Summary

About the Position: This position is with the Defense Health Agency located at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.

This is a Direct Hire Solicitation

Salary negotiation may be available for those candidates who are new to Federal service.

Duties

Help

• Providing authoritative forensic toxicology expertise by developing, evaluating, and validating analytical methods for detecting and quantifying drugs and metabolites in human specimens.
• Interpreting complex toxicological data to assess impairment, drug metabolism, human performance, and postmortem toxicology for criminal, administrative, and investigative proceedings.
• Delivering expert forensic testimony in military, federal, state, and foreign courts and preparing legally defensible forensic reports, documentation, and analytical interpretations.
• Advising investigators, attorneys, physicians, and laboratory personnel on evidence collection, preservation, examination, and toxicological interpretation during worldwide consultations.
• Leading quality assurance evaluations by conducting technical inspections, overseeing proficiency testing, and reviewing SOPs and technical manuals used across DoD drug testing laboratories.
• Conducting forensic toxicology research to improve analytical methods, enhance legal defensibility, and advance forensic capabilities across DoD and partner organizations.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• This position may be screened for and obtain necessary immunizations/vaccinations(hepatitis, influenza, etc.), unless exempted by a licensed physician.
• This position is required to work uncommon tours of duty hours such as, on-call, working either fixed or rotating shifts, evenings, weekends and/or holidays.
• This position is designated "Mission Essential". In the event of severe weather conditions or other such emergency type situations the incumbent may be required to report to work or remain at work as scheduled to support mission operations.
• This position is subject to TDY or business travel requirements to various locations. This may require travel via privately owned vehicles, commercial transport platforms, and/or military aircraft, ships, and vehicles.
• This position is designated Tier 3, Non-Critical Sensitive, Moderate Risk and requires the incumbent to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance Level as a condition of employment.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education/experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Requirement for Toxicologist (Forensic):

Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in toxicology; or an appropriate discipline of the biological, medical, or veterinary sciences that included at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, biochemistry, or physiology, and 12 semester hours in toxicology.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes developing and validating analytical methods for forensic toxicology, interpreting complex toxicological results for criminal or administrative investigations, and providing expert forensic testimony or technical consultation to investigators, attorneys, or laboratory personnel. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-13).

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives MAY be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.

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

Review our benefits