Job summary

About the Position: Serves as a Physical Science Technician (Forensics) for the United States Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory (USACIL), responsible for the receipt of irreplaceable forensic evidence, collection, preservation and evaluation of evidentiary samples, and the development of forensic testing strategies to support submitting agencies.

Major duties

Evaluate items of evidence to determine suitability for analysis, the type of processing required, and the appropriate sequence of testing to prevent the loss, contamination, or deleterious change of evidentiary items. Utilize cyanoacrylate ester fuming chambers, cyanoacrylate ester, ultraviolet decontamination lamps and positive controls to ensure equipment and chemicals are working appropriately. Collect samples of controlled substances using swabs, disposable pipettes, glassine envelopes, culture tubes, automatic liquid sampler vials, etc. Conduct trace evidence collections using adhesive tape grids. Ensure all evidence and forensic materials submitted. Testify in federal, military, state, local and foreign country courts as an expert witness, present technical testimony in layman's terms, defends methods against rigorous cross-examination. Swab items of evidence to collect and preserve DNA for future examinations. Render firearms safe and appropriately annotates this safety measure. Responsible for all facets of case management and evidence and forensic materials accountability throughout the Laboratory's activities.

Qualification

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. 30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans Current Department of Army Civilian Employees Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army) Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473 Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality (NAFI) People with Disabilities, Schedule A Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible Reinstatement Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998 In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. GS-09: To qualify based on your experience, your resume must describe at least one year of experience which prepared you to do the work in this job. Specialized experience is defined as experience that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, such as: collecting samples of controlled substances; marking and separating evidence that require examination; and maintaining evidence to prevent loss or decontamination. Education Substitution for Specialized Experience for GS-09: Successful completion of two full years of graduate level education related to Physical Science (e.g. Geology, Chemistry, or Physics.)Combination of Experience and Education Substitution for Specialized Experience for GS-09: If you have some, but not all, of the experience or education described above, you may still qualify by combining the amount of creditable experience and education that you possess. To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education in excess of 18 hours (total semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify. GS-10: To qualify based on your experience, your resume must describe at least one year of experience which prepared you to do the work in this job. Specialized experience is defined as experience that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, such as: collecting samples of controlled substances; marking and separating evidence that require examination; maintaining evidence to prevent loss or decontamination; and assisting with the identification, collection and preservation of forensic evidence at crime scenes. GS-11: To qualify based on your experience, your resume must describe at least one year of experience which prepared you to do the work in this job. Specialized experience is defined as experience that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, such as: assisting with the identification, collection and preservation of forensic evidence at crime scenes; evaluating items of evidence to determine suitability for analysis; ensuring laboratory equipment used in forensic examination is properly maintained. You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas: Communications Data Collection and Analysis Forensics Physical Evidence Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-???????07/09/10).

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Evaluations

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation. You may claim Military Spouse preference. Military Spouse Preference (MSP) applicants will receive preference consideration and will be placed (if selected) at the highest grade for which they have applied and are determined best qualified, up to and including the full performance level. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position. To receive selection priority, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria (2) be rated well-qualified for the position and; (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a score of 90 or above. Additional information about the program is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.