This position is part of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. The incumbent will be responsible for the chemical engineer/investigator, providing technical and analytical assistance in chemical investigations. You will serve in a trainee capacity, performing routine and recurring developmental assignments to acquire knowledge and an understanding of functions, principles, practices, and methods used in the area of Chemical Engineering.
Summary
This position is part of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. The incumbent will be responsible for the chemical engineer/investigator, providing technical and analytical assistance in chemical investigations. You will serve in a trainee capacity, performing routine and recurring developmental assignments to acquire knowledge and an understanding of functions, principles, practices, and methods used in the area of Chemical Engineering.
Assists in chemical investigations by providing logistical support for on-site activities. This includes equipment and materials, obtaining local services such as court reporters, and communicating with local officials.
Performs research and analyses of issues relating to investigations. Research subjects include existing regulations applicable to the industry, and a variety of topics resulting from the work of investigation teams.
Writes reports of accidental release events to include the facts, circumstances, and conditions associated with the incident and develops the cause/probable cause based on information obtained during the investigation process.
Evaluate additional information about the incident against the criteria of the incident selection process and provide appropriate recommendations.
Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
Direct Deposit of pay is required.
Selective Service registration is required for male applicants, unless exempt.
Must have completed, within the previous 2 years (up to 6 years for certain veterans), a qualifying associate's, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution.
A 1-year trial period is required.
Physical Requirements: If selected, you will be required to obtain, prior to entrance on duty, a physical examination by a licensed physician certifying your ability to perform the duties of this position.
A Pathways Recent Graduate Participant Agreement is required.
Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible for the Pathways Recent Graduates Program, the following qualifications must be met:
Be a U.S. citizen;
Possess a qualifying associate's, bachelor's, master's professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution, within the previous 2 years.
Veterans: If you are a veteran, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 2108, who, due to military service obligation, was precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period, you shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon your release or discharge from active duty. In no event, however, may your eligibility period extend beyond 6 years from the date on which you completed the requirements of an academic course of study.
Qualifications
Applicants must carefully review the information in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section for important information and instructions about the multi-hurdle assessment process for this position.
Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement OR when the applicant total reaches 250, will be considered.
Basic Requirement for Engineers: (NOTE: You must attach a copy of your transcripts. Failure to submit transcripts will result in an ineligible rating.) A. Degree-- Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET, or (2) include different and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials(stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. Please visit ABET's website Home - ABET for more information on engineering programs that have received accreditation.
OR B. Combination of education and experience-- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: 1. Professional registration or licensure--Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than a written test(e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. For more information about EI and EIT registration requirements, please visit the National Society of Professional Engineers website at: National Society of Professional Engineers | 2. Written Test--Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. The FE examination is not administered by the U. S. Office of Personnel Management. For more information, please visit How To Get Licensed 3. Specified academic courses-- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences, and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. 4. Related Curriculum--Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1-year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily, there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.) Note: An applicant who meets the basic requirements as specified in A or B above, except as noted under B.1., may qualify for positions in any branch of engineering unless selective factors indicate otherwise.
In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualification requirement in order to be considered for this position:
At the GS-07, you must meet one of the following qualifications: A. One full year of graduate-level education (18 semester hours) in an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in one of the following fields of Engineering listed above. The education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work; OR
B. One year of graduate-level education OR Superior Academic Achievement. OR C. One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level. Specialized experience is that which has equipped the applicant with the competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position includes 1. Assisting senior investigators in conducting chemical incident investigations, and 2. Prepares preliminary reports based on factual findings during investigations for senior investigator review., and 3. Research basic chemical investigation guidance, policies, and laws. All must be found to be qualified OR D. A combination of education and experience as listed above in A or C, when combined equals 100% of the total requirements. E. Successfully completed a 5-year program of study of at least 160 semester hours leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited institution. OR F. I have an engineering bachelor's degree and have appropriate experience as a technician equivalent to grade GS-5 or higher.
At the GS-09 level, you must meet one of the following qualifications: A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level. Specialized experience is that which has equipped the applicant with the competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position includes 1. Provides analytical and technical assistance in the investigative process including applying engineering principles, concepts, and practices in accidental chemical releases, and 2. Research chemical investigative data and prepare reports, and 3. Conducts quality assurance reviews to improve the effectiveness of the products or services to internal and external stakeholders when applicable; All must be found to be qualified OR B. Successfully completed 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or a master's or equivalent graduate degree., if related to one of the following fields of Engineering that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully complete the work of the position; OR C. A combination of education and experience as listed above in A and B, which equals 100% of the total requirement. OR D. Successfully completed a 5-year program of study of at least 160 semester hours leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering and 1 year of appropriate professional experience. E. I have successfully completed a bachelor's degree in engineering with superior academic achievement and 1 year of appropriate professional.
TRANSCRIPTS: 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. All documentation needs to be legible. If selected, you will need to provide official transcripts. Note: PDF Portfolio documents will not be processed or accepted as they appear as a one-page document.
Only education from institutions that are accredited or pre-accredited/candidate for accreditation may be used to meet education requirements.
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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/
Superior Academic Achievement:
Must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above. It is based on: (1) Class Standing: Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR (2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.): Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better)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; OR (3) Honor Society Membership: Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies.
Combination of experience and education: The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate-level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience.
Graduate Education: 1. Regardless of the field of undergraduate study, completion of the requirements for a master's or higher degree in engineering is fully qualifying for the grade indicated, provided the applicant's total background, i.e., education and any experience, demonstrates evidence of knowledge, skills, and abilities that are substantially equivalent to those acquired through the successful completion of the courses specified in the Basic Requirements for Engineers, A-- (DEGREE) listed above. 2. With a bachelor's degree in engineering, graduate education in a related field is acceptable in lieu of graduate study in engineering for appropriate types of positions. For example, a Bachelor of Science in engineering plus a master's degree in business administration would be qualifying for Industrial Engineer, GS-9, but not for GS-9 laboratory positions in research and development. The key consideration in determining if such graduate education should be credited is whether or not the education provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position being filled.
Additional information
Program Completion and Conversion Requirement:
At the successful conclusion of the Pathways Program, interns may be eligible for conversion to a permanent or a term (1-4 years in duration) appointment. Conversion is not guaranteed.
Must be a U.S. citizen
Meet qualification requirements for the position to which you will be converted
Performed successfully in position and documented through performance evaluations
Conversion: Appointment under the Recent Graduates Program may not exceed one year (2 years for certain series such as 1102's). Appointees may be non-competitively converted to competitive service after successful completion of at least one year of continuous service, in addition to all of the requirements of the Recent Graduates Program.
To be converted to a term or permanent position you will be required to complete the program requirements, including the developed training program and hours of employment. For more information please visit: Students & Recent Graduates
Telework Suitability:
The duties of this position are not suitable for telework as this is a remote position. For more information please visit: Remote Work - OPM.gov
Stipulations of Employment:
Appointees must sign a Participant Agreement that sets forth the expectations for the Pathways Program.
The duration of an excepted service appointment in the Pathways Program is a trial period.
Work Schedule:
This position requires a full-time work schedule.
Miscellaneous:
If converted to a permanent or term appointment the intended targeted position will be Chemical Engineer GS-0893-14. However, the position and FPL may change based on the needs of the organization at the time of conversion. Interns must meet the qualification standards for the series and grade of the position to which being converted. Promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotion(s) will depend on the performance of the incumbent and are not guaranteed.
Upon conversion, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotion(s) will depend on the performance of the incumbent and are not guaranteed.
CSB uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.
This vacancy announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the application process is complete, qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. The categories for this announcement are defined as: Best-Qualified, Well-Qualified, and Qualified. Your resume and supporting documentation will then be used to determine if you are qualified for this job. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.
The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three," but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligible within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Your Resume listing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
Transcript(s): You MUST furnish a copy of your college transcript(s) which includes degree conferred date. If selected for this position, you will be required to furnish an ORIGINAL transcript prior to being appointed.
Other supporting documents:
Cover Letter, optional
Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.
Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices. Note: A PDF Portfolio contains multiple files assembled into an integrated PDF unit. The files in a PDF Portfolio can be in a wide range of file types created in different applications. To ensure the document is not a PDF Portfolio document, open the document and if there are multiple different documents with a variety of extensions, it is a PDF Portfolio document and will not be processed.
It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted by the closing date of the announcement.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration or when the announcement reaches 250 applicants.
To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.
You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link, and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
If you have questions about this job, please contact the HR Office representative listed in the "Agency Contact Info" section of this vacancy announcement. Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Mountain Time, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, you may request an alternate application method from the Agency Contact listed in the vacancy. All hardship application packages must be completed and submitted no later than noon EST on the closing date of the announcement.
Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
1750 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Suite 910
Washington, DC 20006
US
Next steps
For status updates on your application, please follow the directions listed above in the How to Apply section. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. If you are selected for an interview for this position, you will be contacted directly. A final job offer for this position is typically made within several weeks after the closing date of the vacancy announcement. After confirming a job offer, all other applicants will be notified of their non-selection.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Your Resume listing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
Transcript(s): You MUST furnish a copy of your college transcript(s) which includes degree conferred date. If selected for this position, you will be required to furnish an ORIGINAL transcript prior to being appointed.
Other supporting documents:
Cover Letter, optional
Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.
Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices. Note: A PDF Portfolio contains multiple files assembled into an integrated PDF unit. The files in a PDF Portfolio can be in a wide range of file types created in different applications. To ensure the document is not a PDF Portfolio document, open the document and if there are multiple different documents with a variety of extensions, it is a PDF Portfolio document and will not be processed.
It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted by the closing date of the announcement.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration or when the announcement reaches 250 applicants.
To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.
You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link, and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
If you have questions about this job, please contact the HR Office representative listed in the "Agency Contact Info" section of this vacancy announcement. Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Mountain Time, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, you may request an alternate application method from the Agency Contact listed in the vacancy. All hardship application packages must be completed and submitted no later than noon EST on the closing date of the announcement.
Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
1750 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Suite 910
Washington, DC 20006
US
Next steps
For status updates on your application, please follow the directions listed above in the How to Apply section. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. If you are selected for an interview for this position, you will be contacted directly. A final job offer for this position is typically made within several weeks after the closing date of the vacancy announcement. After confirming a job offer, all other applicants will be notified of their non-selection.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
