Summary This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD), Washington, District of Columbia. Responsibilities The primary purpose of this position is to manage the research and development related to countering weapons of mass destruction (CWMD). The Incumbent will serve as the Research and Development (R&D) Division Director, and plan, organize, and oversee the activities of the Division, and be part of the Department of Homeland Security's effort to protect the nation from weapons of mass destruction, including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats. Duties performed: -Formulating program goals, plans, policies, and procedures and work plans dealing with the development and operation of personnel recovery; and participating in providing both technical and administrative direction to subordinate chiefs. -Managing the day-to-day activities of staff responsible for the planning and execution of the CWMD R&D portfolios, programs, and projects, from concept inception, solicitation, evaluation, execution, characterization, and analysis. These R&D efforts span biological, chemical, radiological/nuclear, and data analytics disciplines. -Maintaining personal scientific and technical competence in the CWMD mission areas, and providing support and advice to CWMD leadership concerning concepts, technologies, requirements, and systems within area of responsibility. -Representing the agency at both the national and international level, and serving in an appropriate capacity at symposia, meetings, and conferences of scientific and engineering professionals. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position. You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/). One-year probationary period may be required. Must meet Time-In-Grade requirements. This is a Drug Testing Designated Position (TDP) and is covered by the Department of HomelandSecurity Headquarters Drug-Free Workplace Program. The incumbent is required to sign a Condition ofEmployment form (for certain positions identified as critical under the drug testing program) and mustpass urinalysis testing, as required prior to appointment, reassignment, or transfer, and employee will besubject to random testing while employed with the Department in a TDP designated position. If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application. DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing. License required: No Pre-employment physical required: No This is a non-bargaining unit position. Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses are not authorized. This position is at the full performance level. Supervisory Probationary Period: This is a supervisory position. Under provisions of the Civil Service Reform Act, first time supervisors and/or managers will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period. You may also be required to complete an appropriate supervisory training course within one year of assignment to this position. Qualifications Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Basic Requirements for the 0401 and/or the 1301 series. In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement, applicants must meet the Specialized Experience requirement as noted below. Basic Requirement for a Biologist/Biological Scientist (0401): You must meet one of the items listed below (A or B). Transcripts are required: A. Have a degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR: B. Have a combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Basic Requirement for a Physical Scientist (1301): You must meet one of items below (A or B). Transcripts are required: A. Have a degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. OR: B. Have a combination of education and experience: Education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. AND Specialized Experience: GS-15: Applicant must demonstrate one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-14 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties: 1) Leading professional and technical staff in scientific efforts and studies to develop technologies to provide prompt and effective early detection of chemical, biological, radiological/nuclear attacks (CBRN); 2) Leading a research and development (R&D) program in scientific efforts that span biological, chemical, radiological/nuclear, and data analytics disciplines of basic and applied research and development efforts; 3) Managing scientific research and development projects to ensure they meet their intended objectives; and 4) Reviewing employee work performance to provide feedback and/or direction. (Note: Your resume must explicitly demonstrate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible). NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Only the first five pages of your resume will be used to make an eligibility/qualifications determination. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification. NOTE: 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. Education This position requires specific coursework and/or a degree to meet the basic education requirement. You must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Your transcript(s) must clearly demonstrate the course(s) listed in the qualification requirement section. If the transcript(s) does not clearly demonstrate this you must submit a copy of the course description and/or other documentation demonstrating that the courses are equivalent. If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Note: DHS continues to take necessary steps to keep our workforce safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic. If you receive a final job offer to onboard, please complete the onboarding forms and submit them electronically in an expeditious manner. Your start date may be delayed if the action above is not completed. Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for a Top Secret/SCI clearance as a condition of placement in this special-senstive position. This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. Pursuant to Executive Order 12654 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP): This program applies to Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed, or employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet eligibility criteria for CTAP or ICTAP; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. Well-Qualified includes those applicants whose knowledge, skills, and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. For information on eligibility criteria and required documentation, go to: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee\_guides/career\_transition.asp Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/). If you are unable to apply online contact CSB_Inquiries@opm.gov.