Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Laboratories and Scientific Services Directorate located in Nogales and Tucson, AZ; Long Beach, San Francisco, and San Ysidro, CA; Washington, DC; Miami, FL; Savannah, GA; Honolulu, HI; Chicago, IL New Orleans, LA; Newark, NJ; Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Memphis, TN; Donna, El Paso, Houston, and Laredo, TX; and Blaine, WA.

Duties

As a Physical Scientist you will perform a full range of extremely difficult physical, chemical, and forensic analyses on evidentiary items seized and/or submitted to the regional and/or field laboratory. You will be a delegated authority to serve as an expert in forensic examinations and are given a wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgement. This position starts at a salary of $103,409.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $134,435.00 (GS-13, Step 10). While serving as a Physical Scientist (Forensics), your duties will include: Managing and examining highly complex forensic analyses of friction ridges by utilizing a full range of scientific methodologies and forensic techniques in support of the CBP mission to Protect the American people, safeguard our borders, and enhance the nation's economic prosperity; Initiating, performing, and overseeing examinations of a wide-variety of materials using forensic science disciplines, involving advanced mathematics, portions of chemistry, mechanics, physics, thermodynamics, weights, and measures, friction ridge examinations, computer science, physical properties and sciences, practice, techniques, procedures, and analytical chemical principles, theories and practices sufficient to perform the full range of duties involved in investigative analyses of crime scenes; Coordinating the development of programs, policies, and procedures to ensure laboratory procedures, forensic examinations, and evidence handling procedures are current and are within the scope of the relevant scientific community; and Designing and conducting innovative and advanced scientific research for the purpose of discovering new forensic techniques and validation methods and resolving complex forensic examination problems.

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirement: You must provide supporting documentation in your application to show you meet the basic requirement below. Degree: Physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. OR Combination of education and experience: Education equivalent to one of the majors listed above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. AND Experience: You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Preparing, communicating, and reporting examination results and conclusions and illustrative exhibits for court use; Serving as a subject matter expert in federal and other court systems to present evidence and testimony; Gathering, processing, and analyzing scientific and technical data and summarizing for strategic and operational decision-making; Planning, and organizing projects, programs, and initiatives, coordinating with staff and management; and Communicating conclusions. alternatives, and recommendations on national policies, programs, and studies. 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. 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 06/26/2024. 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, review the following links: Background investigation and the e-QIP process. 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.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.

Contacts

• Address Laboratories and Scientific Services Directorate Please read entire announcement Please apply online Washington, DC 20229 US
• Name: CBP Hiring Center
• Phone: 952-857-2932
• Email: [email protected]