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Chemist (Forensic Examiner)

Department of the Army
United States Army Criminal Investigation Division
Defense Forensic Science Center
This job announcement has closed

Summary

About the Position: This position is located with the Defense Forensic Science Center (DFSC) located at Ft. Gillem, GA. DFSC is an organization that provides forensic laboratory support to Overseas Contingency Operations, intelligence organizations, and legal/federal and non-federal agencies.

This is a developmental position. A selection may be made at any grade, and you may be promoted non-competitively to the full performance (GS-13) upon meeting all training and time-in-grade requirements.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
01/30/2020 to 02/08/2020
Salary
$55,738 to - $124,955 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 13
Location
Fort Gillem, GA
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position up to 25% of the time.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
NCAS202334981221
Control number
558233900

Duties

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  • Serve as a senior technical expert responsible for providing technical consultation and advice to scientific personnel, both within and outside of the Division during the analysis of explosives.
  • Gather and assess information on changing crime patterns and the increasing sophistication of scientific instrumentation and analytical procedures.
  • Conduct visual, physical, chemical, photographic, and other scientific and instrumental examinations of complex submissions of physical evidence.
  • Perform test support activities to include development and implementation of quality assurance and quality control systems for test programs in support of laboratory, chamber, and field test projects.
  • Participates in research and development efforts.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a secret clearance.
  • Incumbent must meet DoD/DA physical and dental screening/readiness requirements for deployment to OCONUS locations established by the CONUS Replacement Center.
  • This position has a requirement to lift up to 70lbs to working heights of 48 inches in the regular performance of duties.
  • This position requires the incumbent to participate in the DNA profiling database within the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Laboratory.
  • This position is subject to the provisions of the Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban commonly referred to as the Lautenberg Amendment. This act bans individuals convicted of this crime or related crimes from possession/access to firearms/ammunition.
  • This position may require you to carry a firearm
  • Job will require shift work with normal 8-hour shifts but may require working extended 12-hour shifts, 7 days a week.
  • This position requires extended temporary duty travel (TDY) and/or deployment to contingency and/or humanitarian relief areas worldwide, in support of the mission of the organization.
  • This position is designated as Emergency Essential. Incumbent will be required to sign a statement of understanding and an agreement to continue to perform the duties of this position in the event of a crisis until relieved by proper authority.
  • The duties of this position require the incumbent to possess or obtain and maintain a valid state Driver's License in one of the 50 U.S. states or possessions to operate vehicles.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

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 for: Chemist (Forensic Examiner)

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.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

GS-9: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes work performing chemical analysis and testing of non-complex substance utilizing forensic laboratory concepts. 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: physical science, life science, or engineering.

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.

GS-11: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes work in assisting with the forensic analysis of explosives chemistry and/or forensic analysis of drug chemistry. 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: physical science, life science, or engineering.

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.

GS-12: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes examining and reporting on evidence in forensic explosive and/or forensic drug chemistry. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).

GS-13: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes examining, analyzing and reporting on evidence in forensic explosive and drug chemistry. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-12).

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job at the GS-12 and GS-13 grade levels, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:

  • Chemistry
  • Forensics
  • Oral Communication
  • Technology Application

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

Additional information

  • Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
  • You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
  • Two year trial/probationary period may be required.
  • Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
  • Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
  • If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
  • This is a Career Program (CP) 16 - Engineers and Scientist (Non-Construction) position.
  • You may claim military spouse preference.
  • If a MSP applicant is determined best qualified and selected, placement must be at the full performance level for priority consideration.
  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
  • Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position. To receive selection priority, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria (2) be rated well-qualified for the position and; (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a score of 90 or above. Additional information about the program is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.
  • When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit https://www.gsa.gov/cdnstatic/FTR%20Bulletin%2018_05%20Relocation%20Allowances_0.pdf for more information.
  • If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
  • Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your résumé and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your résumé and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

Basis for Rating: Qualified candidates will be assigned to one of three quality categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified and Qualified. Veteran preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category.

  • Best Qualified. Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements for the announced position.
  • Highly Qualified. Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements for the announced position.
  • Qualified. Candidates in this category meet the minimum experience requirements for the announced position.

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