Duties

As a Interdisciplinary Physical Scientist/Chemist/ Biologist at the GS-0401/1301/1320-13 some of your typical work assignments may include:

• The work requires professional knowledge of threat agent characterization (particularly chemical threats), toxicology, and chemical and biological warfare agents and their use as applicable to the Chemical and Biological Defense Program.
• Responsible for planning, coordinating, integrating, implementing, and evaluating professional research and development programs. Directs all actions necessary to develop and implement research programs, identify technical and programmatic issues and initiate resolution.
• Represents DTRA, the Directorate and the Division in technical and programmatic discussions with counterpart managers in the Chemical and Biological Defense Community, and with representatives of other departments and foreign governments.
• Represents DTRA on technical committees, and in forming and/or executing program plans in interactions with managers in other organizations.
• Participates in agency task forces and attends conferences, workshops, and meetings to provide chemical and biological defense-related perspectives and input.
• Utilizes a broad-spectrum technical background with specific expert knowledge applicable to chemical and/or biological defense and an in-depth understanding of research and development methods and program management techniques to maintain oversight of assigned programs areas to ensure the integrity and quality of program planning and execution, compliance with policy and budget requirements, consistency with mission priorities, and adherence to administrative processes.
• As a subject matter technical expert, the incumbent conceives, plans, conducts and reviews work in areas where little theory is available to guide efforts. Develops, interprets, and implements policies, instructions, standards, and methods used by operational personnel.
• Researches, develops, correlates, and utilizes scientific methods, plans, designs, and objectives to reach agency mission goals.
• Explores the impact of scientific breakthroughs on organizational programs.
• Coordinates work with other Division/Directorate/DTRA/DoD and Joint Service offices, and interprets and advises on programs, functions, and issues as the need arises.
  

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Occasional Travel - Travel in the performance of temporary assignments may be required up to 25% of duty time. Valid passport 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 a TOP SECRET/SCI security clearance.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Overtime/compensatory time may be required to accommodate operational needs of the organization.
• Tour of Duty: Flexible
• 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 Career field.
• The incumbent is required to become certified at the Practitioner Level in the applicable career field within 24 months unless a position requirements waiver is approved to extend the 24 months.
• The incumbent must obtain a minimum of 80 continuous learning points (CLPs) for every 2-year CLP period, with a goal of at least 40 annually. Certified Practitioner Level in the Engineering and Technical Management Career Track (ETM) required.

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:

• Experience in Discovery and Development research based on your knowledge in one or more of the technical program areas of physical sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, toxicology, animal studies, and biology.
• 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.
• Experience developing financial plans associated with multi-project research and development portfolios and managing financial resources to achieve obligation and expenditure goals.
• Experience in writing documents to include reports, strategy documents, and program justifications and presenting facts or ideas to senior government officials.
• Experience in engaging external partners and stakeholders to promote and/or collaborate on programs and portfolio strategies.
• Experience participating in interdepartmental and intergovernmental relationships and agreements necessary to accomplish programs.
• 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 0401/1301/1320, series as listed below:

For the 1301 Series Degree: 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. Or Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors 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.

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 0401 Series Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. Or Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

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 and Technical Management Career field. The incumbent is required to become certified at the Practitioner Level in the applicable career field within 24 months unless a position requirements waiver is approved to extend the 24 months. The incumbent must obtain a minimum of 80 continuous learning points (CLPs) for every 2-year CLP period, with a goal of at least 40 annually. Certified Practitioner Level in the Engineering and Technical Management Career Track (ETM) required.

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) )