About the Position: Perform chemical analyses and mechanical testing under the direction of the Senior Laboratory workers with responsibility for logging in samples and ensuring traceability, sample preparation, analysis, computation of results and quality assurance data, submission of data for report preparation, mailing of results, and proper disposal of completed samples. This position is located at the Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (RIA-JMTC).

Duties

Perform a wide variety of physical or mechanical tests on nonmetallic or metallic materials to establish characteristics and applicability to required specifications. Receive work assignments, determine tests to be conducted, and set up schedules to expedite assignments. Maintain, calibrate, and use equipment required for standard tests. Serve as Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for service and maintenance contracts and equipment. Conduct phases of projects as assigned, receiving assistance from other laboratory personnel as required for the resolution of problems. Prepare laboratory reports and written procedures on analytical techniques, equipment calibration, and maintenance requirements.

Requirements

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.

Qualifications

For Current Army Employees: Position maybe filled as temporary promotion, temporary reassignment or temporary change to lower grade not-to-exceed (NTE) 1 year by a current, permanent Army employee. Temporary promotions, reassignments or change to lower grades may be conducted up to maximum of 5 years and may be made permanent without further competition. For all NON-Current Army employees: Position may be filled as a temporary appointment NTE 13 months if candidate is not a current permanent Army employee. Temporary appointments may be extended to a maximum of three years. This position will be filled at the GS-05, GS-06, GS-07, GS-08, or GS-09 level. If selected at the GS-05, GS-06, GS-07 or GS-08 level, noncompetitive promotion to the full performance level is authorized. If you are a current, Federal employee, you must include your pay plan, series and grade in your work experience(s) on your resume submission and/or upload supporting documentation (within-grade increase SF50) to show that you meet the time-in-grade requirement. In addition, if your step reflects '00', you must include your current salary for each position. Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. 30 Percent or More Disabled VeteransCurrent Department of Army Civilian EmployeesInteragency Career Transition Assistance PlanLand Management Workforce Flexibility ActMilitary Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or 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: At least one year of experience which prepared you to do the work in this job. Specialized experience is defined as: Having at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the equivalent GS grade in the Federal Service performing the following duties: Work in the fields of astronomy, physics, geophysics, chemistry, hydrology, health physics, engineering, electronics, geology, oceanography, and metallurgy. Experience as a laboratory mechanic or in a trade or craft may be credited as general or specialized experience when the work was performed in close association with physical scientists or other technical personnel and provided intensive knowledge of appropriate scientific principles, methods, techniques, and precedents. OR Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree (a) with major study in an appropriate field of physical science, or (b) that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as physical science, engineering, or any branch of mathematics, except financial and commercial mathematics. AND Minimum Qualifications: In addition to the basic requirements for the disciplines identified above, applicant must also meet the one year of specialized experience in some of the following for the position: GS05 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: assisting with setting up or maintaining laboratory equipment or instruments; compiling or maintaining experimental data or records for an organization; and ensuring laboratory equipment or instruments are operational. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the Federal service (GS-04). NOTE: Completion of appropriate training such as in-service training programs, training acquired while serving in the Armed Forces, and government-sponsored developmental training programs will be allowed credit on a month-for-month basis depending upon its applicability. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Education: A full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree (a) with major study in an appropriate field of physical science, or (b) that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as physical science, engineering, or any branch of mathematics, except financial and commercial mathematics. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) 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%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of education by 120. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) Advancement to positions up to GS-5. Candidates may be advanced without time restriction to positions up to GS-5 if the position to be filled is no more than two grades above the lowest grade the employee held within the preceding 52 weeks under his or her latest non-temporary competitive appointment. GS06 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service which includes: compiling or maintaining experimental data or records for an organization; ensuring laboratory equipment or instruments are operational; and setting up a laboratory for experiments and/or projects. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05). OR Education: 6 months of graduate education that is directly related to the work of the position Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Geophysics, Geology, Mathematics, Physical Science, or another related field (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education (directly related to the occupation) and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education by 9. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) GS07, GS08 and GS09 Specialized Experience and/or Education description listed below: You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas: Attention to DetailOral CommunicationTechnical Competence Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS).

Education

GS07 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in the federal service which includes: providing support to professional staff in a laboratory and/or classroom setting; collecting data from laboratory and/or classroom experiments; and assisting in maintaining laboratory instruments, equipment, and/or machinery. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-06).

OR

Education: One full academic year of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Geophysics, Geology, Mathematics, Physical Science, or another related field (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education (directly related to the occupation) and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

GS08 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the federal service which includes: providing general instructions to personnel on laboratory equipment utilization or care; maintaining experimental data and/or records for an organization; and utilizing laboratory equipment to conduct routine experiments and/or classroom demonstrations. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07).

OR

Education: One and a half years (i.e., 27 semester hours) of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position such as Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Geophysics, Geology, Mathematics, Physical Science, or another related field (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education (directly related to the occupation) and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 9. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

GS09 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes ensuring all laboratory and/or classroom chemicals and materials needed for projects are available; utilizing a full range of laboratory equipment; collecting, reviewing, and/or analyzing data collected from laboratory and/or classroom experiments for use by professional or scientific personnel in research projects; and checking laboratory equipment for safety and serviceability. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-08).

OR

Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Geophysics, Geology, Mathematics, Physical Science, or another related field. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

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%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.


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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address BG-APF-W0K8AA ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL DO NOT MAIL Rock Island, IL 61299 US
• Name: Army Applicant Help Desk