PHYSICAL SCIENCE TECHNICIAN (FORENSICS)

About the Position: You will serve as a Forensic Science Technician (Forensics), responsible for the receipt of irreplaceable forensic evidence, collection, preservation, and evaluation of evidentiary samples, and the development of forensic testing strategies. Collection and preservation techniques are performed to collect: controlled substances to include narcotics, DNA, digital evidence, firearms and ammunition, latent fingerprints, questioned documents, and trace evidence.

Major 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: 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: 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: Geology, Chemistry, or 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).

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/.