PHYSICAL SCIENCE TECHNICIAN (FORENSICS)

Summary

About the Position: You will serve as a Physical Science Technician (Forensics) at the US Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory (USACIL). You will be responsible for the receipt of irreplaceable evidence, collection, preservation, and evaluation of samples, and developing forensic testing strategies. Work involves processing controlled substances/narcotics, DNA, digital evidence, firearms/ammunition, latent fingerprints, and trace evidence.

Duties

• Evaluates 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.
• Utilizes 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.
• Ensures all evidence and forensic materials submitted to USACIL from DoD Criminal Investigative, Operational, and Intelligence Agencies worldwide are handled IAW USACIL, Army, Federal, and local rules and regulations.
• 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.
• Swabs items of evidence to collect and preserve DNA for future examinations.
• Renders 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.

Qualifications

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-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer 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 Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) 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. Specialized Experience GS-09: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-08 grade level in the federal service which includes: collecting samples of controlled substances; marking and separating evidence that require examination; and maintaining evidence to prevent loss or contamination. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-08). OR Education: Two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or a master's or equivalent graduate degree, in a field directly related to the position (e.g., Physical Sciences, Geology, Chemistry, Physics). (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience: Combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) 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-08). Specialized Experience GS-10: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the federal service which includes: collecting samples of controlled substances; marking and separating evidence that require examination; maintaining evidence to prevent loss or contamination; and assisting with the identification, collection and preservation of forensic evidence at crime scenes. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09). Note: Education cannot be substituted for specialized experience at this grade level. 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-09). Specialized Experience GS-11: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-10 grade level in the federal service which includes: 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. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-10). Note: Education cannot be substituted for specialized experience at this grade level. 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-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/. How You Will Be Evaluated

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. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. 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. 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. You may claim Priority Placement Program (PPP) preference. DoD Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicants will receive preference consideration at the full-performance grade level only. Only MSP/PPP applicants currently occupying a formal training program position are entitled to exercise their priority status. 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. Other Information

Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest. Direct deposit of pay is required. This position requires you to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. This is a 16 Career Program position aligned under the Engineers and Scientists (Non-Construction) Career Management Directorate. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is NOT authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.