Chemist

Telework Eligible

Yes

Major Duties

• Specializing in the areas of chemical/instrumental analysis, physical testing, high performance liquid or gas chromatography/spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy/mass spectrometry.
• Developing, adapting, improving, and evaluating methods used to perform chemical and physical testing of routine, difficult, complex, and unusual samples.
• Making major adaptations and modifications of established methods and procedures for a wide variety of samples including components, textiles, leather, rubber, paper, metals, chemicals, and textile or equipage end items.
• Evaluating and interpreting data generated in the course of studying the chemistry of substances.
• Reviewing test plans, referenced specifications, available regulations, procedures and guidelines to determine the most expeditious/economical methods of reaching determinations.
• Making additional modifications if necessary and writing reports that describe the methods/their uses and limitations.
• Conducting and monitoring collaborative studies in connection with the Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program.
• Reviewing Contractors' test reports and entering data into a centralized database/system.
• Participating in correlation studies, courtesy testing, and special investigations resulting from complaints of Unsatisfactory Material Reports on assigned items.

Qualification Summary

To qualify for a Chemist, your resume and supporting documentation must support: A. Basic Requirement: Bachelor's Degree or higher 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 -- Bachelor's Degree or higher equivalent to a major in physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering, or a major in a related field 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, plus appropriate experience, or additional education. AND B. Specialized Experience: In addition to the Basic Requirement, one year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position and is directly in or related to this position. To qualify at the GS-09 level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service, military, or private sector. To qualify at the GS-11 level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service, military, or private sector. To qualify at the GS-12 level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service, military, or private sector. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements including time-in-grade (General Schedule (GS) positions only), time-after-competitive appointment, minimum qualifications, and any other regulatory requirements by the cut-off/closing date of the announcement. Creditable specialized experience includes: GS-09: Performing established standardized chemical tests and analyses on a broad range of samples in a laboratory setting; Implementing new testing and analytical methods involving either automated analytical systems or manual laboratory analytical procedures; Developing and suggesting minor adaptations and filling in the gaps found in the newly developed guidelines. GS-11: Planning, executing, and communicating the results of complex studies of chemical problems; Adapting existing methods as needed to solve new chemical problems; Analyzing samples for quality control. GS-12: Analyzing a wide variety of samples for quality control; Creating new methods as needed to solve unusual or unique chemical problems or evaluation requirements; Performing a full range of volumetric, gravimetric, spectrographic, titrimetric, and chemical analyses; Obtaining valid and accurate testing results. OR C. Education Substitution: Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Education must be from a college or university accredited by an organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education. See If using education to meet basic qualifications, YOU MUST SUBMIT A TRANSCRIPT as supplemental documentation. To qualify based on education in lieu of specialized experience, you must possess: GS-09: Two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. GS-11: Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. GS-12: Education cannot be substituted in place of specialized experience for this grade level. OR D. Combination: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for grade levels GS-09 and GS-11 and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grade GS-09 and GS-11. 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.