the submitting officers' requests.- Provides general advice to CBP employees on sampling and sample storage procedures, analytical methodology, instruments and problems associated with analyzing samples and providing solution to these problems.
• Organizing and writing test reports and briefings, articulating technical findings, interpretations, and conclusions. Writes technical reports and papers describing laboratory work with sufficiency, technical merit and compliance with the LSS Quality system.
• Appearing as a witness in court proceedings or may provide technical assistance in prosecution cases.

Conditions of employment

• 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 (additional details below)
• 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. Please review further details via the following link.
• 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.
• DHS uses E-Verify, an internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.
• 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:

Qualifications

Individual Occupational Requirements: To be eligible for consideration, you must submit the required documentation with your application package showing that you meet the requirements such as college transcripts from an accredited institution (must show you meet the educational requirements outlined in this announcement), certifications, proof of training, statements of qualifications, etc.

Basic Requirements:

A. Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience -- course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Experience: You qualify for the GS-07 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Serving as a chemist trainee performing routine chemical analysis on a limited range of samples;
• Assisting higher level chemists by preparing samples for analysis;
• Setting the controls of and making adjustments to instrumentation and automated equipment;
• Checking the laboratory equipment for readiness; and
• Compiling, reducing and making routine interpretations of field data

Education Substitution: A bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, class standing in the upper third of a graduating class or major subdivision, or membership in a national honor society; OR one full year of graduate level education at an accredited or pre-accredited college or university.

Combining Experience and Education: A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and experience that totals one year.

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:

• Serving as an advanced chemist trainee and selecting appropriate test samples;
• Performing preliminary chemical analysis; and
• Making computations and applying correction factors and plotting preliminary prediction values

Education Substitution: A master's or equivalent degree or 2 full years of progressively higher graduate education leading to such a degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university.

Combining Experience and Education: A combination of successfully completed graduate school education in excess of one year and required experience that totals one year.

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 05/28/2026.

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.

You are eligible for this appointing authority if you are an individual who: Completed, within the previous two years by 05/28/2026, a qualifying associate's, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or completed a qualifying career or technical education program (which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps) . Review Recent Graduates for additional eligibility information. If you are a veteran who was unable to apply within two years of receiving your degree due to military service obligation, you have as long as six years after degree completion to apply. You must submit a copy of your transcripts showing type of degree received and date degree was received. In addition, if you are a veteran who was unable to apply within two years of receiving your degree due to military service obligation, please provide a copy of your DD-214 or a written statement from the armed forces certifying your dates of service and your rank, expected type of discharge and anticipated date of separation.

To be eligible for conversion, Recent Graduates must:

• Successfully complete at least year of continuous service in addition to all requirements of the program;
• Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted;
• Meet agency-specific requirements and expectations as specified in the Participant's Agreement; and
• Perform their job successfully.

EXPECTED TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT:

• Orientation program for Recent Graduates hired for the program;
• Mentorship throughout the program;
• Individual Development Plan to create and track Recent Graduates' career planning, professional development, and training activities;
• At least 40 hours of formal, interactive training each year of the program;
• Positions offer opportunity for career advancement.

Recent Grad Promotions: Per CBP Policy, Recent Graduates are not eligible for promotions while in the one (1) year program.A Recent Graduate may be eligible for a promotion upon successful completion of the program if he/she meets the OPM qualification requirements for the position for which the Recent Graduate is being considered. Advancement to the next level upon successful program completion is approved by the Recent Graduate's supervisor and certified by HRM.

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

Trial Period: The entire period served under the Recent Graduate Program counts as the participant's trial period.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics).

The USA Hire Assessment will be used to assess the following general competencies:

• Reading Comprehension
• Attention to Detail
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Flexibility
• Teamwork

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:

1. Best Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF) and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) as determined by the job analysis.
2. Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.
3. Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. This position is not considered scientific/professional. Other 10 point preference eligibles and veterans with 5 point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on veterans' preference.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be contacted for an interview. As a part of the interview process, additional selection criteria may be administered by the hiring manager. Preview the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12967527

When U.S. Customs and Border Protection completes their selections, the remaining list of qualified candidates may be shared with hiring managers and Human Resources specialists at additional agencies who are hiring for similar positions. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements.

To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

• Your resume: A resume describing your job-related qualifications is required and will be used for the purpose of reviewing your qualifications and determining what training, if any, would be required when placed. A resume in English is required. It must contain your full legal name, phone number, relevant work history including a detailed description of your duties, the dates you performed those duties (MM/DD/YY), your hours worked per week, job title, as well as series, grade, and salary (if applicable). For additional required items, see the link. It is recommended that you upload your resume as a PDF instead of a Word document to ensure document quality. Ensure that your uploaded resume is not a password protected document, to include Office 365 passwords. YLimit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.
• Your responses to the job questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12967527
• Your responses to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment
• Your transcripts: All applicants are required to 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. If you are a current CBP employee within the position series announced, transcripts will not be required at the time of application; however, education will be verified if you are selected and you may be required to submit transcripts at that time. 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. For a listing of some accrediting agencies see NACES | Credentials Evaluations Provided by NACES Members. See https://www.accreditation.info/education-quality/usa-recognition.html for more information.
• Are you a veteran? To apply veterans' preference or extend appointment eligibility due to military service you must submit proof of eligibility as appropriate for your preference type:
  • Five Point Preference: DD-214 listing the character of service and either qualifying medal(s) or service period
  • Ten Point Preference: DD 214 showing character of service and supporting documentation as listed on the Standard Form 15 (application for 10 Point Veterans' Preference). Submitting an SF-15 with your application is encouraged. Veterans with a service-connected disability must also submit a VA Disability Award letter dated 1991 or later, OR supporting documentation as listed in the SF-15
  • If you are currently serving on active duty, you must submit a written statement from the armed forces certifying your dates of service, rank, expected character of service, and anticipated date of separation. If you apply with a written statement at this stage, your preference will be verified by a DD 214 upon separation from the military.
  • Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree due to military service obligation, but are within six years from the date on which the requirements for their degree/academic course of study were completed are eligible to apply. Provide applicable DD 214s showing service after completion of your degree.
  • For more information about veterans' preference visit this link.
• Are you a current or former federal employee? If yes, it is recommended that you submit a copy of your SF-50(s) (Notification of Personnel Action) to support your experience.
• Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your initial and termination SF-50s.
• If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here.

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