Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Laboratories and Scientific Services, located in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico; Detroit, Michigan; Donna, Texas; Laredo, Texas; Queens, New York.
Applicant Cap: This announcement will be open for 5 business days OR until the first 100 applications have been received, whichever happens first. It is recommended that you apply as soon as possible in order to receive consideration.
Joining the Custom's and Border Protection's Laboratories and Scientific Services (LSS) will allow you to use your skills in supervising and directing the performance of employees working a full range of duties in physical, chemical, biological, microscopic and forensic analyses. This position starts at a salary of $106,437.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $138,370.00 (GS-13, 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. 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.
While serving as a Supervisory Physical Scientist (Branch Chief), your duties will include: Planning and assigning work to be accomplished by subordinates, setting priorities and preparing schedules for completion of the work, using selective consideration of the difficulty, the requirements of the assignment, and the capabilities of employees. Supervising a small to medium sized staff and performing a full range of supervisory personnel functions.
Making technical decisions based on agency objectives, requirements, and precedents considering terms of assignments, time and cost limitations, etc., and directing or making technical determination as to course of action to pursue. Providing technical advice to higher-level CBP managers on chemical and physical testing and forensic analysis.
Collaborating with Technical Advisors on complex, new, unknown samples, or potentially controversial findings with review of background material, performance of preliminary exams, review of pertinent regulations, and determination of customer's request and proper approach.
Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position. 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 Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.
cbphiring-applicantinquiry@cbp.dhs.gov · 855-500-3722
This position is with Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security.
The posted pay range is $106437 – $138370/yr.
Applications close on 2026-09-02.
There are 5 openings for this position.
This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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