Summary

View Common Definitions of terms found in this announcement.

Organizational Location: This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, in McLean, Virginia.

This is a bargaining unit position.

This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies within the National Capital Region.

Duties

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As a Forensic Document Examiner, you will perform the following duties:

• Serves as a nationally recognized subject matter expert, providing court testimony and authoritative advice in the field of forensic document examination, most specifically as it pertains to travel and identification documents;
• Serves as the case manager to plan, coordinate, and implement forensic document examination activities, such as performing program planning to adapt to an expanding organizational mission;
• Demonstrates a mastery of determining appropriate methodology and analytical techniques necessary to examine physical evidence while considering a variety of complicating factors (e.g. legal requirements, evidence preservation, etc.); AND
• Complies with all laboratory policies and procedures.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must successfully pass a drug screen.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• Requirements by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Time in Grade: Current Federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the Federal service. Time in grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
• Probationary Period: This is a full-time permanent position (Career/Career-Conditional appointment). Upon appointment to this position, you may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Possess a Bachelor's or Master's degree from an accredited college or university and have no less than 5 years' experience preforming duties as they pertain to the analyses of documents.
• Must be certified by the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners, or otherwise possess a current professionally recognized equivalent certification

Qualifications

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

In order to be considered for this position, you must meet the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR), position requirement, certification requirement and specialized experience requirement for this position.

INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR THE GS-1397 JOB SERIES: Undergraduate and Graduate Education:

• Possess a degree in physical and biological sciences, graphic arts, police science, criminology, or law.

OR

• Possess specialized experience performing duties such as examination and comparison of handwriting, printing, typewriting, and other mechanical impressions in order to make determinations of identity or genuineness; analysis of inks, papers, and other recording instruments and materials by chemical, microscopic, and other methods in order to develop information useful in determinations of genuineness, integrity, security, origin, validity of date, or for restoration of mutilated or obliterated matter; specialized document photography and preparation of photographic exhibits to be used for court demonstration purposes, or supervision of such work.

Certification Requirement: Must be certified by the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners, or otherwise possess a current professionally recognized equivalent certification

The incumbent is to hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and have no less than 5 years' experience performing duties as they pertain to the analyses of questioned documents; a master's degree is preferred.

You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess one of the following:

Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-13 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:

• Demonstrating a mastery in all aspects of the science of forensic document examination;
• Analyzing and interpreting examination findings; preparing technical reports or evidentiary findings;
• Reporting and communicating forensic examination results and conclusions to law enforcement officials, attorneys, courts, or other stakeholders; and
• Using forensic digital photography and the knowledge associated with forensic programs utilized in the processing of digital images.

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

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.

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.

Additional information

This position is at the full performance level.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.