Research Chemist

**Duties**:
As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.

As a Research Chemist (Heroin Drug Program Technical Authority) your typical work assignments may include:

- Conducting research on heroin and opium to recognize new trends and/or changes in illicit opium cultivation and clandestine heroin.
- Developing methods to target opium and process-related impurities to gain insight into heroin production techniques.
- Demonstrating leadership qualities and promoting an inspired, collaborative work environment.
- Serving as an expert in the acquisition, compilation, and review of chemistry data from a variety of analytical techniques to include spectrometry, spectroscopy, and chromatography, as well as expertise in organic chemistry
- Demonstrating advanced professional knowledge of physical, chemical and instrumental techniques and methods of analysis used in chemical profiling of illicit substances
- Conducting briefings and lectures on heroin data and trends to U.S. federal/state/local government agencies, policy makers, and international counterparts
- Assisting prosecutors and testifying as an expert witness on heroin, opium, opiates, and opium poppy-related cases.
- Traveling to opium and heroin-producing countries to gather intelligence information on poppy cultivation practices and heroin production techniques.

**Requirements**:
**Conditions of Employment**:

- U. S. Citizenship Required
- You must submit to a pre-employment drug test
- Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
- You may be required to successfully complete a probationary period
- DEA uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
- Current Federal employees cannot transfer unused Time Off Awards to DEA.

**Qualifications**:
**Qualifications**:Basic Requirements**:Applicants must meet ONE of the following qualification requirements: (A). 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. OR (B). 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.
- **Minimum**Qualifications**: In addition to meeting the basic requirements above, is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.
- **Qualification for the** **GS-13**: applicant must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade of GS-12 or equivalent band level of responsibility in the Federal Service which includes experience with three of the following: 1) Knowledge of physical, chemical and instrumental techniques and methods of analysis used in chemical profiling or attribution; 2) knowledge and experience in synthetic chemistry; 3) Conducting independent and collaborative research; 4) Publishing research results in peer reviewed journals; and 5) Communicating, both orally and in writing, complex technical ideas, positions, and recommendations.
- **Qualification for theGS-14**: applicant must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade of GS-13 or equivalent band level of responsibility in the Federal Service which includes experience rwith four of the following: 1) Knowledge of physical, chemical and instrumental techniques and methods of analysis used in chemical profiling or attribution; 2) knowledge and experience in synthetic chemistry; 3) Conducting independent and collaborative research; 4) Publishing research results in peer reviewed journals; 5) Participating in scientific committees, conferences, and/or public events; and 6) Communicating, both orally and in writing, complex technical ideas, positions, and recommendations.
- You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying specialized experience equivalent GS132013/14. Specialized experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) a