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ITSPEC (INFOSEC)

Department of Homeland Security
Customs and Border Protection
Operations Support Office
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Operations Support Office, Laboratories & Scientific Services Directorate, located in Miami FL, Edinburg TX, Swanton VT, Houston TX, Blaine WA.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/17/2020 to 04/23/2020
Salary
$76,721 to - $99,741 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Locations
Miami, FL
1 vacancy
Selfridge ANG Base, MI
1 vacancy
Edinburg, TX
1 vacancy
Swanton, VT
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
LSSD-DE(DHA)-10736068-TAS
Control number
565800800

This job is open to

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The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

Open to all U.S. Citizens. This announcement will be utilized to fill positions through the Direct Hire Authority.

Duties

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This position is located in the Laboratories and Scientific Services Directorate (LSSD) within the Operations Support (OS) Office of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The incumbent of this position will serve as an expert in digital forensics in a field laboratory, conducting advanced laboratory analysis on digital evidence, including portable and electronic media. The incumbent will use the most advanced analytical capabilities to support CBP officers and agents and/or testify as a subject matter expert in Federal and state courts of law, and research and evaluate digital forensic techniques,
hardware or software for recommendations of use and implementation in operations.
This position starts at a salary of $76,721.00 (GS-12, Step 1) to $99,741.00 (GS-12, Step 10) with promotion potential to $99,741.00 (GS-12 Step 10).

Duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Planning, preparing, and conducting forensic examinations on digital evidence, independently;
  • Conducting advanced digital forensic analysis on portable and electronic media devices, such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and GPS units;
  • Writing laboratory reports documenting digital forensic examination, analysis, and results;
  • Performing keyword or string searches and creates customized reports of findings/observations; and
  • Assessing the effectiveness, performance, and accuracy of digital forensic tools and recommending implementation and/or modifications for use by forensic examiners or law enforcement operators.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
  • Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
  • CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures

Qualifications

Individuals qualifying based on experience must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below.

BASIC REQUIREMENT: Applicants must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below.

  • Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
  • Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
  • Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
  • Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
Additionally, you must meet the following:

Experience: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:
  • Recommending new or revising security measures and countermeasures based on the results of accreditation reviews;
  • Monitoring and evaluating systems compliance with IT security requirements;
  • Providing advice and guidance to end users on implementing IT security procedures; and
  • Implementing and coordinating activities to ensure, protect and restore IT systems, services and capabilities.
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.

You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 04/23/2020.

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.

Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For more information visit this link.

Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency wavier by meeting one or more of the following conditions:
  • Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
  • A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
  • Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
  • Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government
Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the Federal Government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. Information about ICTAP or CTAP eligibility can be found here.You must submit the supporting documents listed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. In addition, to be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must have knowledge, skills , abilities and/or competencies as defined under "How You Will Be Evaluated" section of this announcement which clearly exceed the minimum qualification and any applicable basic requirements for the vacancy.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.

Additional information

Positions with known promotion potential do not guarantee promotion, nor is the promise of promotion implied.

Physical Demands: The work is sedentary but does require the handling of computers and equipment in the laboratory and transporting hard drive duplication equipment to the field in support of on-site requests. Equipment can weigh up to 65 pounds per box.

Work Environment: The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions. Some employees may occasionally be exposed to uncomfortable conditions in such places as research and production facilities.

CBP uses E-Verify, an internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.

Follow U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Twitter @CustomsBorder

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

This position is being filled under a Direct Hire Authority. You will be evaluated based on your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the job questionnaire. All applicants who meet minimum qualifications and any basic requirements applicable to this position, will be forwarded to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.

In accordance with the Direct Hire Authority, rating and ranking questions will not be used. However, candidates must have the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform this job:

  • In-depth technical knowledge of digital forensic techniques used to analyze computer hardware, software, digital storage media, and various computer and mobile forensic software applications, in order to complete the analyses required of evidence found, seized, or produced as a product of investigation and analysis.
  • Extensive knowledge of digital evidence handling, chain of custody and examination theory, forensic best practices, methods and software tools, in order to properly and legally serve investigations into digital evidence.
  • Knowledge of applicable Federal and state laws, and legal precedence as it relates to the handling, examination, and reporting of digital evidence, in order to serve as a digital forensics expert witness in legal cases.
  • Skill in resolving technical issues that arise during the course of a digital evidence examination that may be inherently very complex or unfamiliar, in order to arrive at proper and appropriate findings in criminal investigations.
  • Ability to articulate orally and in writing complex technical issues to non-technical audiences such as law enforcement officers, intelligence analysts, prosecutors, judges, and juries, to properly convey the weight of digital evidence during court proceedings.

Veterans: Veterans preference does not apply to selections made using the Direct Hire Authority. Veteran candidates will be considered along with all other applicants who apply.

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