Summary

This position is located in the DEA Office of Forensic Sciences, Forensic Laboratories in Quantico, VA

This position(s) primary purpose is to serve as a senior Forensic Chemist. As a senior chemist, conducts visual, physical, chemical, photographic, and other scientific examinations, as needed, of complex submissions of physical evidence to form an opinion by application of professional & scientific knowledge in the primary area of forensic drug chemistry & other trace evidence materials.

Duties

Help

As a your typical work assignments may include:

• Provides services as a recognized forensic expert, performing professional and scientific work in the analysis of the
  following types of evidence: suspected legally controlled substances, precursors, and other miscellaneous evidence
  types.
• As a technical authority in forensic analyses, the senior examiner identifies, quantifies, and/or compares irreplaceable
  evidence that because of its paucity, uniqueness, obscurity, transient nature, contamination, decomposition, or
  complexity, requires the most difficult analyses and complicated interpretations.
• Serves as a research scientist responsible for applying chemical or biological and compatible research to problems for
  forensic science. As an expert in the application of forensic sciences, the incumbent applies a professional knowledge
  of the field in translating broad problem areas to specific research programs that are responsive to the DEA mission.
• Serves as a senior examiner with the responsibility to design, develop, and deliver a detailed curriculum, training, and
  instruction in support of Department of Justice (DOJ) forensic examiners, technical personnel, military lawyers, criminal
  investigators, and military operators.

Requirements

Help

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.
• Successful completion of a one-year supervisory probationary period is required (unless already completed)

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: Applicants must meet ONE of the following 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.

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

Have at least one full year of specialized experience that is at least equivalent 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.

In addition to meeting the basic requirements above, applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 Federal grade level that demonstrates the following: (1) serving as a technical authority in forensic chemistry laboratory operations; (2) developing and administering training programs for forensic chemists or other scientific personnel; (3) applying laboratory accreditation standards, quality assurance principles, and quality management system requirements; (4) interpreting and implementing Federal laws, regulations, policies, standard operating procedures, and forensic science guidelines; (5) conducting technical reviews, audits, or assessments of laboratory operations and analytical methods; and (6) evaluating and implementing new technologies, instrumentation, and scientific processes to improve forensic laboratory capabilities and operational effectiveness.

Additional information on the position qualification requirements is 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

For reasonable accommodation at the Drug Enforcement Administration, please contact the Human Resources office listed in this announcement.

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 may be considered and approved if the DEA 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.

If eligible, telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval.

Expand Hide additional information

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

Help

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.