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CHEMIST

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
Closing date
Jun 26, 2021
Duties

Summary

About the Position: THIS POSITION IS ANNOUNCED AS A STANDING REGISTER (OPEN AND CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT): Chemist/1320/09/11/12/13 with a duty station of (2 Vacancies at APG, MD). Initial cut-off will be APR/29/2021, then every 15 days or until positions are filled. Recruitment will continue through the closing date to fill vacant positions. Applications are valid for 3 MONTHS in the system. Applicants must reapply after the 3 MONTH period to remain active.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

  • Provide qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses pertaining to chemical warfare agents and explosives for advancing detection methodologies and enhance scientific data to support each mission or command decisions.
  • Serve as a Senior Chemist responsible for deploying in support of Other Government Agencies and Combatant Commanders as either a team leader or as part of the team.
  • Serves as a primary trainer for new employees and lower grade scientists on current and new technological advances within the organization.
  • Conducts extensive experimentation and/or testing, for approved projects, both in the laboratory and the field.
  • Conduct systematic research investigations on new and unusual problems concerned with advancing detection methodologies and capabilities to enhance detection limits.


Travel Required

50% or less - You may be expected to travel up to 50% for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Incumbent must possess or able to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance.
  • This is an EMERGENCY ESSENTIAL (E-E) position subject to deployment. Anthrax inoculation program participation may be required to meet deployment requirements.
  • E-E civilians are required to undergo nuclear-biological and chemical training, and are required to participate in readiness tests, mobilization, alerts, and field training exercises.
  • Incumbent must pass a medical examination and receive required immunizations for the overseas/deployed location.
  • Incumbent must undergo urinalysis screening under the Civilian Drug Abuse Testing Program prior to appointment and randomly thereafter.
  • This position requires temporary duty up to 50% of the time. Mobility for temporary duty assignments or temporary change of station both CONUS and OCONUS are required.
  • This position may require the employee to perform mission requirements in hostile environments. Therefore, incumbent will be designated as 'Emergency Essential' IAW DoD Directive governing retention of DoD Civilians in overseas locations.
  • Incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) with Hazardous Material Endorsement within 24 months of employment.
  • Must obtain and maintain a Government driver's license within 30 days of employment.
  • This position is covered by the Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968. Incumbent must be able to carry a weapon and qualify in the use of assigned weapon(s).
  • Ability to work outside in all weather conditions and unpredictable terrain or access. Carry light to moderately heavy objects (50 pounds or more), and crouching while wearing OSHA Level C Personnel Protective Ensemble for extended periods of time.
  • Must work with or in close proximity to hazardous chemical and biological warfare materiel, toxic industrial materiel, chemicals, and explosives. Must follow standard operating procedures and regulations to ensure personnel safety.
  • This position has a mandatory seasonal influenza vaccination requirement and is subject to annual vaccination.


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:
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-09 Specialized Experience: One year of experience which includes: (1) Assist with environmental chemical analysis; (2) Assist in toxic chemical analysis using process standards, such as, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation with guidance; and (3) Utilize chemical analytical techniques, such as, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, or liquid chromatography. 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, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or Physical Science. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

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 experience which includes: (1) Implement standard operating procedures and agency polices; (2) Develop test plans which evaluate factors, such as, detection capability, destruction efficiency and material identification; and (3) Conduct tests with analytical techniques, such as, gas chromatography and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometers, infrared detectors, etc. 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, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or Physical Science. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

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: (1) Evaluate the physical and chemical reactivity of compounds; (2) Analyze and sample complex materials; and (3) Calibrate and operate analytical instruments. 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: (1) Provide qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses pertaining to chemical warfare agents, such as, gas chromatograph mass selective detector or liquid chromatography; (2) Provide in-depth understanding of organic synthesis methods and pathways, such as, a documented research paper or completed research method involving chemical agents; and (3) Conduct research studies to formulate systematic research investigations to enhance chemical detection limits.
This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-12 or above).

NOTE: Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For grades (GS-12 and 13), 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:
  • Analysis and Research
  • Communications
  • Systems Testing and Evaluation
  • Technical Competence


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 Scientists (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.
  • 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 .
  • Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.
  • Advanced In-hire is authorized.


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.


Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Secret

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk

Trust determination process
National security

Required Documents

The documents you are required to submit vary based on whether or not you are eligible for preference in federal employment. A complete description of preference categories and the associated required documents is in the Applicant Checklist (External) .

As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

1. Your resume:
  • Your resume may be submitted in any format and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement.
  • If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
  • For qualifications determinations your resume must contain hours worked per week and the dates of employment (i.e., HRS per week and month/year to month/year or month/year to present). If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete and you may not receive consideration for this position.
  • For additional information see: What to include in your resume .
2. Other supporting documents:
  • Cover Letter, optional
  • Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
  • This position has an individual occupational requirement and/or allows for substitution of education for experience. If you meet this requirement based on education you MUST submit a copy of your transcript with your application package or you will be rated ineligible. See: Transcripts and Licenses
NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.

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.

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