Summary

This position is located in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Operational Support Division, Office of Forensic Sciences, Special Testing and Research Laboratory.

This position(s) primary purpose is to serves as an agency and international subject matter expert and technical leader in the application and development of laboratory instrumentation for the analysis of illicit drug materials to elicit critical information used by the forensic, intelligence, and enforcement communities.

Duties

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As a your typical work assignments may include:

• Serving as a lead scientist in instrumental analysis as it relates to operating and monitoring a specific category of laboratory instrumentation (mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS), separation technology, and spectroscopic techniques)
• Serving as the point of contact for implementation of new testing procedures, instrumentation or methodologies across DEA.
• Assisting as needed in the elucidation and interrogation of unknown substances received from the field, foreign and domestic laboratories and acting as the agency consultant in matters of difficult referral cases from state and local law enforcement entities.
• Presenting testimony in court proceedings based on laboratory findings and applications of the technology.
• Developing, planning, and conducting new research projects that investigate critical and/or difficult problems in a specialty area.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation. Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Incumbent is subject to random drug testing.
• Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
• Potential employees must undergo a medical examination and be physically and medically capable of performing the essential duties of the position efficiently and without hazard to themselves or to others.
• Periodic medical examinations are provided to employees to ensure continued ability to perform essential job functions efficiently and without hazard to self or others.
• The work environment involves moderate/increased risk and discomfort that requires normal safety precautions typical of places such as laboratories, warehouses, and secure office spaces.
• The chemist uses protective clothing or gear such as laboratory coat, safety glasses/googles, face shield, N95 or other respirators, and plastic gloves

Qualifications

For more information on eligibility requirements see: DEA Employment Eligibility

Applicants must meet the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of the 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 transcripts with your application.

Basic Qualification Requirements:

1. 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

1. 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.

AND

Applicants applying for the GS-1320-14 must meet one of the following requirements:

A. Have at least one full year of qualifying specialized experience that is at least equivalent in difficulty and complexity to work performed at the GS-13 grade level. Specialized 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.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate ALL of the tasks below : 1) Conceiving, planning, coordinating, and executing basic and applied scientific investigations in the fields of organic chemistry, synthetic chemistry, and structural elucidation 2) Preparing reports, scientific manuscripts, presentations and lectures based on his/her research results. 3) Serving as the agency's expert in the theory and practice of organic synthesis as it pertains to manufacture of illicit drugs and related substances. 4) Maintaining scientific liaison with scientists from other government laboratories, academia, and industry.

Applicants applying for the GS-1320-13 must meet one of the following requirements:

A. Have at least one full year of qualifying specialized experience that is at least equivalent in difficulty and complexity to work performed at the GS-12 grade level. Specialized 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.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate ALL of the tasks below : 1) Conceiving, planning, coordinating, and executing basic and applied scientific investigations in the fields of organic chemistry, synthetic chemistry, and structural elucidation 2) Preparing reports, scientific manuscripts, presentations and lectures based on his/her research results. 3) Serving as the agency's expert in the theory and practice of organic synthesis as it pertains to manufacture of illicit drugs and related substances. 4) Maintaining scientific liaison with scientists from other government laboratories, academia, and industry.

Additional information on the position qualification requirements are located in the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Qualifications Standards Handbook.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

See the qualification 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.

If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.

Additional information

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire CompetencyBased Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/[redacted]2-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If an applicant is currently, or has been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, applicants must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office listed in this announcement.

Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to similar positions in any Division/Office listed in this announcement. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.

Relocation Incentives maybe considered and approved under conditions specified provided the agency has determined that the position is likely to be difficult to fill in the absence of an incentive and funding for such an incentive is available.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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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.

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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.