Chemist

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.

The duties described are for the full performance level. At the GS-11 grade level, assignments will be of a more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity. Performs specialized gas chromatography / GCMS analysis on mine air and bulk samples. Operates and maintains mobile gas chromatography laboratories and other equipment. Adapts, develops and validates gas chromatography methods to identify and quantify gases and organic compounds, interprets and evaluates analytical results. Advises on technical inquiries concerning the proper procedures and methods for the collection of mine gases and organic compounds and the interpretation of data. Directs the activities of less senior analysts and is a team leader and spokesperson of the analytical team. Deploy mobile laboratories to remote mining operations for the immediate analysis of mine air contaminants in the event of a mine emergency or disaster. Serves as a technical expert in resultant litigation.

Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service. If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.