Chemist

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Science and Technology Directorate (S&T).

The primary purpose of this position is to provide expert scientific capabilities to support S&T’s efforts in investigating and analyzing explosive
characterization and synthesis to ensure scientific explosives research conducted in this area is accurate, robust, and legitimate.

Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position. 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; applicant’s resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization’s interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications. As a Chemist, GS-1320-15, your typical work assignments may include:

• Providing expertise to research and analysis of the composition, physical and chemical properties, structure, and likely reactions of chemical explosive agents.
• Developing and maintaining the highest level of credibility and scientifically based knowledge in order to deliver council based on explosives characterization research to decisionmakers throughout DHS.
• Interpreting and validating technical reports on explosive characterization work that contains relevant properties including explosives synthesis, safety, performance, detonability boundaries, and detection signatures to inform policies and procedures for detection, screening, and response of explosive agents.
• Providing significant technical input to S&T’s RDT&E programs by reviewing program goals and objectives of ongoing related research and development projects to assess potentially fruitful areas for new and additional research and development projects.

All DHS-HQ announcements have a 5 business day open period due to the number of applications received.

View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions. Basic requirements for the GS-1320 Chemist series:

1. 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

2. 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.

Specialized Experience:
You qualify for the GS-15 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal government, performing duties such as:

• 1) Providing expertise to research and analysis of the composition, physical and chemical properties, structure, and likely reactions of chemical explosive agents; 2) Interpreting and validating technical reports on explosive characterization work that contains relevant properties including explosives synthesis, safety, performance, detonability boundaries, and detection signatures to inform policies and procedures for detection, screening, and response of explosive agents; 3) Analyzing terrorist activities involving improvised explosives devices, radiological dispersal devices, and other devices and means to detonate or disperse harmful substances.

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

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.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.