Criminal Justice Career Option: DEA Forensic Chemist
Enforcement
The mission of the DEA is to enforce the Controlled Substances Act by bringing to justice those individuals or organizations involved in the growing, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances. The DEA's primary responsibilities include:
Investigation and prosecutorial support of major drug law violators operating at interstate and international levels;
Management of a national drug intelligence system in cooperation with federal, state, local, and foreign officials;
Seizure and forfeiture of assets derived from, traceable to, or intended to be used for illicit drug trafficking;
Coordination with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials on mutual drug enforcement efforts through exploitation of potential interstate and international investigations;
Coordination with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, and with foreign governments, to reduce the availability of illicit drugs in the United States through non-enforcement methods such as crop eradication, crop substitution, and training of foreign officials;
Responsibility, under the policy guidance of the Secretary of State and U.S. Ambassadors, for all programs associated with drug law enforcement counterparts in foreign countries; and
Liaison with the United Nations, Interpol, and other organizations on matters relating to international drug control programs.
The DEA is offering you the opportunity to be part of the premier forensic drug laboratory system in the world. DEA laboratories are located in major metropolitan areas across the country. As a DEA Chemist, you will support ongoing investigations and testify in court against sophisticated criminal organizations. DEA laboratories also provide forensic support to the FBI, the U.S. Customs Service, and all other federal law enforcement agencies.
Your Career
As a Forensic Chemist with the DEA, you will face the great challenge presented by the scientifically sophisticated illicit drug manufacturers. Unusual compounds are constantly created and sold. These drugs must be quickly identified to permit enforcement of federal regulations and prevent the availability of such drugs for abuse.
As part of your regular work, you will be involved in:
Working with a wide range of state-of-the-art instruments that analyze many different types of evidence;
Providing expert testimony in federal and state courts to support the DEA enforcement mission;
Conducting research in the development of new methods of analysis;
Developing intelligence data used to determine trends in international trafficking of illicit drugs; and
Supporting DEA Special Agents, Task Force Officers and Diversion Investigators in their investigations.
You will be an integral part of the laboratories' programs of maintaining liaison with international, federal, state and local academic research and industrial organizations in order to exchange information on drugs.
Qualifications
General: You must be: 1) a U.S. citizen; 2) able to meet physical requirements; and 3) able to pass a complete background investigation.
Basic Requirements
To qualify at the GS-5 level, candidates must possess a four-year degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the physical sciences, life sciences or engineering. Such course of study must have included 30 semester hours of chemistry, six semester hours of physics, and mathematics through differential and integral calculus; OR possess a combination of education and experience with course work equivalent to a major mentioned above, to include at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
To qualify at the GS-7 level, all the requirements for a GS-5 must be met in addition to one of the following:
One year of professional experience in or directly related to chemistry;
Thirty semester hours of graduate study in chemistry or a closely related field;
A 3.0 grade point average (A=4.0) or equivalent in all undergraduate courses completed (up to time of application or during last two years of undergraduate work). Standing in the upper third of the graduating class in undergraduate work;
A 3.5 grade point average or equivalent in chemistry or closely related major field of undergraduate study (up to time of application or during the last two years of the class in undergraduate work); or
Election to membership in one of the recognized National Honorary Societies. To qualify at the GS-9 level, candidates must possess a Master's Degree in an appropriate academic discipline. Otherwise, all ratings for higher-graded positions are based upon level of professional chemist work experience.
Conditions of Employment
DEA Forensic Chemists must be willing to accept assignments anywhere in the United States or Puerto Rico. Applicants will be required to sign a statement to this effect prior to an offer of employment.
All new DEA Forensic Chemists must be screened by urinalysis testing for the presence of marijuana and other controlled substances.
All applicants must receive a medical clearance.
Candidates must be certified by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
DEA Forensic Chemists receive training on the duties of the position. Instruction includes ethics, integrity, evidence handling procedures, analytical procedures, instrumental techniques, drug identification, court procedures, etc.
In addition to successfully completing the training program, new chemists are also required to complete a one-year probationary period.
Salary & Benefits
Entry positions start at a GS-5 level. Contact individual laboratories for specific salary amounts.
Careers generally progress to the GS-12 level. The GS-12 salary is dependent upon locality pay for a given geographical area.
Each employee has an individual development plan specially designed to further his or her career in management and scientific disciplines.
The federal benefit package is extensive and comprehensive. The Laboratory Director can provide you with additional details.
www.dea.gov