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PHYSICAL SCIENTIST (FORENSIC LATENT PRINT EXAMINER)

Department of the Army
United States Army Criminal Investigation Division
U.S. Army Defense Forensic Science Center (DFSC)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

About the Position: Serves as a Forensic Latent Print Examiner assigned to the Forensic Exploitation Directorate (FXD), Defense Forensic Science Center (DFSC), an organization providing forensic laboratory support to Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO), intelligence organizations and legal agencies, as well as other federal and non-federal agencies.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
01/29/2021 to 02/10/2021
Salary
$56,295 to - $126,202 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Fort Gillem, GA
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
NCAS219268600499D
Control number
590587900

Duties

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  • Maintains integrity of evidence and material received for examination.
  • Conduct scientific examinations on criminal evidence which is usually fragmentary or imperfect to develop latent prints (finger prints, palm prints and footprints) and other types of impression evidence.
  • Conduct comparisons of latent prints with known (Record/Inked) finger, palm and/or foot prints and other instruments associated with criminal cases for the purpose of making identifications or elimination.
  • Assist and train special agents, military police investigators, military police and other military units on proper forensic techniques for processing, collection, preservation, and packaging of evidence, and laboratory capabilities available to them.
  • Use chemical, physical and instrumental techniques, i.e. Automated Digital Image Processing Systems (ADIPS), Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS), and Alternate Light Sources.
  • Process physical evidence as an expert forensic latent print examiner.
  • Writes a report detailing observations, results of tests and conclusions.
  • Develops and writes findings and conclusions to transmit to submitters and requesting activities and agencies.
  • Plan, conduct and direct research projects in which efforts may result in significant scientific developments and publications in latent print identification.
  • Travel worldwide to legal proceedings to testify as an expert witness in criminal investigations of the most serious type crimes (assassinations, espionage, drug investigations, larcenies, murder, robberies, sexual offenses, war crimes, etc.)
  • Presents technical testimony in laymen terms; defends analytical approach and results against rigorous cross-examination; assists trial attorneys in case preparation.
  • Deploys worldwide as a member of a Forensic Exploitation Team.
  • Respond to major crime scenes of serious and/or sensitive investigations to supervise and/or advise investigators on proper collection, preservation, and packing of physical evidence found at the scene.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a SECRET clearance.
  • Physical exam required.
  • Must meet DoD/DA physical screening requirements for deployment to OCONUS locations established by the CONUS Replacement Center (CRC) for OCONUS deployment, to include meeting the deployment requirements for physical and dental deployment readiness.
  • Requires TDY travel up to 35% of the time.
  • Incumbent is required to lift boxes of evidence that weights up to 70 pounds to working heights of 48 inches.
  • Must participate in DNA profiling database within the DFSC.
  • Position is subject to Lautenberg/Domestic Violence Misdemeanor amendments.
  • May be required to carry firearm.
  • Job will require shift work with normal 8-hour shifts but may require working extended 12-hour shifts, 7 days a week.
  • These positions require extended temporary duty travel (TDY) and/or deployment to contingency and/or humanitarian relief areas, worldwide, in support of the mission of the DFSC.
  • Emergency Essential position.
  • Applicants must possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's license at the time of appointment.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the Education and 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.

Basic Requirement for a Physical Scientist (Forensic Latent Print Examiner):

Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to one of the majors, as shown in A above, that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: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: performing technical tasks, such as selecting samples, interpolating missing data, uncovering clear discrepancies, solving minor problems, and performing scientific analysis in support of processing physical evidence and material as a latent print examiner to higher level scientists.

OR

Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A 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 experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.

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: planning and carrying out forensic work; Organizing forensic work by following prescribed methods, guidelines. Performing comparisons of latent prints associated with criminal cases, site exploitations, intelligence exploitation and operations for making associations or eliminations.

OR

Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A 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 experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

GS-12: 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: planning and executing forensic studies; testifying in criminal investigations; utilizing conventional methods and techniques to defend analytical approaches and results against rigorous cross-examination; assisting trial attorneys in case preparation.

GS-13: 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: planning, conducting, and directing research projects on latent prints; leading ongoing studies requiring fresh approaches to resolve new or improved methods or procedures for latent prints; developing new methods and techniques regarding forensic casework.



You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:

  • Computer Skills
  • Physical Sciences
  • Technical Competence
  • Writing

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional 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.
  • Two year trial/probationary period may be required.
  • Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
  • Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
  • If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
  • This is a Career Program (CP) 16 - Engineers and Scientists (Non-Construction)- position.
  • You may claim military spouse preference.
  • If a MSP applicant is determined best qualified and selected, placement must be at the full performance level for priority consideration.
  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
  • 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.
  • 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

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 résumé and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your résumé 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.

Basis for Rating: Qualified candidates will be assigned to one of three quality categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified and Qualified. Veteran preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category.

  • Best Qualified. Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements for the announced position.
  • Highly Qualified. Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements for the announced position.
  • Qualified. Candidates in this category meet the minimum experience requirements for the announced position.

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