PSA is looking for a Supervisory Chemist/Toxicologist who will conduct the full range of forensic screening and confirmation analyses to detect drug use. If you are experienced in the use of Gas Chromotography Mass Spectometry (GCMS) and Liquid Chromotography Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) instruments and able to lead a staff of scientific professionals in the forensic toxicology field, then PSA wants you! This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Duties

As a Supervisory Chemist (Forensic) or Toxicologist (Forensic), you will: 1. Supervise Toxicologists and Chemists who perform the full range of confirmation analysis including specialized experience in Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Monitor staff in interpreting results of testing, recording, and documenting control of samples, test procedures, results and other required information. Ensure compliance with standard forensic and office procedures. Responsible for operation, troubleshooting and basic maintenance of current state of the art GCMS and LC-MS/MS instruments and their software applications. 2. Oversee staff court representation. Testify as an expert witness to explain highly complex scientific and forensic procedures that are used in drug testing as well as results and their implications for individual defendants. Provide expertise in the application of pharmacokinetic principles of various drugs in defendants. 3. Create and develop methods for GCMS and LC-MS/MS instruments for the analyses of various drugs of abuse including emergent synthetic drugs. Evaluate daily laboratory operations. Identify areas where changes are needed to improve overall scientific and legal proficiency in drug detection as well as improvements in processes, costs or other areas. Recommend new approaches, revisions in policy or protocol, or other changes to management. Participate in the development of long and short-range plans for the OFTS. 4. Responsible for the continuous monitoring of the scientific performance of the unit. Review all screening and confirmation data and monitor controls, performance and compliance with standards, protocols and procedures. 5. Supervise assigned staff. Assign work and establish priorities. Administer personnel programs in leave and absence, awards, and recognition and programs in affirmative action and equal employment opportunity. Counsel employees on performance and administrative issues. Establish performance standards and evaluate employee performance. Identify and address staff training needs. 6. Maintain current awareness of trends and developments relating to forensic drug testing. Review scientific and forensic professional literature to keep abreast of the latest instrumental procedures, pharmacokinetics and expert witness information.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic professional requirements, and specialized experience requirement below. For Chemistry Series 1320: A) A degree in 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 above, including at least 30 semester hours of chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education; AND C) One year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level that equipped you with the skills needed to perform the job duties. Specialized experience is defined as experience in the set-up, calibration, operation and maintenance of current state of the art GCMS and LC-MS/MS instruments and supervising a staff who conducts the full range of forensic screening and confirmation analyses to detect drug use. Supervisory experience also includes assigning work, providing technical oversight, developing performance plans, evaluating/appraising performance, attracting new talent, taking disciplinary measures, ensuring EEO implementation, and facilitating professional development for a workforce. For Toxicology Series 0415: A) A degree in toxicology; or an appropriate discipline of the biological, medical, or veterinary sciences that included at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, biochemistry, or physiology, and 12 semester hours in toxicology; AND B) One year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level that equipped you with the skills needed to perform the job duties. Specialized experience is defined as experience in the set-up, calibration, operation and maintenance of current state of the art GCMS and LC-MS/MS instruments and supervising a staff who conducts the full range of forensic screening and confirmation analyses to detect drug use. Supervisory experience also includes assigning work, providing technical oversight, developing performance plans, evaluating/appraising performance, attracting new talent, taking disciplinary measures, ensuring EEO implementation, and facilitating professional development for a workforce. NOTE: Your resume must clearly show the specialized experience related to this position. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the experience requirements will result in an "Ineligible" rating.

Education

There is no education substitution at this grade level.

You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

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. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Contacts

• Address Office of Forensic Toxicology Services 90 K. Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20004 US
• Name: Tara Stoney
• Phone: (202) 220-5586
• Email: [email protected]