Information Technology Specialist
Amended
POSTING NUMBER: #283-ND-08
SERIES/GRADE: GS-2210-09/13
Opening Date: September 8, 2008
Closing Date: October 6, 2008
LOCATION:
Digital Evidence Laboratory
Document and Media Exploitation Branch
Information Collection Section
WORKING HOURS:
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 2
AREA OF CONSIDERATION:
All Sources
*This announcement has been amended to extend the closing date. Applicants who already applied to this announcement do not need to reapply to be considered.
Note: Please pay particular attention to the "Notes" in the "How to Apply" section under #1 and #2 for specific information regarding the application process.
You must specify on your application the grade level or levels
for which you are applying.
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the "Friendly City," is renowned for its small-town atmosphere and family-based values. With a consistently
low crime rate, short commute, four distinct seasons, and excellent
landscapes, Johnstown blends the best of urban and rural life.
Money Magazine ranked Johnstown the number one most livable
region in Pennsylvania and number four in the entire Northeast.
Besides being an excellent place to raise a family and its low
cost of living, Johnstown has something for everyone from the
sports and wildlife enthusiasts to the technology buffs.
National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) Mission Priorities:
- Produce timely strategic intelligence to support national
decisionmakers
- Produce real-time operational intelligence to priority
drug investigations
- Facilitate the sharing of strategic and operational drug-related
intelligence
- Support the National Intelligence Strategy and the Intelligence
Community
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
Please read this section carefully
before applying.
This position requires a Top Secret security clearance. Therefore,
applicants will be required to successfully complete a background
security investigation, polygraph examination, and drug
test. Revocation or failure to maintain a Top Secret security
clearance would result in termination of employment.
This position may require considerable travel throughout the
United States and some travel abroad. Candidates will be
required to sign a Mobility/Travel Agreement as a condition
of employment.
Candidates and their immediate families must be U.S. citizens.
Applicants must be within the guidelines of the NDIC Employment
Drug Policy. Please read this section carefully before applying.
NDIC EMPLOYMENT
DRUG POLICY
If you answered "YES" to any of the questions asked within the policy, you should NOT apply for the position.
They are immediate disqualifiers.
In accordance with Executive order 12564, applicants selected for
this position are required to submit to a drug
test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is a drug-testing
designated position subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
Duties and Responsibilities:
This position is located in the Digital Evidence Laboratory of
the Document and Media Exploitation
Branch of the Information Collection Section at NDIC. Incumbent
conducts the examination and exploitation of seized computers
and electronic devices. Incumbent assigned to this position
will conduct field examinations and analyses of personal computers
and related evidence (i.e., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic
tapes, memory cards, and similarly designed storage devices).
Position requires a comprehensive knowledge of customized programs,
encrypted or deleted files, and unusual operating systems. Incumbent
ensures the integrity of original electronic magnetically stored
evidence while in NDIC custody and provides expert technical
assistance to case agents in various federal, state, and local
law enforcement agencies on retrieving information from converted
databases. Incumbent maintains liaison with counterparts in
various other federal agencies as well as technical experts
in the computer industry and academia and may be required to
testify in court regarding methods and procedures of data retrieval.
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GS-9: Requires a master's or equivalent graduate degree
OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education
leading to such a degree OR LL.B. or J.D., if related OR 1 year
of specialized experience equivalent to at least
the GS-7 level for the occupation.
GS-11: Requires a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR
3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education
leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related OR 1 year of
specialized experience equivalent to at least
the GS-9 level for the occupation.
GS-12 and above: Requires 1 year of specialized
experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the
occupation.
All current federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements.
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Experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular
knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the
duties of the position and that is typically in or related to
the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized
experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower
grade level in the normal line of progression for this occupation.
Experience would include: conducting forensic examinations and
analyses of computer evidence; providing technical guidance
regarding advanced recovery methods to retrieve information
from customized programs, deleted files, and unusual operating
systems.
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Knowledge, Skills, Abilities,
and Other Characteristics (KSAOCs):
Applicants who meet the qualification requirements above will be
further evaluated to determine the extent to which their education,
work experience, and training indicate they possess the KSAOCs
required to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.
Describe experience (paid or unpaid), education, training, and
self-development as related to the KSAOCs. Please limit responses
to one or two pages per KSAOC.
NOTE: Please select and respond to the set(s) of KSAOCs required
for the grade level(s) for which you wish to be considered as
you have specified in block #2 of the OF-612.
APPLICANTS MUST ADDRESS EACH KSAOC SEPARATELY ON ITS OWN PAGE.
GS-9
- Experience demonstrates a thorough understanding of computer
forensics technology.
- Ability to make effective use of technical support.
- Skill in establishing effective working relationships
in a team environment.
GS-11
- Comprehensive knowledge of the use and characteristics
of a variety of computer systems including computer equipment,
operating systems, application software, utility programs, forensic
software, and magnetic media storage devices.
- Ability to identify the uses of a variety of computer
programs.
- Ability to work in a team environment and communicate
well with others on work related issues.
GS-12
- Knowledge of rules of evidence as they pertain to the
sensitivity of computer forensics examination.
- Ability to disassemble and reassemble computer hardware
and to create copies of evidence images to suitable mass storage
media.
- Well-developed written and oral communication skills
to write technical reports and instructions in easily understood
terms.
GS-13
- Advanced knowledge of digital evidence examination methods
and procedures as well as best practices in digital evidence
handling, examination, and results reporting.
- Expert knowledge of related disciplines such as computer
science, information technology, computer engineering, computer
operating systems, computer networks, computer security, and
computer programming.
- Exceptional ability to work in a team environment and
communicate well with others on work related issues. Examples
may include providing expert witness testimony and/or developing
standard operating procedures.
The KSAOCs listed on this Vacancy Announcement have been identified
as necessary for successful performance in the position for
which you are applying. The information provided in the application
will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position.
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How You Will Be Evaluated:
You will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications
required and on the extent to which your application shows that
you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated
with this position as defined above. When describing your knowledge,
skills, and abilities, please be sure to give examples and explain
how often you used these skills, the complexity of the knowledge
you possess, the level of the people you interacted with, and
the sensitivity of the issues you handled, etc. Paid or unpaid
experience will be considered. A consensus score will be calculated
based on your responses to the KSAOCs. If you are eligible for
veterans' preference, this will be notated on the referral listing
to the selecting official for the position(s).
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Pay, Benefits, and Work Schedule:
All federal employees are required by PL 104-134 to have federal
payments made by Direct Deposit.
This position will be filled on a full-time permanent basis. Employees
are required to serve a 2-year trial period in accordance with
5 CFR 752.401(c) (5).
In addition to competitive wages and excellent working conditions,
NDIC offers a comprehensive package of benefits to federal employees.
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Other Information:
This position is in the Excepted Service. It is excluded from provisions
of the career transition assistance program. Because this position
is in the Excepted Service, it may not be filled by a competitive
appointment, and acceptance of the proposed appointment will
take you out of the competitive service while you occupy the
position. Upon being hired, you will be required to sign a memorandum
of understanding concerning an Excepted Service appointment.
Your Social Security Number (SSN) is requested under the authority
of Executive Order 9397 to uniquely identify your records from
those of other applicants who may have the same name. As allowed
by law or Presidential directive, your SSN is used to seek information
about you from employers, schools, banks, and others who may
know you. Failure to provide your SSN on your application materials
will result in your application not being processed.
Before being hired, you will be required to sign and certify the
accuracy of the information in your application.
If you make a false statement in any part of your application,
you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work;
or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary
action.
Employees who received a buyout and subsequently return to positions
in federal agencies, whether by reemployment or contracts for
personal services, are generally obligated to repay the full
amount of the buyout to the agency that paid it.
Employment may be denied as a result of information of which the
applicant is genuinely unaware or by an assessment that an applicant
does not meet the agency's overall employment criteria. A negative
employment determination by the agency is final, and normally
no specific reasons regarding non-selection will be made. Employment
with NDIC is not a right upon which an applicant can insist.
NDIC notifies all applicants, in writing, of the outcome of
their application.
Appointments to NDIC are made by the Director.
Applicants must meet all qualification requirements at the time
of application.
Relocation costs will not be paid.
ALL EXPENSES INCURRED BY APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION WILL BE
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE APPLICANT.
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Please submit the following documents to the address
provided in this announcement:
- An OF-612* form (Application
for Federal Employment). Completed form should include the names
and telephone numbers of current and former supervisors. Application
must be typed or printed clearly in dark ink. NOTE: You
must specify in block #2 of the OF-612 the grade level(s) for
which you are applying.
- A narrative assessment of your qualifications in terms of
the KSAOCs identified within this announcement.
- A list of three references who are not related to you. At
least two references should know your qualifications and fitness
for the kind of job for which you are applying; one should know
you well on a personal basis. The person's full name, telephone number(s) (including area code), and present business or home
address are needed. Providing this information constitutes
permission to contact these references.
- A completed SF-181* form (Ethnicity
and Race Identification). (Optional)
- A completed and signed OF-306*
form (Declaration for Federal Employment)
- Current or prior federal employees must submit a copy of
their most recent performance appraisal (must be within the
past 15 months from the closing date of the announcement). Applicants
unable to provide their most recent performance appraisal must
provide written justification for its absence.
- Current or prior federal employees applying for this position
must submit a copy of their most recent SF-50 (Notification
of Personnel Action) showing position title, series, and grade.
- Applicants claiming veterans' preference must submit a copy
of their DD-214 and any other required documentation with your
application package. To be eligible for veterans' preference,
a veteran must be honorably separate. (See Note Below)
NOTE: There is no formal rating system for
applying veterans' preference to appointments in the "excepted"
service; however, NDIC considers veteran's preference eligibility
as a positive hiring factor. External applicants eligible
for veteran's preference are required to include that information
in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation
(e.g., the DD-214 and SF-15 or other substantiating documents)
to their submissions. You must include the appropriate documentation
in order to receive the proper consideration.
*The Optional and Standard
Forms (OF-612, SF-181, and OF-306) are available in two formats
on our website:
OF-612
MS Word
PDF
SF-181 MS Word
PDF
OF-306 MS Word
PDF
Please note that these forms must be completed
in MS Word format if you wish to submit your application
package electronically. These forms can also be downloaded from
the following website:
www.opm.gov/forms.
Please submit all requested information listed in
the “How to Apply” section of this announcement. FAILURE TO
SUBMIT KSAOCS WILL RESULT IN YOUR NOT RECEIVING CONSIDERATION.
Missing information will not be requested. Applicant qualifications
will be evaluated solely on the information submitted in their
application. Materials submitted as part of the application
will not be returned.
Please do not submit your application package in
a notebook or binder with extraneous information. Documents
should not be stapled or paper clipped. Applicants should provide
sufficient information to enable the Human Resources Unit (HRU)
to properly evaluate your application against the Qualification
Standards, time-in-grade, and/or time after competitive appointment
restrictions.
For additional information about this position,
please contact:
Ms. Diane Vitko
Human Resources Specialist
(814) 532-4676
NDIC.Jobs@usdoj.gov
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Once your employment package is completed, there
are several different ways of sending it to HRU at NDIC. Please
note that only employment related correspondence will be accepted.
The submission methods include:
Postal Mail:
National Drug
Intelligence Center
ATTN: HRU #283-ND-08
319 Washington Street, 5th Floor
Johnstown, PA 15901-1622
Unclassified Fax:
Required information
faxed to: (814) 532-5809
Attention: HRU #283-ND-08
Electronic Mail:
Application packages
consisting of Microsoft Word documents and scanned file attachments
may be sent via e-mail to: NDIC.Jobs@usdoj.gov.
Internal applicants:
Submit applications
to HRU by 5 p.m. on the closing date.
Applicants choosing fax or electronic mail must
send their entire application package in one transmission by
NDIC's closing time of 5 p.m. on the closing date of this announcement.
Partial or incomplete applications using any submission method
will not be considered.
Mailed applications will not be accepted if received
after 5 p.m. on the closing date.
Internal applications must be received by close
of business on the closing date to receive consideration.
NDIC is a secured facility. No applications will
be accepted at the guard station.
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What To Expect Next:
You will be notified by mail upon receipt of your
application. Once a review of all submitted applications is
completed, a Human Resources Specialist will issue a referral
certificate or list of eligibles containing the names of those
candidates determined to be " best qualified" (BQ) for
the position(s) to be filled. The selecting official has the
option to interview or may select from the BQ list. You will
be notified by mail of the outcome of your application.
NDIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Except where
otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because
of color, race, religion, national origin, politics, marital
status, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, status as
a parent, membership or nonmembership in an employee organization,
or on the basis of personal favoritism.
NDIC welcomes and encourages applications from persons
with disabilities and will reasonably accommodate the needs
of those persons. NDIC is firmly committed to satisfying its
affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity
to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within NDIC.
If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application
and hiring process, please notify NDIC. The decision on granting
reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.
NOTE: This Excepted Service position will
be filled under the NDIC Schedule A appointing authority. A
successful candidate currently employed by another federal agency
will be converted to the NDIC appointment from their current
employing agency.
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