Job Opening: 54645
Open to current, permanent FBI employees in all locations
Opening Date: May 2, 2024
Closing Date: May 16, 2024 11:59 p.m. (EST)
Questions regarding this opening should be directed to HRS Christopher Glass at cglass@fbi.gov.
Job Summary
Position: Research Chemist, GS-14
Division: Laboratory Division
Unit: TIEDS Center
Location: Huntsville, AL
Working Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm (Flexible)
Salary: GS-14 $127,073.00-$165,197.00
Full Performance Level: GS-14
Number of Positions Available: 1
Duration: Full Time/Permanent
Additional selections may be made from this announcement to fill positions within the same division when the position includes substantially the same duties, responsibilities, and qualifications.
Key Requirements

• Must be a current, permanent FBI employee.
• ALL applicants must verify completion of the basic education requirement by submitting a copy of college transcripts by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Major Duties

• Serve at the PM of record for the Canine (K9) Explosives Vapor Detection Program.
• Responsible for interfacing with internal and external customers, setting program research priorities, collecting, interpreting, and reporting data to partners and stakeholders. Advise partners and stakeholders on the results of studies and provide insight and guidance into the development of canine training aids and covert testing articles.
• Act as a liaison between FBI research efforts in the field with other partner laboratories including other governmental entities as well as in academia or the private sector.
• Carry out systematic and comprehensive studies that result in novel or improved analytical procedures or interpretations for use by federal, state and local forensic laboratories.
• Conducts these studies either independently, or as the leader of a research team composed of other chemists, physical scientists, and/or technicians.
• Identify the areas of need in current FBI Laboratory analytical and interpretational protocols and proposes and executes the research study paths considered most effective.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in the field of explosive vapor detection, whose expertise, opinions, and guidance are drawn upon by expert scientists in federal, state, local and international forensic laboratories.
• Organize and manage the activities of supporting personnel who contribute to the progress of research and training activities.

Qualifications and Evaluations
Please make sure your specialized experience/requirement(s) can be identified in your resume. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Your application will be evaluated and rated under the FBI's Candidate Rating Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement and will be compared to your responses to the online assessment questionnaire. High self-assessment in the vacancy questions that is not supported by information in your resume, and/or supporting documents may eliminate you from Most Competitive status.
If you are deemed Most Competitive, you will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.
All applicants will be rated on the following Competencies

• Analytic Thinking
• Chemistry
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Initiative
• Organizing and Planning
• Problem Solving/Judgment
• Research (Data)
• Testing and Evaluation

Positive Education Requirement
This position has a specific education requirement; all applicants must verify completion of this basic education requirement by submitting a copy of their college transcripts by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.
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. The quality of the combination of education and experience must have been sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major study in the appropriate field.
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements provided you can show foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States.
Specialized Experience (SE):
GS-14: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• A minimum of 3 years of experience with the vapor phase detection.
• A minimum of 1 year of experience on the vapor detection of explosive materials.
• Experience communicating scientific principles to various audiences.
• Experience interpreting research findings in terms of their potential impact upon current examination procedures.
• Demonstrated proficiency with GC/MS and LC/MS techniques specifically in regards to the vapor phase detection of analytes.
• Excellent communication skills and be able to effectively communicate difficult scientific principles to audiences of differing educational and technical backgrounds.
• Mastery of a specialty area of chemistry, or a related field, sufficient to enable the research scientist to carry-out or direct inherently complex or difficult studies which are focused on research problems pertinent to forensic science.
• A creative aptitude for applying classical and state of the art scientific methods or techniques, sometimes in non-obvious ways, to the resolution of problems which are of a high priority for, or critical to, the examination of materials of interest to the FBI Laboratory and its partners.
• The ability to interpret research findings in terms of their potential impact upon current examination procedures.
• Skill in effecting the integration of new methodologies into current examination and interpretation protocols, and in communicating these advances to the scientific community at large.
• Mastery of scientific disciplines and knowledge of management and administrative principles such that the research scientist is able to plan and evaluate long range and extensive agency programs that accomplish the agency's mission.
• Good knowledge of policy as well as Bureau and Government regulations relating to new and existing programs in contract research. Technical knowledge of a wide range of scientific disciplines allows the scientist to support outside contracts.
• Ability to lead other professional and support personnel and perform related administrative duties.

Desired Skills
Desired skills are NOT mandatory and will NOT be utilized to minimally qualify applicants.
Desired Skills are:
A Ph. D. in chemistry with a minimum of 1 year of experience on the vapor detection of materials is required. A MS in chemistry with documented research showing a minimum of 3 years of experience with the vapor phase detection.
How to Apply
For detailed instructions related to applying, uploading documents, withdrawing an application or updating your application, please review instructions on How to Apply . If applying online is a hardship, please use the contact information listed in the vacancy announcement prior to the closing date for assistance.
Required Documents
To apply to this position, interested applicants must provide a complete application package by the closing date which includes:

1. Your resume, specifically noting relevant work experience and associated start and end dates
2. A complete assessment questionnaire
3. Other supporting documents (if applicable) :
   • College transcripts, if qualifying based on education or if there is a positive education requirement
   • Memorandum for Record (MFR), Please see Additional Information

Documents that were uploaded one or more years ago will need to be uploaded again. Although an applicant may see these documents within their current profile, the HR Specialists may not have access to view them. All applicants are being asked to upload another copy (if applicable) to ensure the staffing units can review the complete application.
You must complete this application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. If applying online is a hardship, please contact the HR Specialist listed in the vacancy announcement prior to the closing date for assistance.
What to Expect Next
Once your complete application is received we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The Most Competitive candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of your status throughout the process.
Additional Information

• Failure to provide necessary and relevant information required by this vacancy announcement may disqualify you from consideration. Additional information will not be requested if your application is incomplete. Your application will be evaluated solely on the basis of information you have submitted.
• 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.
• Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing the other workplace safety protocols. Positions with fitness for duty requirements or those that require international travel may require proof of certain vaccinations.
• Limited Movement: Policy has been implemented wherein support employees entering a position through a competitive OR non-competitive action may be precluded from moving to another position within the Bureau by means of reassignment or change to lower grade for a minimum of 12 months. HRD will waive this limited movement policy for qualified employees, who have received an official notification letter that their current position is being relocated to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama by 2024, so those employees can compete for a position elsewhere.
• Probationary employees are precluded from being considered for all job opportunities until 12-months of their 24-month probationary period has concluded. Probationary employees may be considered for competitive vacancies that are advertised within their respective division or field office after serving 90 days within the FBI.
• Candidates will not be considered if currently on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP); a Letter of Requirement (LOR); or have failed a PIP or LOR and are currently awaiting the final action by HRD.

a. A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is a 90-day written developmental plan for an employee whose performance on one or more critical elements is rated "Inconsistent."
b. A Letter of Requirement (LOR) is issued when a supervisor identifies leave abuse and/or when frequent absences negatively impact operations of an office.

• Relocation expenses will be borne by the selectee, except FBI employees returning from LEGAT assignment. Employees returning from LEGAT assignments must advise the Staffing and Administrative Unit / International Operations Division of their application for this position.
• Current tax law impacts your transfer by making your moving expense reimbursements taxable. Please contact Transfer_Issues for information regarding taxable expenses. For additional insight on the personal impact of the IRS tax rules, you may wish to contact the IRS or a tax professional. Federal Travel Regulation provides that the Withholding Tax Allowance (WTA) plus the Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) are designed to "substantially reimburse" an employee for the additional Federal, State, and Local taxes associated with a change of duty station and the FBI has the authority to compensate employees through the WTA and RITA.
• Candidates receiving a transfer of physical location, whether at the expense of the FBI or not, will be required to complete a one year commitment to the assignment, prior to moving to a new position at the FBI. The 12-month waiting period begins the day an employee reports for duty at the new location.
• Employees selected for promotions at the GS-12 level or higher, as well as employees selected for positions where a transfer of location is required, will be processed through the name check program prior to being notified of their selection.
• Memorandum for Record: Work performed outside assigned duties (that would not normally be documented on a SF-50, i. e., back-up duties), has to be documented in detail by an immediate supervisor in order to receive full credit for amount of time worked in that position. If no documentation is furnished no credit will be given for time worked in that position. The following notations must be specified in the documentation (Memorandum for Record):

a. Percent of time worked in the particular position (cannot conflict with main duties)
b. The month/year work began
c. Frequency worked (i.e., daily, monthly, etc.)
d. Specific duties performed
Attach the Memorandum for Record to your application in the "Cover Letters and Attachments" section of My Career Tools on the Careers Home page. Please upload the attachment as type "Other."
Nepotism
Nepotism is the act of favoring relatives in the hiring process, and is prohibited by law. Public officials are prohibited from hiring or promoting relatives or relatives of officials in their chain of command, as well as actively or indirectly endorse a relative's appointment or promotion.
During the hiring process, all selected candidates and FBI hiring managers will be required to certify they are not related to anyone involved in the hiring process.
Reasonable Accommodation Request
The FBI provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation pursuant to a sincerely held religious belief or medical disability for any part of the application and/or hiring process, please notify the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Affairs (OEEOA) Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Program by either e-mail at REASONABLE_ACCOMMODA@fbi.gov , telephone at 202-324-2158, or FAX at 202-324-3976. Your request will receive an individualized assessment.
This e-mail address is only for reasonable accommodation requests. Please do not submit your application and/or any questions unrelated to reasonable accommodations. Should any applications be received, they will not be forwarded for consideration during the hiring process.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The FBI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for this vacancy. Unless explicitly authorized by law, selection will be made without regard to, and there will be no discrimination because of, color, race, religion, national origin, marital status, parental status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, age (40 or over), sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, gender identity, and sexual orientation), or on the basis of personal favoritism, or any other non-merit factors.

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