USA Staffing

1. To be eligible for this position you must meet the minimum basic educational and/or work experience requirements for chemist positions in the federal government. This includes:

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 six semester hours of physics. OR
B. A 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 six semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience, or additional education.

From the options below, please choose the one option that best describes your education. (Attach copies of transcript(s) or a list of courses designating semester or quarter hours earned to ensure proper credit).

A. I have a bachelor's degree or higher in physical sciences, life sciences, engineering, that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least six semester hours of physics.

B. I have a 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 six semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience, or additional education.

C. I do not have education or a combination of education and experience matching any of the choices above.

You must meet the specialized experience requirements for this position, with at least one full year of experience at the GS-12 level, or equivalent. This experience as provided below, should have equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of the position. This specialized experience includes:
- Examining samples or formulas for products using at least one of the following analysis tools: Gas Chromatography Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (GC-IRMS), Gas Chromatography - Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) or Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS); AND
- Applying U.S. laws or regulations to regulated products and regulated industry practices; AND
- Following ISO 17025 standards & protocols for chemical laboratories.

2. Choose the statement that best describes your specialized experience.

A. I have one full year (52 weeks) or more of specialized experience equivalent in responsibility and scope to the GS-12 level as described above.

B. I do not have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the definition above.

3. Select the response(s) that best describe your experience interpreting analytical data and providing scientifically based recommendations for policy decisions.

A. I have evaluated data and provided scientifically based policy recommendations outside of my immediate work group

B. I have evaluated data and provided recommendations within my work group.

C. I have evaluated data and provided input to others to make scientifically based policy.

D. I do not have experience in evaluating data and providing policy recommendations.

4. Choose which response(s) best describe your experience with GC-IRMS, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS or ICP-MS equipment.

A. I have performed routine maintenance on and used such equipment in my day-to-day work with little to no guidance.

B. I have used such equipment in testing samples.

C. I have developed scientifically validated methods or method improvements on such equipment that have been implemented and used by my work group.

D. I have performed troubleshooting on such equipment, as needed.

E. Others come to me for advice on projects and troubleshooting on such equipment.

F. None of the above

5. Select the one statement that best describes your experience working for a chemical testing laboratory that is part of an accreditation program such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17025 accreditation program for chemical testing laboratories.

A. I have experience working in a laboratory with a formal quality program, followed all quality procedures and protocols, and usually without review by a supervisor, manager, or senior employee.

B. This task has been a central or major part of my work. I have experience working in an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory, and I have trained others on ISO 17025 procedures and protocols, or others have consulted me for assistance in using them.

C. I have experience working in a laboratory that followed Good Laboratory Practices (GLP).

D. I have experience working in a laboratory that did not have any formal quality program.

E. None of the above

6. Indicate the one statement that best describes your experience with quantitative analysis using analytical techniques for beverage alcohol or nonbeverage alcohol or tobacco products.

A. I have experience performing this task on the job. These tasks include routinely employing and troubleshooting analytical methods for quantitating multiple analytes in beverage alcohol or nonbeverage alcohol or tobacco products.

B. I have experience performing this task on the job, which includes employing analytical methods to quantitate chemical analytes in food or natural products as a primary function of my job.

C. I have experience applying common or basic analytical methods (e.g., spectroscopy, titration, and chromatography) to quantitate ingredients in various industrial or natural products with some supervision.

D. I do not have experience with any of the above.

7. Choose the statement(s) that best describe your experience in responding to technical inquiries.

A. I have responded to email inquiries from industry members and others.

B. I have attended meetings on emerging organizational issues and coordinated laboratory support for these issues.

C. I have represented the laboratory with government organizations, industry members, or professional organizations on technical regulatory issues.

D. None of the above

8. Select the statement that best describes your experience maintaining positive relationships by representing your organization with other peer groups, professional organizations, government officials, industry representatives, or outside laboratories.

A. I have experience representing an organization as a technical representative in situations that crossed organizational lines and required diplomacy (i.e., representing the laboratory at scientific work groups, at professional committees, or in a task force outside a laboratory, communicating results to technical or nontechnical audiences).

B. I have experience serving as a technical representative for an organization when working with external customers.

C. I have experience serving as a technical representative for an organization when working with vendors.

D. I do not have experience with any of the above.

9. Choose the statement(s) that best describe your experience communicating orally to exchange information or promote/defend a position to gain the confidence and trust of others.

A. I have given presentations at technical conferences or to a group of peer professionals at a professional meeting.

B. I have given oral presentations to groups to explain technical programs, projects, or situations to facilitate understanding and exchange of information.

C. I have given oral presentations to supervisors or groups to explain technical programs, projects or to justify proposals.

D. I have not performed any of the above tasks.

10. Indicate the statement(s) describing your experience with training and mentoring others.

A. I have trained other staff, including preparing lesson plans and evaluating completion, to ensure consistency with policies and procedures.

B. I have provided constructive feedback and acted as a mentor.

C. I have helped others learn through formal or informal methods.

D. I have identified training needs and made recommendations.

E. I have not performed any of the above tasks.

11. I have experience writing standard operating procedures for the operation of analytical equipment or to describe laboratory procedures.

A. Yes

B. No

12. Indicate which statement best describes your experience leading a group.

A. I have provided guidance and input to my peers on routine laboratory matters.

B. I have contributed to my work group through technology recommendations or streamlining of processes.

C. I have led a group of peers in the formulation, guidance, and implementation of technology, process improvement, or improved analytical methods/approaches.

D. None of the above

13. Choose the statement(s) that best describe your experience with beverage alcohol, nonbeverage alcohol, or tobacco sciences (e.g., chemistry and manufacturing processes) and the federal laws or statues that regulate such products.

A. I have experience in the chemistry, manufacturing processes for beverage alcohol or nonbeverage alcohol or tobacco science.

B. I have applied federal laws and statutes that regulate beverage alcohol or non-beverage alcohol or tobacco products and industry.

C. I have experience providing technical guidance to internal and external customers.

D. I have made recommendations to supervisors to address regulatory issues, policy, or problems.

E. I have experience shaping organization-wide policy decisions or rulemaking.

F. None of the above

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