Summary This position is located in the Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations. The Office of Inspector General is an independent office within EPA that helps the agency protect the environment in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. We consist of auditors, program analysts, investigators, and others with extensive expertise. Although we are a part of EPA, Congress provides us with our funding separate from the agency, to ensure our independence. Responsibilities As a Technical Investigative Forensic Specialist GS-1801-13 your typical work assignments may include the following under supervision: Serves as a Technical Investigative Forensic Specialist by providing technical investigative support to OI special agents. Provide computer forensic support for investigations, evidence seizure, forensic analysis, data recovery, and conduct both mobile device and computer forensic investigations using proprietary methods and advanced forensic tools. Uses forensic tools and techniques to crack passwords, detect steganography, and recover deleted, fragmented, or corrupted data from all @types of digital media. Uses software to collect, search, recover, sort, and organize electronic information throughout all phases of investigations or litigation for written reports on acquisitions, lab activities, and investigative findings. Provides guidance to investigators and attorneys regarding computer crimes and forensic data recovery, including search, seizure, and preservation of electronic evidence. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications All applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. You may qualify for the GS-13 grade level, if you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the federal sector, or the equivalent in the private sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position your specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Extensive experience conducting mobile device investigations, including the successful recovery of deleted messages in a high-profile case Proven expertise in computer forensic investigations and electronic discovery requests, with a strong track record in digital evidence acquisition, data protection, and advanced forensics analysis Developing forensic tools and software to increase password cracking efficiency and specialized in detecting stenography through custom-developed algorithms Certified in advanced digital forensics analysis and regularly lead training sessions for new investigators Skilled in recovering deleted, fragmented, and corrupted data from all @types of digital media, setting myself apart through unique techniques and leadership roles in the field Evidence of the above specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience or based on job titles alone. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). 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. Applicants must meet the qualifications for this position within thirty (30) days of the closing date of this announcement. Education ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-andpolicy/college-accreditation. Additional Information The selectee will be required to complete a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms oSelectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to appointment and the appropriate background investigation forms to determine suitability for Federal employment. False statements or responses on these forms can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.f identification from the I-9 Form. We will compare information provided on the I-9 Form to records available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The system confirms employee's identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Learn more about e-verify, including your rights and responsibilities. Upon appointment, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450. You will need to provide the information annually. You must meet time in grade requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. EPA OIG provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement. Payment of relocation expenses is NOT authorized. All the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application, by checking reference and through other means, such as the interview process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work. Additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement.
