Duties

Summary

If you are interested in a career supervising a unit that performs a full range of forensic confirmation analyses to detect drug use and provides interpretation of data, drug pharmacokinetics and drug pharmacodynamics within a criminal justice setting, this job is for you!

Bargaining Unit Status: Not Covered

This is not a law enforcement position
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

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.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Required to successfully complete a probationary period
• All applicants are subject to a comprehensive criminal background investigation, and required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service

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 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 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

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

Additional information

1. If you are an eligible Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicant, you may apply for special selection over other applicants for this position. Individuals who have special priority selection rights under the ICTAP must be well-qualified for the position. To be well qualified, applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and meet the well-qualified level (mid-level) of the crediting plan for all factors. ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice, SF-50, Notice of Personnel Action, documenting separation, an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated, an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated, OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. Section 833(h) or Section 8456.

2. If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you should attach a copy of your DD-214 (unedited long version) or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must attach an SF-15, "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form.

3. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.

4. Reasonable Accommodation, this agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of this application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation is made on a case-by-case basis.

5. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review in our office, in other Federal agency personnel offices, and on OPM's web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

6. Equal Opportunity Employer: The Pretrial Services Agency is an equal opportunity employer. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status or other non-merit based factors.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Your rating will be based on your responses to the job specific information provided in your resume. Your resume must clearly show how you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities will result in a rating of "Qualified" by the rating panel.

1. Knowledge of the quality assurance process and skill in calibrating and operating analytical instruments to perform drug testing in a forensic lab to include: Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GCMS) and Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) and in analyzing results.

2. Knowledge of principles and methodologies utilized for the extraction and separation of drugs and their principal metabolites and analysis of results. Skill in the preparation, validation, and certification of standard and control reagents and/or solutions for drug analyses.

3. Demonstrate the ability to provide expert testimony on drug analysis and the relevance of the results in legal proceedings using relevant principles of toxicology, organic, analytic and physical chemistry.

4. Ability to lead a diverse workforce, plan, organize, direct the functions, supervise, mentor, motivate, and appraise the staff of an organization.

5. Skill in written and verbal communication with internal staff and external stakeholders such as the courts.

Once the application process is completed, your application will be reviewed to ensure you meet the job requirements. You will be evaluated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training. If you meet the basic qualification requirements, your resume will be forwarded to a panel for rating. Category Rating will be used to evaluate applicants using the following categories to further determine which applicants will be referred to the selecting official for final consideration.

Best Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a superior level on all evaluation criteria.

Well Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a satisfactory level on evaluation criteria.

Qualified: Applicants possessing the specialized experience described above.

Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veterans' preference above non-veterans within each category. Veterans who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements, and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the highest quality category (Best Qualified), except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your resume listing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, duties performed and salary information.
2. Other supporting documents:

• Cover Letter, optional
• College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education and/or to satisfy the basic professional requirement
• DD-214, SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities
• Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

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.