About the Position: This position is in the Defense Health Agency Public Health, Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), MD. To learn more, visit us at: https://phc.amedd.army.mil/Pages/default.aspx APG is in Harford County, Maryland, surrounded by the Bush River to the east and the Chesapeake Bay to the south, offering many amenities to include recreation and child/day care. This is a Direct Hire Solicitation

Duties

Conduct complex chemical analyses of environmental and occupational health samples determining chemical composition, toxic constituents. Performs chemical analyses, resolving conflicts as needed. Check quality control data, correcting actions as required. Identifies components found, concentrations, and techniques used. Heads up special studies as needed. Develop, plan and perform chemical analyses in accordance with plans developed. Determines approach and analytical instruments for required data.

Requirements

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Up to 10% Business Travel is required.
• One-year probationary period may be required.

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 Chemist: A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in the 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 in the physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering, 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. Basic Requirement for Physical Scientist: A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. B. Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to one of the majors, as shown in A above, that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE FOR GS-07: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1.) assisting in coordinating chemical analyses pertaining to environmental and occupational health samples using established criteria or specifications; 2.) Assisting in conducting chemical analyses pertaining to environmental and occupational health samples 3.) Assisting in operating, calibrating, and maintaining instrumentation utilized in environmental and occupational health sample analysis. OR a 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 perform the work of the position, such as chemistry or physics. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience: I have at least one year of graduate education as described in B, but less than the required two years. I have computed the percentage of the requirements that I meet, and the total is at least 100% (To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then, divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) 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.) SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE FOR GS-09: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) Assist with tasks using gas chromatography (GC) with various detectors, liquid/ion chromatography (LC/IC), GC mass spectrometry (GC-MS), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy, ICP-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), alpha spectroscopy, gamma spectroscopy; liquid scintillation and proportional counting; microscopy; wet chemistry techniques; or related instrumentation and equipment; AND 2) Help conduct environmental and occupational health sample analyses determining chemical composition, toxic constituents, and report results as required; AND 3) Assist other Chemists with difficult, complex, and unusual chemical samples received in the laboratory. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the Federal service (GS-07). 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: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry or related disciplines. 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. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE FOR GS-11: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) Performs tasks using gas chromatography (GC) with various detectors, liquid/ion chromatography (LC/IC), GC mass spectrometry (GC-MS), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy, ICP-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), alpha spectroscopy, gamma spectroscopy; liquid scintillation and proportional counting; microscopy; wet chemistry techniques; or related instrumentation and equipment; AND 2) Conduct environmental and occupational health sample analyses determining chemical composition, toxic constituents, and report results as required; AND 3) Analyze difficult, complex, and unusual chemical samples received in the laboratory. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the Federal service (GS-09). OR Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 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 biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines. 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 second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. SPECIALZIED EXPERIENCE FOR GS-12: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) Conducts tasks using gas chromatography (GC) with various detectors, liquid/ion chromatography (LC/IC), GC mass spectrometry (GC-MS), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy, ICP-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), alpha spectroscopy, gamma spectroscopy; liquid scintillation and proportional counting; microscopy; wet chemistry techniques; or related instrumentation and equipment; AND 2) Advise staff on environmental and occupational health sample analyses determining chemical composition, toxic constituents, and report results as required; AND 3) Brief higher leadership on difficult, complex, and unusual chemical samples received in the laboratory. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the Federal service (GS-11).

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

For the GS-09 and GS-11 level, education can be used to substitute experience (refer to Qualifications section of announcement).

For the GS-12 level, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Contacts

• Address KF-DHA-DDAAFC DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY HQ DO NOT MAIL Falls Church, VA 22042 US
• Name: Army Applicant Help Desk