This position is located in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Office of Forensic Sciences, Forensic Laboratories. This position(s) primary purpose is to conduct, evaluate and analyze controlled and non-controlled substances and utilizes scientific methods to coordinate and execute projects.

Requirements

• U. S. Citizenship Required.
• 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 successfully complete a probationary period.
• DEA uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
• Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
• Polygraph is required.
• Must have and maintain a valid state driver’s license.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
• 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 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.

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/.

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]