Clarification from the agency

Current permanent EPA internal employees in the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) with competitive status and CTAP eligibles.

You will:

• Serve as a team leader by overseeing the day-to-day activities of the National Computer Forensics Laboratory including the review and coordination of investigative, operational, and administrative matters.
• Conduct investigations that are complex, sensitive, and highly technical as they relate to digital evidence, Internet investigations, and electronic surveillance that involve complex legal and logistical issues.
• Serve as an expert and provide advice/direction to CID field agents, and less experienced forensic investigators, in all areas of search, seizure, and forensic analysis of digital evidence.
• Prepare interim and comprehensive final investigative, or forensic, reports for field agents and prosecutors and coordinate investigative findings which may involve input from investigators from CID, or other agencies, to ensure clarity, accuracy, conciseness, and presentation of sufficient detail.
• Testify before Grand Juries, in courts of law, or at administrative hearings in support of forensic examinations, offering complex expert opinions.

Conditions of employment

• If you are selected, a pre-employment background check is required.
• See requirements under Qualifications Section.
• Pre-employment drug testing is required and random testing thereafter.
• Pre-employment physical is required and periodic physicals thereafter.

You will be required to obtain (before coming on board) and maintain a valid driver’s license and must be able to operate a Government-owned or leased motor vehicle.

If you are selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure form within 30 days of your first day of employment and annually thereafter.

This position requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

This position is designated as High Risk and requires a background investigation. Unless an appropriate background investigation is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management, you must undergo a background investigation.

You will be required to obtain and maintain a top-secret security clearance.

You must meet time in grade requirements no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement.

You must submit a resume and required documents (see How to Apply section).

Participation in the medical monitoring program is required.

Qualifications

Criminal Investigators - Special Provisions:

• Medical Requirements:  You must be found to be physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties.
• Age Requirements:  You must be at least 21 years of age and not older than 36 at the time of appointment.  In accordance with PL 100-238, this position is covered under law enforcement retirements provisions; therefore, you must be appointed before reaching your 37th birthday unless you presently serve or have previously served in a Federal civilian law enforcement retirement-covered position.
• Basic Agent Training Requirements:  You must successfully complete and pass the required Basic Agent Training Program.  Failure to pass the training program will result in separation from EPA. 
• Law Enforcement Training:   You must successfully complete the 9-week Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's Basic Criminal Investigator training program and the 8-week Environmental Investigations Basic training program at Glynco, GA.   You must pass the training program on the first attempt or you will be removed from this position and failure may result in separation from the Agency.  You are exempt from this training if you have previously completed the program.
• You must meet qualifications to carry a firearm.  Lautenberg Notice:  Title 18 USC, Section 911 (g), automatically disqualifies anyone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from being appointed to this position.  You must not have been convicted of a felony crime.  
• Work Schedule:  The hours are long and irregular.  You must be available at all times, to include holidays.  You may also be sent on extended temporary duty station assignments away from your assigned office.  You may be reassigned to different duty locations throughout the U.S. based on the needs of the Agency.
• You must have a valid driver's license and be able to operate a Government-owned or leased motor vehicle.

You do not need a degree to qualify for this position.

We are looking for at least one year of specialized experience related to this position as described below:

To qualify for the GS-14 level, you need to have at least one year of full-time experience equivalent to the GS-13 level defined as leading criminal investigations that involved audio/video surveillance and/or computer forensics; analyzing and preserving digital evidence; and coordinating criminal investigations with the appropriate internal/external resource.

Your answers to the online assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:  

• Ability to lead complex investigations relative to the search, seizure, and forensic analysis of seized digital and Internet evidence.
• Skill in management techniques and principles including program development/evaluation and allocation of resources.
• Knowledge of criminal statues search warrant preparation and the admissibility of computer, electronic, and Internet evidence in criminal investigations.
• Knowledge of forensic science and generally accepted computer forensic principles, techniques, methods, and procedures.
• Ability to provide guidance to others regarding forensic investigations and digital evidence.
• Ability to prepare investigative and management reports and coordinate findings with appropriate internal/external customer.
• Skill in oral communication to report facts and circumstances when providing oral testimony in court and/or other legal proceedings.

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.

If you have part-time work experience, read this:  EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume and required documents to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements.  Your resume must address the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed in the Qualifications section.  If you meet basic qualification requirements, your application will be further evaluated based on your answers to the online assessment.  Your responses to the online assessment will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for the position and an applicable score assigned.

We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire.  If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.  We will evaluate your qualifications and eligibility and notify you if you meet minimum qualification requirements.  If you are referred for consideration, you may be subject to additional assessments.

NOTE:  We do not require a separate statement responding to the competencies, also referred to as Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).  However, your resume should clearly show possession of these competencies.