Supervisory Physical Scientist (Friction Ridge) - Direct Hire (Open Continuous Announcement)

Full Job Description

This position is located under the Office of Science and Technology, Forensic Sciences Division, Laboratory Services Branch, Forensic Crime Gun Intelligence Laboratory in Wichita, Kansas.

Laboratory work encompasses a broad range of responsibilities critical to ATF's mission of combatting violent crime.

Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) is a hiring authority granted by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to address critical hiring needs or severe candidate shortages.

The qualification requirements listed below must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Basic Requirements A.

Degree: 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 B.

Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors 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.

AND To qualify for this position at the GS-14 grade level, candidates must also have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-13) by the closing date of this announcement.

Specialized experience is demonstrated experience, which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position.

Experience must be in the normal line of progression or must be related to the work of the position advertised and must be reflected in resume.

Specialized experience must include all of: Mentoring forensic examiners or leading project teams; AND Conducting complex examinations of evidence requiring the development of latent prints; AND Performing comparative testing of finger/palm print evidence both visible and latent to determine if they share a common origin; AND Communicating orally and in writing to clearly and concisely convey the results and concepts of forensic fingerprint examinations.

Experience as a qualified forensic fingerprint specialist in an accredited crime laboratory is preferred.

Your resume must support your responses to the application questionnaire and the qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating.

See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume.

Major Duties:

The Supervisory Physical Scientist (Friction Ridge) serves as Section Chief in a Laboratory within the Office of Science and Technology (OST) responsible for planning, directing, and evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of a Section and for supervising a staff of scientific and technical professionals.

The laboratories conduct scientific, technical, and physical analyses on evidentiary material and analyze data connected with criminal investigations.

Typical work assignments include: Establishes general work goals, makes special work assignments, and reviews work completed by employees.

Leads, manages, and directs the goals and objectives of supervised staff members.

Provides good communications to establish and maintain effective work relationships with staff and with management within and outside the Bureau.

Functions as the first level supervisor for employees and provides scientific, technical, and administrative oversight.

Ensures the Section follows the quality assurance procedures for fingerprint examinations in the ATF Laboratory system in accordance with accepted laboratory standards.