Supervisory Chemist or Supervisory Toxicology (Forensic) (Deputy Laboratory Director)

Pretrial Services Agency•Washington, DC

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia is seeking an individual to serve as the Deputy Laboratory Director. This role involves performing the full range of forensic screening and confirmation analyses to detect drug use and provide interpretation of data, drug pharmacokinetics, and drug pharmacodynamics to the Court, Pretrial Services Agency, and Court Services & Offender Supervision Agency Staff. The Deputy Director will assist the Deputy Assistant Director in managing and directing all phases of Laboratory operations, developing operating goals and objectives, and engaging in long- and short-range planning initiatives. This includes designing and recommending alternatives for Laboratory management, conducting special studies, and evaluating accomplishments. The role also involves reviewing operational efficiency, procedure validation, instrument certification, and quality assurance and control, as well as identifying and correcting deficiencies. As a senior authority, the Deputy Director will interpret complex scientific data, advise staff on documentation and testimony, and consult on scientific protocols and procedures. They will also provide expert consultation and lectures to external agencies and represent the agency in scientific, legal, and community forums. Furthermore, the position requires managing a staff of scientists and technical employees, planning and assigning work, administering personnel programs, and consulting on personnel selection and promotions. Financial management and administrative activities, including budget development and management, procurement, and contract management, are also key responsibilities. The role may also include performing expert testimony duties in court.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
May be required to successfully complete a probationary period, if not already completed
All applicants are subject to a comprehensive criminal background investigation, and required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment
All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice
Status applicants for promotion must have 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade
Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the close of this announcement
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
Will be required to complete a confidential Financial Disclosure Form within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter.
Must meet the basic professional education requirements.
Must meet the specialized experience requirements.
Currently hold a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certification from a board approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (e.g., ABFT, ABCC, ABB).
For Toxicology Series 0415: A degree in toxicology; or an appropriate discipline of the biological, medical, or veterinary sciences that included at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, biochemistry, or physiology, and 12 semester hours in toxicology.
For Chemistry Series 1320: 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 Combination of education and experience, course work equivalent to a major as shown above, including at least 30 semester hours of chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
One year (52 weeks) of specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-13 grade level, defined as managing and directing all phases of a Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, including performing the full range of forensic screening and confirmation analyses to detect drug use and provide interpretation of data, drug pharmacokinetics, and drug pharmacodynamics to the courts.

Nice To Haves

Respond to four essay questions designed to share commitment to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution, and dedication to public service.

Responsibilities

Serve as the Deputy Director of the Laboratory, managing and directing all phases of Laboratory operations.
Assist in developing operating goals and objectives, and long- and short-range planning initiatives for the Laboratory.
Design and recommend alternatives for Laboratory management to address mission-critical requirements, changes in legal or scientific requirements, or to improve operational efficiency.
Assist in directing special studies and assessments of Laboratory operations, evaluating accomplishments against established goals and objectives.
Review operational efficiency, procedure validation, instrument certification, and quality assurance and control.
Identify potential problem areas with scientific operations or management issues and develop and implement strategies to correct deficiencies.
Interpret complex scientific data and advise staff on documentation and testimony.
Consult with management to establish, explain, and defend scientific protocols and procedures, laboratory data, drug pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.
Provide expert consultation and lectures to external agencies and visiting delegations.
Represent the agency in a variety of scientific, legal, and community forums.
Manage a staff of scientists and technical employees performing screening and confirmation analysis, and interpretation and documentation of data.
Plan and assign work, delegate responsibility, and establish priorities and time frames for staff.
Administer personnel programs including absence and leave, awards and recognition, and affirmative action and equal employment opportunity.
Counsel employees and take or recommend disciplinary actions.
Approve or recommend personnel selection and promotions.
Set performance standards and evaluate performance.
Identify training needs for staff to maintain scientific proficiency.
Perform financial management and administrative activities for the Laboratory.
Develop budget projections, documentation, and justification.
Manage allocated funds ensuring compliance with policy and procedures and maximum return on expenditures.
Define procurement requirements and work with staff to obtain products and services.
Manage contracts to support Laboratory operations.
Perform expert testimony duties on all phases of forensic drug testing and Laboratory operations in court.