Chemist

Summary Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Chemist. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment. Duty Location: Yuma, Arizona Responsibilities Conducts complex or novel scientific studies that chemically characterize a wide variety of water samples Develops and applies new hydro-analytical techniques useful for investigating the mode of occurrence, distribution, transport, and water-borne contaminants Modifies analytical chemistry procedures as necessary for the increased efficiency and/or assurance of quality and accuracy. Completes sampling, testing, and reporting necessary to comply with current and evolving Federal, State and other YDP, WQIC and Laboratory environmental requirements, permit requirements, state and Federal laws, an international treaty, and to support advanced water treatment research. Acts in a consultative capacity, conferring with personnel in the Laboratory regarding analytical chemical problems and assists in devising chemical and instrumental approaches to complex analysis procedures. Supports development of Laboratory procedures, SOPs and guidelines explaining how to implement work to be completed under the Laboratory Protocol and Chemical Hygiene Plan Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation. You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents). You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents). You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications). You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education). Who May Apply: Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Competitive) Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Non-Competitive) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Department of the Interior Employees (Competitive) Department of the Interior Employees (Non-Competitive) Federal Employees (Competitive Transfer) Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Transfer) Former Federal Employees (Competitive Reinstatement) Former Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Reinstatement) Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) Qualifications In order to qualify for this position you must first meet the education requirement: Basic 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. ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: In addition to meeting the basic entry level qualification requirements, applicants must meet the following: In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the education or specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume. To qualify at the GS-9, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-7 level in federal service having demonstrated experience with participating in designing and executing chemical analyses and experiments using laboratory techniques, instrumentation, and methodologies; analyzing and interpreting data sets, identifying trends, outliers, and potential errors; ensuring compliance with procedures and quality control standards in laboratory operations. OR You could otherwise qualify on the basis of Education having successfully completed 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. To qualify at the GS-11, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-9 level in federal service having demonstrated experience independently designing, developing, and executing complex chemical analyses and experiments using advanced laboratory techniques and instrumentation; reviewing laboratory procedures to improve efficiency, accuracy, and reliability of results; coordinating resources and ensuring project timelines and objectives are met. OR you could otherwise qualify on the basis of Education having successfully completed 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. 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). 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. Time-In-Grade: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower-grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions and any selective placement factors if applicable, by 03/27/2024. Education This vacancy announcement allows substituting education for experience at the GS-9 and GS-11 grade levels. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not-qualified for the position. This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. Non-submission will result in being rated not-qualified for the position. You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer. Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional info, refer to the Office of Personnel Management and U.S. Department of Education. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For additional info, refer to the U.S. Network for Education Information. Additional Information You may be required to serve an initial probationary period. Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and you may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval. If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive. Related non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630). For additional information, please visit: Creditable Service for Annual Leave DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit This position is designated as a LOW RISK position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated SF85 Background Investigation (T1 or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment. Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: This is a bargaining unit position represented by a Union. Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.