Student Trainee

Duties The selectee will serve as a Student Trainee (Physical Science) in the Office of Investigations, Forensic Services Division. Typical work assignments include: Assisting in the development of research and operational investigative projects related to the Fingerprint Operations and Questioned Document Branches. Conducting research to address protocols required for quality assurance of laboratory techniques, which are essential for maintaining the Service's laboratory ISO 17025 accreditation. Staying informed of technical and research developments, trends, products, and current literature in the area of investigative support and forensic science. Utilizing a wide variety of highly technical and advanced laboratory instruments and elaborate latent print development methods and improve the chemical analysis of documents. Documenting results of research and projects and presents findings to the laboratory staff verbally and/or in written manner. Apply for this exciting opportunity to impact functions that support the working operations in the area of Physical Science. Student Trainee (Physical Science)position starts at a salary of $46,148.00, GS-5 step 1, or $57,164 (GS-7, step 1) with promotion potential to $90,898.00 GS-9 step 10. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship is required. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service If selected for this position, you will be required to: Obtain and maintain a top-secret Tier 5 clearance. For more information visit OPM Mythbuster Page. Submit a credit check after a conditional offer of employment has been accepted. Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position. Be at least 16 years or older at the time of appointment. Remain enrolled at a qualifying educational institution on at least a half-time basis. The definition of half-time is the definition provided by the school in which the student is enrolled. Interns employed in the Internship Program who need to complete the equivalent of less than half a course load in the enrollment period immediately prior to graduating are still considered students for program purposes. Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (for undergraduate students); or 3.0 (for graduate students) at time of application and throughout internship appointment. (No rounding). Complete a Pathways Participant Agreement upon entrance on duty. Sign an Individual Development Plan upon entrance on duty. Submit updated Unofficial Transcripts and enrollment verification after grades have been issued for an academic period, such as semester or quarter, as defined by the educational institution. Coordinate work schedule with supervisor based on academic schedule and the needs of the agency. Qualifications To be eligible for the Pathways Internship Program applicants must meet below eligibility: Must have accepted enrollment OR be enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) on a full- or half-time basis (as defined by the institution which they attend) in one of the accredited educational institutions: public or private high school; state-approved home school; technical or vocational school; 2-year or 4-year college or university; graduate or professional school; or postsecondary home school curriculum In addition to meeting the above eligibility you must also meet the following minimum qualification for the respective grade(s) in which you are applying: GS-05:You qualify for the GS-05 level (starting salary $46,148) if you possess the following: Completion of 4 academic years of post-high school leading to a bachelor's degree or equivalent degree. GS-07: You qualify for the GS-07 level (starting salary $57,164) if you possess the following: 1 full year of graduate level education; or eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement Provision and completion of a bachelor's degree. The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Students must maintain student eligibility and enrollment throughout the duration of the appointment (Applicants must be actively enrolled at an accredited institution). Applicants that have graduated or will graduate prior to the completion of the program are ineligible to participate without proof of future enrollment in an accredited university. Program Completion and Conversion Eligibility: Program participants may be converted, without a break in service, to a term, career or career conditional appointment upon completion of program requirements. To be eligible for conversion, Student Trainee must: Successfully complete academic course of study. Complete a minimum of 480 hours of work experience under the Internship Program; (USSS may waive up to 320 hours of the 480-hour requirement for non-competitive conversion when an Intern has completed 320 hours of career-related experience AND has demonstrated high potential by outstanding academic achievement and exceptional job performance) while enrolled as a full-time or half-time degree or certificate-seeking student. Meet OPM qualification standards for the position to be converted. Maintain acceptable performance under the agency's approved performance management system. Receive favorable recommendation for conversion from Supervisor. It is important to remember that eligibility for conversion does not guarantee that the agency will decide to opt for conversion. An Intern converted to a full-time career or career-conditional position in the competitive service, who has completed one year in the program, does not have to serve a probationary period and will acquire competitive status immediately upon conversion. Time served in the Internship Program counts as the trial period. Education This position has an education requirement you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted that includes the following: name, name of the educational institution, declared degree program, anticipated date of degree conferral, course title(s), credits completed, grade received, and date of completion and Grade Point Average (GPA). Additional information DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify , including your rights and responsibilities. If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment , and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment. The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to . More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade and unit occur. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions. The Secret Service prohibits employees from having visible body markings (including but not limited to tattoos, body art, and branding) on the head, face, neck, hand and fingers (any area below the wrist bone) (exception: a single conservative and unobtrusive tattoo in the form of a ring is authorized on one finger). How You Will Be Evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and the responses you provide on the application questionnaire. All answers provided in the online process must be substantiated by your resume. Upon review, your resume and/or supporting documents need to support your answer choices and the minimum qualification requirements, in order to be considered. If we cannot determine how your application meets the minimum requirements above, you will be removed from consideration. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are considered in the following order: (1) preference eligible veterans having a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more; followed by (2) other 10-point preference eligible veterans; (3) 5-point preference eligible veterans; and (4) non-preference eligible (i.e., non-veterans). An interview may be required for this position. If an interview is required, failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration. Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change. Required Documents In addition to addressing the vacancy specific questions, you must also submit the following documentation: Resume - In order to receive credit for experience contained in an uploaded resume, your employment history should show work experience in month/year format (MM/YYYY), reflecting starting date and ending date, and include the number of hours work