Chemist; Diversion Control Division

This position is located in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Office of Diversion Control Operations, Drug and Chemical Evaluation Section, Chemical Control Unit (DOEC).

This position(s) primary purpose is to serve as a chemist, responsible for providing leadership on technical matters to the Diversion Control Program (DCP).

For more information on eligibility requirements see: DEA Employment Eligibility

Applicants must meet all of the required qualification requirements described below by the closing of this announcement.

If you are qualifying based on education or if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application.

Basic Qualification Requirements:
The basic requirement for this position requires 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 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.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

Applicants applying for the GS-13 must meet one of the following requirements:

Have at least one full year of qualifying specialized experience that is at least equivalent in difficulty and complexity to work performed at the GS-12 grade level. Specialized experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, Ameri Corps) 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.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

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) serving as a technical advisor in chemistry providing guidance on scientific matters;
2) performing analysis of the composition, properties, structure and/or chemical reactions of substances;
3) researching data to recommend policy changes and
4) preparing scientific technical reports.

Applicants applying for the GS-14 must meet the following requirement:

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 an authority in chemistry providing guidance on organic chemistry, drug scheduling or chemical control;
2) interpreting and applying policies to identify problems or issues;
3) recommending solutions to public health and/or safety threats presented by drugs or chemicals; and
4) defending agency policies to industry, the scientific community or other agencies.

Additional information on the position qualification requirements are located in the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Qualifications Standards Handbook.