Chemist

US-Mine-Safety-and-Health-Administratio; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

MSHA, part of the Department of Labor, seeks a Chemist at the Pittsburgh Safety and Health Technology Center to support mining safety and health initiatives. The role emphasizes laboratory policy adherence, GC analyses, and data interpretation across mine atmosphere studies.

Ideal candidates will have GS-11/GS-12 level experience or advanced education, with opportunities to lead field investigations and report findings in technical settings.

Qualifications

• 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal Service.
• Specialized experience for GS-11 must include at least three of: follow lab policies, gas chromatography analyses, statistical analyses, assist in field investigations, assist with technical reports, mobile gas lab deployments, calibrate and maintain GC instruments.
• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D.
• GS-12 requires at least four of: develop GC methods, repair GC systems, conduct routine analyses, lead field investigations, prepare reports, advise on data interpretation, act as principal chemist in deployments.
• There is no substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level.

Skills

Laboratory procedures

Gas chromatography

Statistical analysis

Education

Degree in physical/life sciences or engineering with chemistry coursework

Tools

Gas chromatography systems

Mass spectrometers

Job description

This position is with Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Technical Support, Pittsburgh Safety and Health Technology Center (PSHTC). MSHA works to prevent death, illness and injury from mining; promote safe and healthful workplaces for U.S. miners. MSHA carries out the provisions of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act) as amended by the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006.

You must meet the basic requirements to qualify for Chemist, as described below. Transcripts must be submitted to verify education requirements.

Basic Requirements:

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

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.

Specialized Experience:

To qualify for this position, your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience and/or education requirements as defined below. If qualifying based on experience, be sure these types of examples are evident in your resume.

Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-9, in the Federal Service that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, experience and skills to successfully perform the duties of the position.

GS-11:

Specialized experience must include at least three of the following:

• Demonstrated ability to follow laboratory policies and procedures;
• Perform routine gas chromatography analytical work to identify and quantify gases and organic compounds;
• Perform routine statistical data analyses;
• Assists with industrial hygiene field investigations and accident investigations involving exposures to hazardous chemical agents;
• Assists with preparation and presentation of technical reports and findings;
• Deploys and operates mobile gas laboratories for the analysis of mine atmospheric samples during mine emergency events with the goal of becoming a Principal Chemist;
• Calibrates, operates, and maintains variety of analytical instrumentation such as gas chromatographs, mass spectrometers, and hydrogen generators in order to conduct established analysis and tests.

OR

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

OR

Appropriate combination of specialized experience and education as identified in options A and B above (only graduate education in excess of 2 years of full-time study (i.e. 36 semester hours) may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level).

GS-12:

Specialized experience must include at least four of the following:

• Develops and verifies gas chromatography analytical methods to identify and quantify gases and organic compounds;
• Fabricates, troubleshoots, and repairs gas chromatography systems and equipment;
• Conducts routine analyses on mine atmosphere or bulk samples;
• Leads industrial hygiene field investigations and accident investigations involving exposures to hazardous chemical agents;
• Prepares technical reports or manuscripts and presents findings at professional meetings, conferences, workshops, or similar environments;
• Advises on the collection of mine gases and organic compounds and the interpretation of associated data;
• Functions as a principal chemist during mobile gas laboratory deployments and mine emergencies.

There is no substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level.