Summary
This position is located in the Department of Justice (DOJ), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Office of Forensic Sciences, Forensic Laboratories. The incumbent conducts visual, physical, chemical, photographic, and other scientific and instrumental examinations of complex submissions of physical evidence to form an opinion in the primary area of forensic drug chemistry and other trace evidence materials.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Open to the Public - This serves as public notice for the use of the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Applicants who meet the qualification requirements will be forwarded to the selecting official for consideration.
Duties
- Utilizes the theories and applications of analytical chemistry to independently perform analysis and interpret data to verify molecular structures of controlled substance standards.
- Plans and executes complex studies that involve performance of chemical analyses and tests on a broad range of unusual samples.
- Examines the chemistry of substances, evaluates possible approaches for use and devises, and modifies and/or extends methods to meet requirements.
- Validates, via controlled chemical experimental trials, analytical testing methods for division instruments and division wet chemical tests.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship is required.
- Incumbent is subject to random drug testing.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance.
- This position requires the completion of a pre-employment and annual medical examination.
- Mobility agreement is required upon selection.
- Must have and maintain a valid state driver’s license.
- Polygraph is required.
- Males must be registered for Selective Service (www.sss.gov).
- Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet all of the required qualification requirements described below by the closing of this announcement. If you are qualifying based on education or if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application that clearly display conferred degrees and/or relevant credit hours. All applicants must meet one of the basic qualification requirements described below for this position.
Basic Qualification 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.
In addition to meeting the basic requirements listed above, to qualify for this position the applicant MUST have at least one year of specialized experience that has equipped them with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.
Candidates with a baccalaureate or an advanced degree in a chemical, physical, or biological science or forensic science are preferred, but not required.
For the GS-11 level:
This experience is related to the work of the position and equivalent to at least the GS-9 level in the Federal service. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: 1) conducting routine chemical analysis of unknown substances and samples; 2) calibrating and operating analytical instrumentation, such as the gas chromatograph, mass spectrometer, liquid chromatograph, or other laboratory equipment; and 3) generating reports of findings from conducted chemical analysis. OR
Education: Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph. D. degree or PH.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%.
For the GS-12 level:
This experience is related to the work of the position and equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: 1) independently determining an approach to chemically analyzing specified or unknown substances and samples based on research, personal experiences, knowledge, and/or established laboratory protocols; 2) performing a full range of chemical analyses and physical tests on a variety of unknown substances for identification utilizing modern analytical techniques, instrumentation and following laboratory procedures; 3) calibrating and operating analytical instrumentation, such as the gas chromatograph, mass spectrometer, liquid chromatograph, or other laboratory equipment; and 4) generating reports which describes all tests performed, calculations and conclusions.
There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-12 position.
Additional information on the position qualification requirements are located in the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Qualifications Standards Handbook.
Education
See the Qualifications Section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials, visit: www.naces.org/members.php.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Under the provisions of the Direct-Hire Authority, veterans' preference and traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply. For this announcement, all applicants will be assessed to determine if they meet the qualifications for this position, specifically the education, specialized experience, and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) necessary to perform the work of the position. All applications that meet the required qualifications will be referred to the selecting official in the order in which the applications were received.
Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following KSAs and other characteristics that are relevant to the duties of this position and must be fully supported by information in your resume:
- Research
- Chemistry
- Written Communication
- Teamwork
The DEA stores oral assessment results for one year and applies assessment scores to other DEA job announcements applicants apply to that require the same oral assessment. If a candidate has completed the equivalent oral assessment in the previous 12 months, the DEA will refer to the previously earned score on the oral assessment and the applicant will not be contacted to schedule an oral assessment. *You will not be able to retake the Forensic Chemist assessment for one (1) year, regardless of whether you pass or fail.
Category Rating Procedures: If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the three categories:
- Best Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies.
- Well Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies.
- Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies.
The Category Rating Process does not add veteran's preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Qualified Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category.
View information on veterans' preference on OPM's Fed Hire Vets website.
Agency and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP and ICTAP) candidates must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for selection priority. Candidates are considered well qualified if their knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) exceed the minimum qualifications described in the announcement.
Required Documents
All required documents listed below, that are applicable to you, must be submitted to our automated system by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
1. Resume showing relevant work/volunteer experience, education and training. Include the start and end dates (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours per week worked/volunteered. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must support your answers to the completed online assessment questions.
2. Transcripts, if applicable and you are qualifying based on education. See the Qualification and Education sections of this announcement for more information. If selected, an official/sealed college transcript(s) will be required to verify education prior to employment. Current students who will complete a qualifying degree/certificate by 6/11/2024.
3. Other Qualification Documentation (e.g. certificates, certifications, etc.), if applicable. See the Qualification section of this announcement for more information.
4. Veterans' Preference Documentation, if applicable. Veterans' preference does not apply to this vacancy. Any supporting documentation received from veterans will be retained to document veteran's status if selected.
- To claim 5-point preference, submit a copy of your DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.
- To claim 10-point preference, submit all required documentation outlined on the SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference) to support your claim (e.g., DD-214, official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs, etc.). If we cannot verify your 10-point preference claim, your application will be reviewed for 5-point preference.
- To claim 10-point derived preference (i.e., spouses, widows, widowers or mothers of veterans), submit a completed SF-15 and all required documentation listed on the SF-15 to support your claim.
- To claim 0-point Sole Survivorship preference, submit a copy of your DD-214 or another form of official documentation showing that your discharge or release from active duty occurred on or after August 29, 2008 and was based on a sole survivorship discharge.
- For all preference claims:
- DD-214 Member 4 copies are preferred and must show the dates of service, type of discharge, and any qualifying service campaign medals.
- For more veterans' preference information, visit the USAJOBS Help Center.
5. ICTAP/CTAP documentation, if applicable. Visit our agency's ICTAP and CTAP sites for required documentation.
How to Apply
Prepare your application in USAJOBS
To start your application, click Apply and the system will provide guidance on how to attach a resume and any required documents.
During the application process you can review, edit, delete, and update your information. You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement 06/11/2024to complete the application process.
STEP 1: Select the "Apply" button and follow the instructions to register or sign into USAJOBS.
STEP 2: Submit your resume. Please see the Required Documents section for specific information that should be outlined in your resume.
STEP 3: Complete the online assessment questions.
STEP 4: Submit all required documentation applicable to you, as listed in the Required Documents section.
Alternate Application Procedures
If applying online poses an extreme hardship, you may request alternate application procedures to submit your application package. Contact the Human Resources office listed on the announcement between the business hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET at least 2 working days prior to the closing date of this announcement. The application package for alternate application procedures must be submitted and received in the Human Resources office no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of this announcement. Paper applications and information sent by mail will not be accepted.
Next steps
After all application packages are received, we will review applications and evaluate applicants' qualifications and will refer candidates, as described in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section, to the hiring manager for selection consideration.
Candidates who are determined to be minimally qualified must successfully complete a series of pre-employment assessments and interview to determine if the individual attains the skills, knowledge, and ability to successfully carry out the duties and responsibilities of the position.
Your application status will be updated up to four times during the following hiring phases:
- After applications are received.
- After applications are assessed to determine qualifications.
- After candidates are referred to the hiring manager.
- If selected, candidates may receive additional notifications regarding the next steps in the hiring process.
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