Chemist (Recent Graduate)

Duties

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.

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.