Duties

As a Interdisciplinary Chemist/Pharmacologist/ Toxicologist at the GS-0405/0415/1320-13 some of your typical work assignments may include:

• Evaluates research and development which address war-fighter requirements in chemical countermeasures.
• Generates technical and financial program plans required to develop and demonstrate advanced technologies and capabilities and transition them to Advanced Development/acquisition programs.
• Participates in teams of civilian and military engineers and scientists carrying out specific chemical countermeasures medical science and technology programs, utilizing a general understanding of research and development methods and program management techniques with specific expertise applicable to chemical and biological countermeasures.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Occasional Travel - Periodic travel, both domestic and international may be required.
• Work Schedule: Full-time
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation. Must be able to obtain and maintain TOP SECRET/SCI clearance.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Overtime: Occasionally
• Tour of Duty: May be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
• Recruitment Incentives: Authorized : https://www.dtra.mil/Business/DTRA-Opportunities/
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
• Financial Disclosure: Required
• Telework Eligibility: This position is telework eligible
• COVID19: Please see, additional information.
• Must consent to and pass pre-employment drug testing and be subject to periodic random drug testing thereafter.
• Incumbent is required to submit a Financial Disclosure Statement, OGE 450, upon entering the position, annually, and upon termination of employment, in accordance with DOD Directive 5500.7-R, Joint Ethics Regulation, August 30, 1993.
• This is an Acquisition Workforce position in the Engineering and Technical Management functional area. The incumbent will be required to become certified in the Practitioner tier within 4 years.
• The incumbent is required to acquire a minimum of 40 continuous learning points (CLPs) every fiscal year as a goal and 80 CLPs being mandatory within 2 years.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid passport.

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS 13 , if you fulfill the following qualifications:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service as listed below:

• Knowledge of the scientific principles, current and new theories, and methods pertinent to medical countermeasure development, drug discovery, development, and licensure of pretreatment/prophylaxis and/or therapeutic drugs against chemical agents.
• Experience participating in interdepartmental and intergovernmental relationships and agreements necessary to accomplish programs.
• Experience planning, coordinating, integrating and evaluating research and development programs/projects and providing technical and program management advice including experience providing direction and oversight to ensure the integrity and quality of the technical program planning and execution, compliance with policy and budget, consistency with mission priorities, and administrative productivity.
• Mastery of and skill in written and oral communication skills in order to develop integrated plans and studies, strategy documents, briefings to high ranking personnel, and communicate technical information in peer-reviewed scientific literature.
• Knowledge of acquisition policies and procedures in order to evaluate program effectiveness, cost-efficiency, and achievement of stated goals and objectives to include the development of financial plans associated with multi-project research and development portfolios and managing financial resources to achieve obligation and expenditure goals.
• Experience in using guidelines, such as broad policy statements, recent scientific findings, or reports that are often ambiguous and require interpretation to evaluate and guide programs to achieve the best interests of the government in circumstances not explicitly covered by policy and/or requirements.
  

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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 0405/0415/1320, series as listed below:

For the 1320 Series 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 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.

For the 0405 Series Degree: major in an appropriate biological, medical, veterinary, or physical science, or in pharmacy that included at least 30 semester hours in chemistry and physiology and 12 semester hours in pharmacology. Evaluation of Education: The positions in this series are multidisciplinary positions, since the work involves the application of a scientific knowledge of biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, and such related sciences as microbiology, biophysics, genetics, mathematics, and statistics. Courses in chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, general physiology, and animal, human, microbial, or cellular physiology may be used to meet the 30-semester-hour requirement in chemistry and physiology. Under some circumstances, i.e., where the course work provided additional insight into the biophysical, biochemical, and physiological relationships involved, courses in such subjects as cytology, embryology, cellular or microbial genetics, and biophysics may be used to meet this requirement. Courses in pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, pharmacotherapeutic, molecular pharmacology, and other similar subjects may be used to meet the 12-semester-hour requirement in pharmacology. Courses dealing intensively with pharmacologically-oriented subjects may also be used to meet this requirement.

For the 0415 Series Degree: 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. Evaluation of Education: The positions in this series are multidisciplinary positions because the work may involve the application of a scientific knowledge of anatomy, chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, pathology, toxicology, and related sciences such as microbiology, biophysics, entomology, genetics, mathematics, and statistics. Applicants may have acquired a knowledge of the methods and techniques applied in performing toxicological work through various fields of scientific inquiry. Traditionally, academic training in toxicology has been given at the graduate level in connection with the work of a school of veterinary medicine or a school of medicine. Students who enter these schools directly after completing their undergraduate programs are usually trained in anatomy, toxicology, pharmacology, biochemistry, or physiology. Many toxicologists enter the field after taking graduate work in anatomy, biochemistry, chemistry, or physiology, and complete their doctoral program in these fields, or get their M.D. or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Typically, they then acquire experience or work toward a Ph.D. in toxicology. Courses in anatomy, chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, biology, histology, and animal, human, microbial, or cellular physiology may be used to meet the 30-semester-hour requirement in chemistry, biochemistry, and physiology. Courses in statistics, bioassay, and test design may also apply to this requirement. Courses in cytology, embryology, cellular or microbial genetics, and biophysics may also be used to meet this requirement in those instances where the course work provided additional insight into the biophysical, biochemical, and physiological relationships involved. Only toxicology courses may be used to meet the requirement for 12 semester hours in toxicology. This may include courses dealing intensively with toxicological search, methods in toxicology, essentials of toxicology, the study and review of toxicological literature, special reading courses, or other toxicologically-oriented subjects.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims.

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

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://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

COVID19 - To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily or intermittently telework.

Other Notes:
ACQUISITION POSITION: This is an Acquisition Workforce position in the Engineering & Technical Management functional area. The incumbent will be required to become certified in the Practitioner tier within 4 years. The incumbent is required to acquire a minimum of 40 continuous learning points (CLPs) every fiscal year as a goal and 80 CLPs being mandatory within 2 years.

RE-EMPLOYED ANNUITANT: This position DOES NOT meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf

All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications. and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see Who Needs to Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov) )