About this role
Job Summary
This position serves as Section Chief in a Laboratory within the Office of Science and Technology (OST). This position supports the mission of OST by encompassing a broad range of responsibilities that are highly technical and scientific services in support of the Bureau's primary law enforcement mission.
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
Qualifications
- To qualify for the Supervisory Physical Scientist (Friction Ridge), position at the GS-14 grade level, you must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
- Basic
Requirements A. Degree
- in 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 the below: 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; AND Applying quality assurance procedures for fingerprint examinations in a Laboratory system in accordance with accepted laboratory standards.
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. After you submit this application, you will receive an e-mail informing you that a USA Hire assessment is required of you. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement (11/03/2026) to complete the assessment as this assessment is part of your application.
Major Duties
- The major duties of the Supervisory Physical Scientist (Friction Ridge), position include, but are not limited to, the following: 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.
Requirements
- The requirements listed below must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
- Must be U.S. Citizen or National.
- Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31, 1959.
- Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
- May be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
- Pass drug screening and subject to random drug test.
- Suitable for Federal employment determined by background investigation.
- You must meet all applicable time-in-grade requirements by the closing of this announcement.