Summary This position is located in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Diversion Control Division (DC), Office of Diversion Control Operations (DO), Drug & Chemical Evaluation Section (DOE), Data Analysis Unit (DOED), Arlington, VA. This position's primary purpose is to serve as a Chemist responsible for providing leadership on technical matters to the Office of Diversion Control. Responsibilities 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. As a Chemist your typical work assignments may include: Providing leadership on technical and on scientific matters to the Drug and Chemical Evaluation Section, Diversion Control Division. Maintaining liaison with scientists, public health and law enforcement officials, and other professionals, nationally and internationally, to orient them to the priorities of drugs of abuse and diversion of chemicals. Providing expert testimony or scientific support for drug case prosecutions. Serving as authority on chemistry, drug scheduling and chemical control, and providing advice in these areas to the section and program, other officials within DEA and other Federal or state/local agencies. Participating in inter- and intra-agency meetings and scientific conferences concerning drug issues and chemical control. Informing and defending agency policies on drug and chemical control issues to worldwide professionals, industry, scientific community and other agencies. Analyzing drug abuse, chemical diversion indicators, and other technical data. Recommending immediate and long range policies by developing and monitoring drug abuse and chemical diversion. Developing information for policy decisions and Drug/chemical regulations, based on drug scheduling and chemical diversion issues. Drafting and recommending positions on assigned drug scheduling issues. Proposing agency policy relative to drug scheduling and chemical control, based on organic chemical considerations. Providing subject matter expertise in the field of chemistry on technical matters. Preparing technical guidance used by domestic and international drug and chemical control agencies. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet the Basic Qualification - Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) AND Specialized Experience requirements as noted below. Qualification claims will be subject to verification. You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying specialized experience. Specialized 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. One year of specialized experience for this position includes: Basic Qualification -- Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) 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 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. AND Experience Required GS-13: Must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level or pay band in the Federal service that includes performing the following duties: 1) Providing technical expertise in the field of organic chemistry related to drugs of abuse; 2) Utilizing scientific knowledge to evaluate processes and procedures as they relate to agency mission; 3) Recommending various information sources needed to track and evaluate drugs of abuse; 4) Proposing regulatory policy based on knowledge and experience in organic chemistry; and 5) Identifying and assessing complex scientific issues through a comprehensive understanding of agency mission. GS-14: Must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level or pay band in the Federal service that includes performing the following duties: 1) Serving as authority on chemistry, drug scheduling and chemical control; 2) Preparing technical guidance used by domestic and international drug and chemical control agencies; 3) Recommending solutions to current and potential public health and safety threats relative to drug and chemical diversion; 4) Developing policy relative to drug scheduling and chemical control; and 5) Providing expert testimony relating to drug case prosecutions. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Education This position requires specific coursework and/or a degree to meet the basic education requirement. You must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Your transcript(s) must clearly demonstrate the course(s) listed in the qualification requirement section. If the transcript(s) does not clearly demonstrate this you must submit a copy of the course description and/or other documentation demonstrating that the courses are equivalent. If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Special Instructions for 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. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, DEA requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation (Critical-Sensitive/Top Secret, Special-Sensitive/Top Secret, or Non-critical Sensitive/Secret). This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation. DEA committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. EEO POLICY STATEMENT Reasonable Accommodations Request: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Veterans' Preference: If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 which list your active service dates, awards/campaigns and character of service or an official statement from your command if currently on active duty that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, in addition to the DD-214, you must also submit a Standard Form 15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference) and the required supporting documents listed on that form. For more information on veterans' preference see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/. 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. Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP): This program applies to Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed, or employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 80 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. Well-Qualified includes those applicants whose knowledge, skills, and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.