U.S. SECRET SERVICE DOCUMENT ANALYST

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/791292500

U.S. SECRET SERVICE DOCUMENT ANALYST 

Summary

Joining the Secret Service, Office of Investigations , Forensic Services Division will allow you to serve as a technical authority in an area of forensic document examination.

For more information on the Secret Service click here.

Learn more about this agency

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens

The public

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

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

Duties

The selectee will serve as a Document Analyst in the Forensic Services Division. Typical work assignments include:

1. Serving as a technical authority in an area of forensic document examination to include comparative and instrumental analysis of questioned handwriting and hand printing; the capture of identifying handwriting features for entry, measurement and search in the Forensic Information System for Handwriting (FISH); machine printing, alterations, erasures, and other evidence to determine genuineness, forgery, or alteration; restoring obliterated writings; providing for the identification of counterfeit documents.
2. Utilizing a variety of advanced laboratory instruments, techniques and analytical tools, including, but not limited to, Electrostatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA), microscopy, Video Spectral Comparator (VSC), X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), Mass Selective Detector, Raman Microscope, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
   Microscope, and Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (WDXRF).
3. Providing instruction, advice, guidance, and training to lower-level forensic document examiners, contractors, and customers;
4. Establishing and maintaining working relationships with Secret Service personnel and other officials, individuals and groups from the scientific and legal communities, in order to support program operations and objectives.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

If selected for this position, you will be required to:

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• One-year probationary period may be required.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
• Obtain and maintain a top secret Tier 5 clearance. For more information visit OPM Mythbuster Page here.
• Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
• Submit to a polygraph examination prior to your appointment.
• Work is mostly sedentary; however, standing, walking, bending, and lifting is involved in laboratory
  and field work. Work is performed under conditions that can be demanding and uncontrollable
  (tours of duty). Exposure to chemicals, glass and gases require compliance with proper laboratory
  techniques and guidelines.
• Work requires frequent travel to contractor facilities, crime scenes, and/or court proceedings.
• The work requires using the eyes for prolonged periods, with and without magnifiers and special
  lighting. The incumbent must have normal vision; normal ability to distinguish shades of color; and
  normal ability to perceive and remember forms and shapes. There is frequent use and need to
  view cathode ray tubes (computer screens, device monitors and other applicable equipment).
• Most tasks are performed in a laboratory environment where proper provisions are in place in
  terms of incumbent safety and security practices. The position requires the use of Personal
  Protective Equipment (PPE) to include lab coats, face masks, respirators, gloves, face shields,
  and protective eyewear or goggles. The PPE required is dependent upon the activities and
  examinations being conducted.
• The incumbent may analyze documents or evidence from adverse
  environmental conditions with possible exposure and transmission of infectious diseases (e.g.,
  COVID-19, AIDS, and Hepatitis); carcinogenic or explosive materials; fumes or dust; body fluids,
  toxic or caustic chemicals.

Qualifications

Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Specialized Experience requirements as noted below

GS-14: You qualify for the GS-14level (starting salary $139,395.00) if you possess one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-13 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties:

1. Testifying in court proceedings under oath to present determinations regarding experiences or specific casework;
2. Utilizing Daubert factors (testability, peer review, potential error rate, acceptance of methodology, and in general) to make determination about casework;
3. Utilizing laboratory instruments (including but not limited to microscopes, Electrostatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA), gas chromatograph, and thin layer chromatography ) to examine questioned documents; and
4. Examining handwriting, hand printing, indented impressions or ink smears to make determination regarding authenticity and/or alteration.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

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.

Veterans' Preference: For more information on veterans' preference see: https://www.opm.gov/fedshirevets/veteran-job-seekers/#

Current or Former Political Appointees: 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.

Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP): This program applies to Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed, or employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet eligibility criteria for CTAP or ICTAP; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. Well-Qualified includes those applicants whose knowledge, skills, and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. For information on eligibility criteria and required documentation, go to: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.
 

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Personnel Management guidance and U.S. Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or
imprisonment.

This position will require a credit check after a conditional offer of employment has been accepted.

The agency's Telework Policy allows up to 80% telework, which is at the discretion of management and based on roles and responsibilities. Additionally, compressed or flexible work schedules are offered with appropriate approval.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade and unit occur. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.

The Secret Service prohibits employees from having visible body markings (including but not limited to tattoos, body art, and branding) on the head, face, neck, hand and fingers (any area below the wrist bone) (exception: a single conservative and unobtrusive tattoo in the form of a ring is authorized on one finger).

If you are unable to apply online contact Philadelphia@opm.gov.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Your application will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the duties of the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications, a score will automatically be calculated based on your answers to the vacancy specific questions to place you in one of three categories. All answers provided in the online process must be substantiated by your resume. Upon review, your resume and/or supporting documents need to support your answer choices and reflect the one year of specialized experience requirement, in order to be considered. If the one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the next lower grade level cannot be identified in your resume, you will be considered not qualified. The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are:
 

• Attention to Detail
• Forensics
• Technical Competence
  
  If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:

1. Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF), and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (ORF) as determined by the job analysis.
2. Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPF's and appropriate ORFs as determined by the job analysis.
3. Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.

The Category Rating Process does not add veteran's preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher). This position is not considered scientific/professional. Veteran preference eligibles will receive selection consideration before non-preference eligibles within each quality category.

If you are among the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.

An interview may be required for this position. If an interview is required, failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your resume showing a detailed description of your job-related qualifications that includes beginning and ending dates with the month and year and hours worked per week (if less than 40) for each paid and non-paid work experience job title listed.
2. Other supporting documents (only submit if applicable to you):

• Are you claiming veterans' preference?
  • Submit Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 or other (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) or other notice form
  • If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, in addition to the DD-214, you must also submit a Standard Form 15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference) and provide an official document dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces, and/or any other required documentation based on your preference.
  • If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date you submit your application. This must indicate your dates of service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions.
• Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP)? If so, submit:
  • A copy of your RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate, notice of disability annuity termination, or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
  • A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action'', documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc.;
  • A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  • Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
• Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
  • Position title;
  • Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);
  • Agency; and
  • Beginning and ending dates of appointment.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 05/22/2024 to receive consideration.

PLEASE NOTE: If your materials are not received by the closing date, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible. Also, if you do not provide a valid email address, you may not be notified of the outcome of your application.

The application process is as follows:

1. To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.

To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Next steps

Once your complete application is received we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your eligibility. Best-qualified applicants will be referred for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement.

If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information".

For more information on applying for Federal employment, please click here.

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Criminal history inquiries
• Financial suitability
• Selective Service
• New employee probationary period
• Signature and false statements
• Privacy Act
• Social security number request

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/791292500