This position is located in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Office of Forensic Sciences, Forensic Laboratories. This position(s) primary purpose is to conduct visual, physical, chemical, photographic, and other scientific and instrumental examinations of complex submissions of physical evidence to form an opinion in the primary area of forensic drug chemistry and other trace evidence materials.

Duties

As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service. As a your typical work assignments may include: Utilizes the theories and applications of analytical chemistry to independently perform analysis and interpret data to verify molecular structures of controlled substance standards. Plans and executes complex studies that involve performance of chemical analyses and tests on a broad range of unusual samples. Examines the chemistry of substances, evaluates possible approaches for use and devises, and modifies and/or extends methods to meet requirements. Validates, via controlled chemical experimental trials, analytical testing methods for division instruments and division wet chemical tests.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• You must submit to a pre-employment drug test.
• Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
• Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
• DEA uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
• Current Federal employees cannot transfer unused Time Off Awards to DEA.
• Mobility agreement is required upon selection.
• Must have and maintain a valid state driver’s license.
• Polygraph is required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.

Qualifications

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 display conferred degrees and/or 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-11 level: This experience is related to the work of the position and equivalent to at least the GS-9 level in the Federal service. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: 1) conducting routine chemical analysis of unknown substances and samples; 2) calibrating and operating analytical instrumentation, such as the gas chromatograph, mass spectrometer, liquid chromatograph, or other laboratory equipment; and 3) generating reports of findings from conducted chemical analysis. OR Education: Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph. D. degree or PH.D. or equivalent doctoral 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%. For the GS-12 level: This experience is related to the work of the position and equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: 1) independently determining an approach to chemically analyzing specified or unknown substances and samples based on research, personal experiences, knowledge, and/or established laboratory protocols; 2) performing a full range of chemical analyses and physical tests on a variety of unknown substances for identification utilizing modern analytical techniques, instrumentation and following laboratory procedures; 3) calibrating and operating analytical instrumentation, such as the gas chromatograph, mass spectrometer, liquid chromatograph, or other laboratory equipment; and 4) generating reports which describes all tests performed, calculations and conclusions. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-12 position. Additional information on the position qualification requirements are located in the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Qualifications Standards Handbook.

Education

See the Qualifications 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.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that 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. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Drug Enforcement Administration Do Not Send Postal Mail Springfield, VA 21310 US
• Name: Alejandra Cardenas
• Phone: 571-776-2403
• Email: [email protected]