Chemist - Clearance Jobs : Job Details

Position: Chemist, GS-9/11/12

Division: Laboratory Division (LD)

Unit: Explosive Unit

Location: Huntsville, AL

Working Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm (Flexible)

Salary: GS-9 $62,358.00-$81,065.00 GS-11 $77,002.00-$100,098.00 GS-12 $92,293.00-$119,986.00

Full Performance Level: GS-12

Number of Positions Available: Full Time/Permanent

Additional selections may be made from this announcement to fill positions within the same division when the position includes substantially the same duties, responsibilities, and qualifications.

Key Requirements:

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must be able to obtain a Top Secret clearance
• Must be able to pass a US Government HAZMAT physical exam
• This position may be potentially exposed to situations or information that depicts violent acts, lewd images, or involves isolated working conditions.
• As a condition of employment, DNA samples are required from all FBI personnel who interact with evidence or federal DNA database samples in Laboratory Division (LD) space or whose work requires them to enter LD examination areas where evidence or DNA database samples are processed or examined as part of the quality control process to detect sample/evidence contamination, in accordance with the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), 75 Federal Register (FR) 68932; 29 C.F.R. 1635.8(b)(6)

ALL applicants must verify completion of the basic education requirement by submitting a copy of college transcripts by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Mission Statement: The mission of the FBI is to protect the American People and uphold the Constitution of the United States.

Major Duties:

• Analyze evidence for the presence of explosives and/or explosive residues
• Generate written case notes, interpret data, and compile results
• Serve as a Chemist in an accredited forensic laboratory setting
• Perform highly complex and unique analyses utilizing a wide range of analytical methods including sophisticated instrumentation in analytical chemistry
• Apply established scientific and administrative techniques to provide accurate technical information
• Participate in scientific engagements with domestic and international partners
• With a Chemist-Forensic Examiner, deploy to explosives-related crime scenes upon request
• Assist with Explosives Chemistry method development and validation activities
• Perform instrument troubleshooting and maintenance
• Prepare reference materials, standards, and instrument reagents

Qualifications and Evaluations: Please make sure your specialized experience/requirement(s) can be identified in your resume. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Your application will be evaluated and rated under the FBI's Candidate Rating Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement and will be compared to your responses to the online assessment questionnaire.

High self-assessment in the vacancy questions that is not supported by information in your resume, and/or supporting documents may eliminate you from Most Competitive status. Your application will then be placed in one of three categories: Most Competitive, Competitive, or Least Competitive. Names of candidates in the Most Competitive category will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration. Veterans' preference will be applied.

All applicants will be rated on the following Competencies (No more than 7):

• Analytic Thinking
• Chemistry
• Communication
• Flexibility/Adaptability
• Forensics
• Organizing and Planning
• Problem Solving/Judgement

Positive Education Requirement: This position has a specific education requirement; all applicants must verify completion of this basic educational requirement by submitting a copy of their college transcripts by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Basic Requirements:

A. 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

B. 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 of additional education.

Specialized Experience (SE):

GS-9: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level.

SE is defined as follows:

• Knowledge of the principles, theories, and methods of chemistry in order to analyze complex materials.
• Knowledge of laboratory case-working procedures, including quality control and safety procedures, to assure that examinations are conducted according to accepted protocols and that casework is properly coordinated with other responsible units.
• Knowledge of the principles, theories, and operation of analytical chemistry instrumentation.

GS-11: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level.

SE (in addition to above) is defined as follows:

• Ability to provide laboratory technical documents and respond to technical requests for information.
• Knowledge of legal procedures and rules of evidence to handle evidence appropriately and provide effective testimony.

GS-12: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.

SE (in addition to above) is defined as follows:

• Knowledge of types of examination, policies and procedures, and organizational structure to collect and process evidence.
• Knowledge in a specialized science discipline to perform and modify methods and procedures to solve problems encountered or to improve the quality results.

Education: All degrees must be from an accredited college or university. Education may be substituted for specialized experience as follows:

GS-9: Applicant must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related.

GS-11: Applicant must have a Ph.D. OR equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related.

How to Apply: For detailed instructions related to applying, uploading documents, withdrawing an application or updating your application, please review the instructions on the FBI website.

Required Documents: To apply to this position, interested applicants must provide a complete application package by the closing date which includes:

• Your resume, specifically noting relevant work experience and associated start and end dates
• A complete assessment questionnaire
• Other supporting documents (if applicable):
• College transcripts, if qualifying based on education or if there is a positive education requirement
• Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50; not applicable to current FBI employees
• Memorandum for Record (MFR), Please see Additional Information
• Most recent Performance Appraisal; not applicable to current FBI employees
• Veterans: DD 214; Disabled Veterans: DD 214, SF-15, and VA letter dated 1991 or later

Documents that were uploaded one or more years ago will need to be uploaded again. Although an applicant may see these documents within their current profile, the HR Specialists may not have access to view them. All applicants are being asked to upload another copy (if applicable) to ensure the staffing units can review the complete application.

You must complete this application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. If applying online is a hardship, please