Who are the DEA?
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is a United States federal law enforcement agency under the U.S. Department of Justice. Their job is combating drug smuggling and use within the United States.
"Do you have that special chemistry with DEA? As a Forensic Chemist, you will combat scientifically sophisticated illicit drug manufacturers. Unusual compounds are constantly produced and sold in the illicit drug market, and you will use your analytical skills and abilities to aid enforcement of federal regulations in reducing the availability of such drugs for abuse. Forensic Chemists analyze evidence for the presence of controlled substances using state-of-the-art instrumentation, provide expert testimony in courts of law, support DEA Special Agents in their investigations, conduct research involving new methods of drug analysis, develop intelligence data used to determine trends in local and international drug trafficking, and provide training to Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. When it comes to changing the future of illicit drug markets, you will be an integral part of exchanging information with international, federal, state and local academic research, and industrial organizations." --- Source: http://www.justice.gov/dea/careers/forensic-sciences.shtml
When do they hire?
At various times during the year the DEA will post job openings on USAJobs.gov. They also hire groups of Chemist at one time during their Forensic Chemist Recruitment campaigns.
What are there requirements for hiring?
If the candidate meets the basic requirements, they will be asked to take a written exam that will assess basic scientific and mathematical skills. Candidates who pass the exam will be investigated for a security clearance, interviewed by agency personnel and medically and psychologically evaluated. Candidates may also be asked to submit to a polygraph examination.
How much experience does one need?
DEA recruits and hires Forensic Chemists from all levels of experience from recent college graduates to highly experienced chemists. All DEA Forensic Chemists must possess have completed a four-year degree program in physical or life sciences or engineering with at least 30 semester hours of course work in chemistry along with studies in integral and differential calculus. The strongest applicants will also have 6 semester hours in physics.
Applicants may be able to substitute some educational requirements with strong professional experience that includes:
Do they have allowances?
The DEA makes allowances for relocation expenses because once a person is hired, they are given further training at the DEA Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia and later are sent to one of DEA's Regional Labs for their first job assignment. Their first job assignment location may not be near where they lived before being hired.
What are their family leave, maternity leave, sick leave, and education policies?
The Drug Enforcement Administration is part of the Federal Government. They get all Federal Holidays off, 6-8 hours of leave every two weeks, 4-6 hours of sick leave every two weeks and they are covered by the Family Medical Leave Act. That act allows people to take off sick leave or leave without pay to care for a sick family member, birth of a child, adoption, etc. Newly hired chemists will receive training through the three week Forensic Training program held at the DEA Training Academy. These introductory courses will include:
There are opportunities to received further training throughout your career with DEA in many areas such as: Leadership, Management, Supervisory Training, etc.
How does one advance?
To move up from one GS grade to another, a person must get a good annual performance evaluation and then take on the additional duties and/or skills required at the hire grade.
What is their average starting salary?
The DEA places a premium on the skills of highly qualified chemists and compensates them handsomely. A recently hired new forensic chemist could expect a salary equal to a GS-11 pay grade or $62,909.00 to $81,779.00 in annual salary. The forensic chemist position has a promotion potential up to GS-13, which has an annual salary between $71,674 and $93,175. The total salary will be adjusted for cost of living, availability and hazard pay.
Where can one move within the company?
DEA has Forensic Chemists all across the United States of America. DEA Forensic Chemists cane be reassignment to any location in the United States depending on the needs of the DEA. All job applicants must be available for relocation throughout their career with DEA. You will be required to sign a statement agreeing to this when you accept an offer of employment for a job as a DEA Forensic Chemist.
Source: 1. http://www.drugenforcementedu.org/careers/dea-forensic-chemist/
2. DEA.gov
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is a United States federal law enforcement agency under the U.S. Department of Justice. Their job is combating drug smuggling and use within the United States.
"Do you have that special chemistry with DEA? As a Forensic Chemist, you will combat scientifically sophisticated illicit drug manufacturers. Unusual compounds are constantly produced and sold in the illicit drug market, and you will use your analytical skills and abilities to aid enforcement of federal regulations in reducing the availability of such drugs for abuse. Forensic Chemists analyze evidence for the presence of controlled substances using state-of-the-art instrumentation, provide expert testimony in courts of law, support DEA Special Agents in their investigations, conduct research involving new methods of drug analysis, develop intelligence data used to determine trends in local and international drug trafficking, and provide training to Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. When it comes to changing the future of illicit drug markets, you will be an integral part of exchanging information with international, federal, state and local academic research, and industrial organizations." --- Source: http://www.justice.gov/dea/careers/forensic-sciences.shtml
When do they hire?
At various times during the year the DEA will post job openings on USAJobs.gov. They also hire groups of Chemist at one time during their Forensic Chemist Recruitment campaigns.
What are there requirements for hiring?
If the candidate meets the basic requirements, they will be asked to take a written exam that will assess basic scientific and mathematical skills. Candidates who pass the exam will be investigated for a security clearance, interviewed by agency personnel and medically and psychologically evaluated. Candidates may also be asked to submit to a polygraph examination.
How much experience does one need?
DEA recruits and hires Forensic Chemists from all levels of experience from recent college graduates to highly experienced chemists. All DEA Forensic Chemists must possess have completed a four-year degree program in physical or life sciences or engineering with at least 30 semester hours of course work in chemistry along with studies in integral and differential calculus. The strongest applicants will also have 6 semester hours in physics.
Applicants may be able to substitute some educational requirements with strong professional experience that includes:
- Writing laboratory reports
- Using chemical tests and instrumentation to analyze substances
- Conducting calculations to determine the concentration of a substance
Do they have allowances?
The DEA makes allowances for relocation expenses because once a person is hired, they are given further training at the DEA Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia and later are sent to one of DEA's Regional Labs for their first job assignment. Their first job assignment location may not be near where they lived before being hired.
What are their family leave, maternity leave, sick leave, and education policies?
The Drug Enforcement Administration is part of the Federal Government. They get all Federal Holidays off, 6-8 hours of leave every two weeks, 4-6 hours of sick leave every two weeks and they are covered by the Family Medical Leave Act. That act allows people to take off sick leave or leave without pay to care for a sick family member, birth of a child, adoption, etc. Newly hired chemists will receive training through the three week Forensic Training program held at the DEA Training Academy. These introductory courses will include:
- Evidence processing
- Laboratory operations,
- Hazardous waste disposal
- Pharmacology
- Law
- Fingerprint analysis
- Regulated pharmaceuticals
There are opportunities to received further training throughout your career with DEA in many areas such as: Leadership, Management, Supervisory Training, etc.
How does one advance?
To move up from one GS grade to another, a person must get a good annual performance evaluation and then take on the additional duties and/or skills required at the hire grade.
What is their average starting salary?
The DEA places a premium on the skills of highly qualified chemists and compensates them handsomely. A recently hired new forensic chemist could expect a salary equal to a GS-11 pay grade or $62,909.00 to $81,779.00 in annual salary. The forensic chemist position has a promotion potential up to GS-13, which has an annual salary between $71,674 and $93,175. The total salary will be adjusted for cost of living, availability and hazard pay.
Where can one move within the company?
DEA has Forensic Chemists all across the United States of America. DEA Forensic Chemists cane be reassignment to any location in the United States depending on the needs of the DEA. All job applicants must be available for relocation throughout their career with DEA. You will be required to sign a statement agreeing to this when you accept an offer of employment for a job as a DEA Forensic Chemist.
Source: 1. http://www.drugenforcementedu.org/careers/dea-forensic-chemist/
2. DEA.gov