Interdisciplinary-General Physical Science/Chemistry

Defense Health Agency • Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

15d • Onsite

About The Position

This developmental position is with the Defense Health Agency Public Health at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. It may be filled at GS-07, GS-09, GS-11, or GS-12, with GS-12 as the full performance level. Management may select at any announced grade; advancement to GS-12 from a lower grade depends on regulatory requirements, training, performance, and management discretion. Salary and leave accrual negotiations may be available to candidates new to Federal service. Management prefers applicants with ISO 17025 Quality System experience.

The position conducts complex chemical analyses of environmental and occupational health samples to determine chemical composition and toxic constituents. Work includes reviewing quality-control data and taking corrective action, identifying components and concentrations and the techniques used, investigating data anomalies through additional experiments, resolving conflicts, and documenting results. The employee determines sample storage and preservation procedures and trains on equipment operation and analyses as required.

The position requires up to 5% business travel. Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination following a background investigation, and a one-year probationary or trial period may be required. U.S. citizenship is required. Direct deposit of pay is required. Relocation costs are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Meet the basic education or education-and-experience requirement for Chemist: a qualifying bachelor's degree or higher including 30 semester hours in chemistry, mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics; or equivalent coursework plus appropriate experience or additional education.
• Alternatively, meet the basic education or education-and-experience requirement for Physical Scientist: a qualifying bachelor's degree or higher including 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science; or equivalent coursework plus appropriate experience or additional education.
• For GS-09, one year of specialized experience monitoring sophisticated laboratory equipment, planning chemical analyses, and troubleshooting and maintaining laboratory instruments; or qualifying graduate education; or an allowed combination of education and experience.
• For GS-11, one year of specialized experience using relevant analytical instruments and techniques, conducting environmental and occupational health sample analyses and reporting results, and analyzing difficult, complex, and unusual chemical samples; or qualifying doctoral-level graduate education; or an allowed combination of education and experience.
• For GS-12, one year of specialized experience evaluating quality-control parameters, updating laboratory SOPs, performing chemical analysis using advanced instrumentation, and using a LIMS. Education cannot substitute for experience at GS-12.
• Foreign education used to meet qualification requirements must be evaluated and deemed equivalent to U.S. accredited education, or receive full credit for courses at an accredited U.S. college or university.
• Provide proof of U.S. citizenship. Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• Direct deposit of pay is required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with an ISO 17025 Quality System.

Responsibilities

• Conduct complex chemical analyses of environmental and occupational health samples to determine chemical composition and toxic constituents.
• Review quality-control data and take corrective action as required.
• Identify components found, their concentrations, and the techniques used.
• Recognize anomalies or discrepancies in data, conduct additional experiments, resolve conflicts, and document results.
• Determine sample storage and preservation procedures.
• Train on equipment operations and analyses as required.
• At the GS-12 level, evaluate quality-control parameters, update laboratory Standard Operating Procedures, perform chemical analyses using advanced instrumentation, and use a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level