PHYSICAL SCIENCE TECHNICIAN

Summary About the Position: This position is in the Defense Health Agency Public Health, Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), MD. This is not a virtual/remote position. You must live within or be willing to relocate within a commutable distance of the identified duty location (Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland). Salary negotiation may be available for those candidates who are new to Federal service. Leave accrual negotiation may be available for those candidates who are new to Federal service. Learn more about this agency Duties Prepare environmental, clinical, and/or industrial hygiene samples for various toxic contaminants with various extraction, digestion, and wet chemical techniques Plan work to be accomplished within regulatory holding times, distributes and balances workload among other technicians. Determine equipment and supply needs and provide recommendations on new instruments and analytical techniques. Serve as the area specialist in various analysis techniques for environmental, industrial hygiene and/or clinical samples. Requirements Conditions of employment Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation. May be subject to a one-year probationary period. The incumbent is required to wear personal protective equipment such as safety glasses, lab coats, appropriate gloves and steel toe shoes while performing duties. The ability to lift up to 40 pounds is required. This position is designated as moderate risk involving Public Trust. Appointment to this position is subject to a background investigation including a credit check to determine suitability for Federal employment and/or the position. Qualifications Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education/experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. In order to qualify for a GS-07 position you must have one year of specialized experience which includes: performing chemical analysis; assisting with ordering supplies; and documenting records. OR Education: One full academic year of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position astronomy, physics, geophysics, chemistry, hydrology, health physics, engineering, electronics, geology, oceanography, and metallurgy related to the occupation. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts). OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education (directly related to the occupation) and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the Federal Service GS-06 In order to qualify for a GS-08 position you must have one year of specialized experience which includes: assisting with analysis to include preparation of a variety of environmental and industrial hygiene samples; evaluating analytical method Quality Control (QC); and reviewing data to include reporting results. OR Education: one and a half years (i.e., 27 semester hours) of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as astronomy, physics, geophysics, chemistry, hydrology, health physics, engineering, electronics, geology, oceanography, and metallurgy. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education (directly related to the occupation) and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 9. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) In order to qualify for a GS-09 position you must have one year of specialized experience which includes: preparing environmental, clinical, and/or industrial hygiene samples for various toxic contaminants, providing training as required and reviewing completed work for accuracy, and performing qualitative and quantitative tests and analyses. OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree or two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree, such as astronomy, physics, geophysics, chemistry, hydrology, health physics, engineering, electronics, geology, oceanography, and metallurgy.or completion of all requirements for an LL.B or J.D. degree from an accredited college or university (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total semester hours minus 18) by 9. Add the two percentages.to be used to qualify for this position This position will be filled as a GS-07, GS-08 or GS-09, at management's selection. If selected at the developmental GS-07 or GS-08 level, promotion to the next grade will be at management's discretion following time-in-grade requirements, training, performance, and experience. Education FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional information Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest. Direct Deposit of Pay is required. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/28980686389652-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information Expand Hide  additional information 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 Review our benefits