Hazmat Specialist

Duties
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This is a Direct Hire Public Notice, under this recruitment, applications will be accepted for each location and/or installation identified in this Public Notice and selections are made for vacancies as they occur. There may or may not be actual/projected vacancies at the time you submit your application.

This Public Notice is to gather applications which may or may not result in a referral or selection.

This position is being filled under Direct Hire Authority (DHA) in accordance with Direct-Hire Auth (Certain DoD Personnel), PL 118-31, Sec 1250B(i)(2), 12/22/2023.

Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.

Incumbents typical work assignments may include the following:

• Responds to CBRN threats on the Pentagon Reservation and at select DoD facilities in the NCR.
• Mitigates threats and assist with the subsequent criminal investigation(s), which could include biological agents, including toxins, viruses, and bacterial agents; chemical warfare agents; radiological sources; and blood and other human body fluids.
• Interprets and analyzes disparate scientific data acquired from state-of-the-art CBRN detection equipment and applies findings to the criminal investigative process.
• Utilizes emergency response tools to gather this data, to include a wide variety of field detection equipment, mobile laboratory analytical equipment, sampling equipment, decontamination equipment, rescue equipment, evidence collection and crime scene documentation equipment, hand held detectors, gas chromatograph/mass spectroscopy, Polymerase Chain Reaction and emergency response vehicles.
• Applies knowledge of CBRN hazards, including biological agents, such as toxins, viruses, and bacteria, chemical warfare agents, and radiological sources, to minimize risk and accomplish tasks.
• Serves as an Incident Commander during incidents involving the criminal use of CBRN related WMD's on the Pentagon Facilities within the NCR.
• Plans, develops, and implements technical CBRN/WMD response and investigative services which affect the Pentagon Facilities within the NCR.
• Makes decisions where major areas of uncertainty exist as a result of changes in terrorist methodologies, technological developments, unknown setting, etc.
• Engages in a multitude of operations including, but not limited to, CBRN/WMD criminal investigations, material sampling, agent detection and identification, environmental sampling, decontamination operations, rescue operations, recovery operations, high risk personnel protection, scene security, equipment maintenance, classroom training, scenario based training, instruction full scale exercises, testing, evaluation of protective systems, and attendance at various briefings and meetings.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
• Total salary varies depending on location of position
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
• Must be determined suitable for federal employment
• Required to participate in the direct deposit program
• This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing
• The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
• The incumbent may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or overtime. This position is subject to recall 24/7 and the employee may be required to work shifts; days off may vary.
• This position may require up to 30% occasional travel away from your normal duty station for official business on military or commercial aircraft.
• The incumbent is required to pass a pre-employment and yearly physical examination for this position.
• The incumbent must possess and maintain a valid U.S. driver's license.
• The incumbent is required to wear protective equipment, i.e., arc flash rated suit, tyvek suits and respirators, while working in hazardous areas.
• This position requires employees to be clean shaven in order to utilize respiratory protection equipment. All employees must pass a mask fit test no less than annually.
• The employee must have the capacity to perform essential functions of the position without risk to themselves or others.
• As an employee representing PFPA, it is essential that the employee present a professional and competent image, providing appropriate responses, as well as maintain clean and neat attire, and a well-groomed, tidy appearance.
• The employee is required to perform hazardous duties in a dangerous environment involving live explosives and sample materials that may contain chemical, biological, radiological, and/or nuclear agents.
• The employee may be required to utilize medical equipment and techniques to render life-saving first aid.
• The employee must obtain and maintain a Department of Defense Hazardous Materials Technician certification.
• The employee must satisfactorily complete job related training and meet physical health standards required for certain courses.

Qualifications

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT CONTINUED

• The employee assigned to this position is designated as a MISSION ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEE. Mission essential employees may be required to report for, or remain at, work in dismissal or closure situations due to adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, or other emergency situations ( e.g., building closure due to power outage) causing disruptions of government operations, and are required to maintain contact with their supervisor during any dismissal or closure situation unless specifically excused by their supervisor.
• This position requires the employee to take and pass PFPA annual medical and physical fitness examinations; to participate in a bio-threat pathogen vaccination program (unless excused by a licensed healthcare provider); to wear personal protective equipment, i.e. self-contained breathing apparatus, etc.; and to pass all designated PFPA certification programs. He or she must have the capacity to perform the essential functions of the position without risk to themselves or others.
• The employee must be in a constant state of physical readiness and must be capable of demonstrating maximum physical exertion without warning. Any hesitancy, reluctance, or inability to fully engage in a critical situation that requires full-unrestricted physical capabilities could have tragic, if not fatal, consequences.
• The following medical requirements apply to all employees: good near and distant vision, ability to distinguish basic colors, emotional and mental stability, and the ability to hear the conversational voice. In addition, the position requires common physical characteristics and abilities in agility, dexterity, and strength to endure regular and recurring physical exertion such as long periods of standing, walking, driving, bending, stooping, carrying, or moving heavy or unwieldy objects over 50 pounds, running, climbing, crouching, crawling and kneeling during pursuit possibly in restricted, dark and hot or cold spaces, or defending oneself or others against possible exposure to explosives, chemicals, or other weapons of mass destruction.
• The employee must work in all weather conditions, unpredictable terrain, and limited access with long periods of standing, walking long distances, carrying moderately heavy objects, climbing multiple flights of stairs, and crouching, all while wearing up to and including a born b suit and Occupational Safety and Health Administration Level A suit with Self Contained Breathing Apparatus.

You may qualify at the GS-12 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to:

Applying knowledge of Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosives (CBRNE) Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) HAZMAT laws, regulations, principles and practices used in the detection, identification, sampling techniques in order to conduct investigations and inspections; and

Applying methodologies, technologies and pertinent regulations to conduct decontamination operations, technical analysis, life-savings operations, evidence collection and documentation; and

Applying knowledge of the National Incident Management System and the Incident Command System in order to work directly with Federal, state, and local fire and emergency services personnel.

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.

All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.
Your resume may not exceed two (2) pagesFor qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.

Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission.. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible". Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience.

Additional information

Probationary Periods: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public 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 an online application, you may request an alternative application. Please send an email to the following address for information on how to obtain an alternative application: whs.job.application.assistance@mail.mil

Reemployed Annuitants: Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. /www.esd.whs.mil/DD/DoD-Issuances/140025/

Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative.

Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.