Interdisciplinary Physical Scientist/Chemist/ Biologist

Summary

This position is being filled under the memorandum from the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)) "Expansion of Direct Hire Authority for Certain Personnel of the Department of Defense," dated August 12,2024.

This position is part of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

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Duties

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As an Interdisciplinary Physical Scientist/Chemist/ Biologist at the GS-0401/1301/1320-12/13 some of your typical work assignments may include:

• Participate as a member of the Technical Support Group (TSG) to deploy in support of Combatant Commander and other federal Departments/Agencies in C/B emergency response events and training.
• Provide authoritative advice and recommendations, as a recognized expert in C/B weapons and detection, on chemical/biological operational and S&T programs.
• Provide on-site training, operational, scientific, and technical support to command sponsored technical training and exercises and other Joint Chief of Staff/theater sponsored exercises.
• Serve as the DTRA focal point for providing program planning, review, and oversight of specific short duration R&D programs related to chemical/biological (C/B) matters.
• Integrates requirements for the support of chemical/biological event response into the DTRA Operations Center, Department of Defense (DoD) point of contacts for implementation of crisis action/emergency response within the C/B area.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment determined by background investigation. Must be able to obtain and maintain a TOP SECURITY/SCI security clearance.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Work Schedule: Fulltime
• Overtime: Overtime/compensatory time may be required to accommodate operational needs of the organization. Must be willing to work overtime during exercise play and real-world crisis.
• Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized if funds are available and with approval from hiring manager; See link for more information:
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): GS-13 Exempt / GS-12 Non-Exempt
• Financial Disclosure: Not Required
• Telework Eligibility: This position is an in-person position at facilities located at Pearl City, HI. This position may be eligible for limited, situational telework subject to supervisory approval and not to exceed current Agency guidelines.
• Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug test screening and pass subsequent periodic random drug testing. Multiple failures to pass periodic drug testing will result in termination from federal service.
• Must be willing to spend up to (but not limited to) 90 days annually in temporary duty travel, sometimes on short notice, in the United States and foreign countries.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical prior to entry onto duty and annual deployment physical exams. Must meet the physical and medical requirements for deployment before and throughout employment.
• Must be capable of lifting and carrying for short distances, loads up to 50 pounds, standing for long periods (8 hours), and be able to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including body armor and a protective mask.
• May be exposed to CBRN and hostile enemy threats. May be required to participate in the DoD Immunization Program. The work may require long hours in a field environment and under austere conditions.
• This position is Emergency-Essential (E-E).
• This position authorizes the incumbent to carry a firearm. See Below "Additional Information" for more conditions of employment

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS-12, if you fulfill the following qualifications:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service as listed below:

• Technical background and education in a related biological or chemical discipline which provides an understanding of chemical and biological (C/B) agent effects, characteristics, and behaviors to include a background in related chemical or biological detection instrumentation;
• Provide scientific and technical recommendations to crisis response leaders on how to identify, prevent, protect from, respond to, and recover from small and/or large-scale C/B threats or incidents;
• Provide guidance regarding emergency response and program capabilities, including experience in the use of and application of (C/B) detectors and detection theory to characterize C/B threat agents and optimize C/B response training, exercises, and incidents;
• Conduct C/B technological trend analysis, to provide recommendations to a response organization, leadership, units, regarding C/B site exploitation planning and execution.
• (Specialized experience must be clearly demonstrated in your resume)

You may qualify at the GS-13, if you fulfill the following qualifications:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service as listed below:

• Extensive technical background and education in a related biological or chemical discipline which provides an understanding of chemical and biological (C/B) agent effects, characteristics, and behaviors to include a background in related chemical or biological detection instrumentation;
• Provide scientific and technical recommendations to senior officials and crisis response leaders to identify, prevent, protect from, respond to, and recover from small and/or large-scale C/B threats or incidents;
• Provide guidance, without supervision, regarding emergency response and program capabilities, including experience in the use of and application of (C/B) detectors and detection theory to characterize C/B threat agents and optimize C/B response training, exercises, and incidents;
• Conduct independent C/B technological trend analysis, to provide recommendations to a response organization, leadership, units, regarding C/B site exploitation planning and execution.
• (Specialized experience must be clearly demonstrated in your resume)

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.

In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 0401/1301/1320, series as listed below:

A. For Physical Science series 1301- Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. (Must provide transcripts)

B. For Physical Science series 1301 - Combination of education and experience education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. (Must provide transcripts and experience clearly demonstrated in resume)

C. For Chemistry Series 1320 - 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. (Must provide transcripts)

D. For Chemistry Series 1320 - 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. (Must provide transcripts and experience clearly demonstrated in resume)

E. For Biologist series 0401 - Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. (Must provide transcripts)

F. For Biologist series 0401 - Combination of education and experience Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in E above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. (Must provide transcripts and experience clearly demonstrated in resume)

Education

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

TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED:

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

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. For further information, visit:

Additional information

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT, CONT:

• This position is Emergency-Essential (E-E). In the event of a crisis situation, the incumbent, or designated alternate, must continue to perform the E-E duties until relieved by proper authority. The position cannot be vacated during a national emergency or mobilization without seriously impairing the capability of the organization to function effectively; therefore, the position is designated "key" which requires the incumbent, or designated alternate, to be screened from military recall status.
• This position authorizes the incumbent to carry a firearm. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (Title 18, U.S.C., Section 922 (g) (91). Candidates who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are not qualified for this position . Candidates under consideration will be required to certify whether they have ever been convicted of such an offense. False or fraudulent information provided by candidates is criminally punishable by fine or imprisonment (Title 18, U.S.C. Section 1001).
• Incumbent must be able to qualify with a pistol according to U. S. Army standards.
• This position requires pre-employment and annual deployment physical exams, which will be evaluated by DTRA Occupational Health professionals to determine if deployability criteria are met. The incumbent must meet the medical requirements for deployment before and throughout employment.
• Subject to rotational assignments to locations in the U.S. and to locations outside the continental U.S
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid passport
• Incumbent will participate in specialized classroom and field training related to the position.
• In contingency operations/combat zones, the incumbent may be required to wear PPE to include a protective mask and body armor. At times, the incumbent may be exposed to CBRN hazards as well as hostile forces. The incumbent may be required to participate in the DoD Immunization Program. Because of the nature of the program and operations, work requires long hours in a field environment under austere conditions during contingency operational responses. The incumbent will participate in specialized classroom and field training related to the position
• Regularly recurring requirements include considerable walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light objects. The incumbent must be capable of lifting and carrying, for short distances, loads up to 50 pounds, standing for long periods (8 hours), and be able to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including a protective mask and body armor. The work may require long hours in a field environment and under austere conditions. The incumbent must be able to work under periods of extreme pressure resulting from program demands not entirely within the control of the Department Director.

RE-EMPLOYED ANNUITANT: This position DOES NOT meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at:

All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement.

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see Who Needs to Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov))

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.