Chemist - Beltsville, United States - Department Of Justice

Description

Summary

ATF is a law enforcement agency in the U.S.

Department of Justice that protects our communities from violent criminals/criminal organizations, illegal use/trafficking of firearms, illegal use/storage of explosives, acts of arson/bombings, acts of terrorism, and illegal diversion of alcohol/tobacco products.

We partner with communities, industries, law enforcement, and public safety agencies to safeguard the public through information sharing, training, research, & technology.

Visit

Learn more about this agency

Help

Overview

• Accepting applications
• Open & closing dates

04/19/2024 to 04/29/2024

• Salary

$68,405 - $88,926 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 9

• Help

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Beltsville, MD
• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

• Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent -* Work schedule

Full-time -* Service

Competitive

• Promotion potential

13

• Job family (Series)

1320 Chemistry

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Top Secret

• Drug test

Yes

• Position sensitivity and risk

Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk

• Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

24-OST-DE KA

• Control number

Help

This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

• The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

• Veterans

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all U.S. citizens.

Help

Duties

This position is located under the Office of Science and Technology, Forensic Science Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a Chemist specializing in fire debris analysis and providing highly technical and scientific services that directly facilitate the accomplishment and support the Bureau's enforcement programs


Typical work assignments include:

• Performs basic chemical and physical analyses with close technical guidance.
• Performs examinations, which usually require both wet chemistry and instrumental procedures such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, etc.
• Interprets, evaluates, and analyzes the results of examinations.
• Provides expert witness testimony on the basis of laboratory examinations.
• Prepares laboratory reports.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progresses.

Help

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

The qualification requirements listed below must be met by the closing date of the announcement.


MOBILITY PLAN:
New employees hired pursuant to this vacancy announcement must sign a mobility agreement. The purpose of ATF's mobility policy is to enhance career development and progression, and achieve mission and business effectiveness.

To accomplish these objectives, the mobility plan will facilitate the movement of employees through special short-term assignments or permanent reassignments throughout the Bureau.

Applicants who decline to sign a mobility agreement, as required, will be removed from the hiring process.


Key Requirements:

• Must be U.S. Citizen or National
• May be required to serve a one year probationary period.
• Pass drug screening and subject to random drug test.
• Suitable for Federal employment determined by background investigation.

Qualifications

This is a non-bargaining unit position.


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.

A 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.

To qualify for the GS-09, candidates must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-07.

Specialized experience is demonstrated experience, which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position.

Experience must be in the normal line of progression or must be related to the work of the position advertised and must be reflected in resume.

Examples of specialized experience include:

• Assisting with basic chemical and physical analyses; and
• Assisting with operating common laboratory equipment; and
• Assisting with utilizing analytical techniques in a laboratory environment; and
• Communicating facts clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy.

To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Silver (minimum score of 85) or better category using established category rating criteria.

You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority.

Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form.

Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at:

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy.

To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Silver (minimum score of 85) or better category using established category rating criteria.

You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is

Veteran Preference:

If you are entitled to veteran preference, you should indicate the type of veteran preference you are claiming on your résumé.

In order to verify your veteran preference entitlement, please submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty); official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty; or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that shows your military service was performed under honorable conditions.

In addition, if you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, or widow/widower of a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the natural mother of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit the October 2013 Revised Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and the other required documentation identified on the reverse side of the SF-15 to support your preference claim.

Although veteran preference points are not assigned under the category rating procedures described under "How You Will Be Evaluated," veteran preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-veterans within each category for which they are qualified.

If you are a 30% or more disabled veteran, you may be eligible to use leave under the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act of 2015.

This act grants leave for purposes of undergoing medical treatment for a disability instead of using regular sick


For additional information see:
Disabled Veteran Leave

Education

All academic degrees and course work must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S.

Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria see

Additional information

Notice to Prospective Employees of Ethical Obligations from ATF's Human Resources Operations Division. Please click on the following link to read important information. DOJ Notice to Prospective Employees of Ethical Obligations

Selective Service:

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.

See

EEO Statement:

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, status as a parent, genetic information, disability, age, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, or on the basis of personal favoritism.

Applicants who believe they have been subjected to discrimination, or retaliation for participating in EEO activity or for opposing discrimination, should contact the ATF's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at within 45 calendar days of when the alleged harm occurred.

Please click on the following link to read important information. Department of Justice EEO Policy Statement

DIVERSITY Statement:
"As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service."

Reasonable Accommodation (RA)

Requests:

If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request RA in your online application.

You must meet the eligibility requirements listed above, please notify the human resources specialist listed on the vacancy announcement, or contact the ATF's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at or send an email to The decision on granting a reasonable accommodation is handled on a case-by-case basis.

You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you receive the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.

"Federal Regulations state no ATF employee, his/her spouse, or his/her minor child shall have, directly or indirectly, any financial interest, including compensated employment, stock, or proprietary interest in the alcohol, tobacco, firearms or explosives industries. You should be aware that you may be asked to relinquish any ownership of or interests in the alcohol, tobacco, firearms or explosives industries before a determination can be made whether access to ATF information, information technology systems, and/or facilities can be authorized."

Additional vacancies may be filled from this vacancy announcement.

Read more

• Benefits

Help

Review our benefits

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements.

If you meet the minimum qualifications, we will use your responses to the assessment questionnaire to place you in one of three categories based on your experience, education, and/or training.

The assessment questionnaire is designed to measure your ability in the following competencies:

• Chemistry
• Oral Communication
• Research
• Written communication

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:

• Gold: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF), as determined by the job analysis.
• Silver: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPF's as determined by the job analysis.
• Bronze: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs as determined by the job analysis.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.

Candidates within the Gold category who are eligible for veterans' preference will receive selection priority over candidates without veterans' preference.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click