Forensic Chemist

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 displays conferred degrees and 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-7 level: This experience is related to the work of the position and equivalent to at least the GS-5 level in the Federal service. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate experience with three of the following: (1) preparing samples for chemical analyses; (2) handling material to maintain sample integrity; (3) calibrating and using laboratory equipment under supervision for chemical analysis of materials; (4) compiling, reducing and making routine interpretations of the scientific data; or (5) applying knowledge of analytical chemical principles, theories and practices sufficient to perform a full range of fundamental analysis. OR Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to successfully perform the duties of the position. Course work must be equivalent to a major in the physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering. OR Superior Academic Achievement: Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor’s degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA). In order to be creditable under this provision, SAA must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position and is based on: Class Standing: Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class, based on completed courses, Grade Point Average: Applicants must have a grade point average of: 3.0 or higher: Based on 4 years of education or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher: Based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society: Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. 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-9 level: This experience is related to the work of the position and equivalent to at least the GS-7 level in the Federal service. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate experience with four of the following: (1) preparing samples for chemical analyses; (2) handling material to maintain sample integrity; (3) calibrating and using laboratory equipment under limited supervision for chemical analysis of materials; (4) compiling, reducing and making routine interpretations of the scientific data.; or (5) applying knowledge of analytical chemical principles, theories and practices sufficient to perform a full range of fundamental analysis. OR Education: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master’s degree or master’s or equivalent graduate 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%. Additional information on the position qualification requirements are located in the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Qualifications Standards Handbook. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Your application will be evaluated and rated under DEA’s Category Rating and Selection Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the online assessment questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. Your resume and supporting documentation will be reviewed to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, we will use an Assessment Questionnaire to place you in one of three categories based on your experience, education and training. The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are: Chemistry Oral Communication Teamwork Technical Competence
The incumbent conducts evaluation and analysis on controlled and non-controlled substances and utilizes scientific methods to coordinate and execute projects.