Security ClearanceTop Secret
Duties
The duties of the Supervisory Information Technology Specialist (Digital Forensics Lab Director) GS-2210-14: Provides strategic and technical leadership for the INV digital forensics laboratory, including supervising personnel, defining work requirements, assigning tasks, evaluating work products, and overseeing performance management, workforce development, and equal opportunity compliance. Directs, develops, and manages all digital forensic lab operations, programs, and long- and short-range projects; prioritize and track support tasks; maintain situational awareness of lab activities; and ensure investigative teams receive timely, high-quality forensic support. Oversees enterprise forensic network operations, including administration of user accounts, security controls, data integrity, redundancy, system maintenance, and all assets supporting digital forensic activities such as servers, switches, and storage systems. Develops, maintains, and enforces digital forensic laboratory policies, procedures, and documentation; ensure staff compliance with standards and best practices; manage equipment lifecycle (licensing, patching, authority-to-operate compliance); and supervise lab inventory. Serves as a working technical expert by conducting or overseeing complex forensic examinations and e-discovery activities-using advanced forensic tools to collect, preserve, recover, and analyze digital evidence, including mobile devices, computers, and network systems. Leads development of new forensic methodologies, approve changes to examination processes, review technical reports for accuracy and compliance, and ensure continuous improvement through analysis of metrics, lessons learned, and performance trends. Represents INV in interagency, operational, and technical engagements; maintain liaison with federal, state, local, and international partners; provide briefings and training on forensic capabilities; and coordinate with external stakeholders to advance mission requirements.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements, including education, and any selective placement factors described below by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F. NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement. Time-in-grade documentation: If you are applying for a higher grade and your SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you meet the 1-year time-in-grade requirement so you will need to provide an SF-50 which clearly demonstrates you meet the time-in-grade requirements, such as your step increase SF-50. (examples of appropriate SF-50s include: Promotions, Within-grade Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s with an effective date more than one year old). This position has both a basic occupational requirement and a minimum qualification requirement. You must meet both requirements. BASIC REQUIREMENT: You must have IT-related experience, at the GS-13 grade level in the federal government, demonstrating each of the four competencies listed: I have IT-related experience, demonstrated by paid or unpaid experience obtained in either the private or public sector and/or completion of specific, intensive training that demonstrates that I possess each of the following four competencies: (1) Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail. (2) Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services. (3) Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. (4) Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations. AND MINIMUN QUALIFICATION: In order to qualify for the GS-14, you must meet the following: You must demonstrate in your resume at least one year (52 weeks) of qualifying specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal government, obtained in either the private or public sector. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Leading and supervising digital forensics laboratory personnel, including assigning work, defining technical requirements and milestones, evaluating employee performance and work products, and implementing performance improvements or corrective actions. Developing, directing, and managing digital forensic lab operations, programs, and long- and short-range project plans; prioritizing and tracking technical support tasks; maintaining situational awareness of lab activities; and ensuring alignment with investigative mission requirements. Administering and overseeing enterprise forensic network systems, including user and permission management, security controls, data integrity, redundancy, virus protection, data backup, and performance monitoring for servers, switches, SAN devices, and related infrastructures. Creating, maintaining, and enforcing digital forensic laboratory policies and procedures; ensuring compliance with governing directives, accreditation standards, and best practices; and managing equipment lifecycle requirements, including licensing, patching, and authority-to-operate compliance. Conducting or supervising complex digital forensic examinations using advanced tools and methodologies to collect, preserve, process, and analyze electronic evidence, including mobile devices, computers, and network sources, preparing technical reports and ensuring adherence to forensically sound procedures. Developing new forensic methodologies, approving procedural changes, reviewing reports for accuracy and compliance, analyzing metrics, and identifying operational gaps to enhance laboratory effectiveness, efficiency, and readiness. Representing investigative technology and forensic lab capabilities to senior leadership, partner agencies, and external stakeholders; maintaining interagency liaison; and preparing and presenting briefings or training on digital forensic operations. In addition, applicant must possess at least one of the following Certifications OR recognized equivalent: International Association of Computer Investigative Specialist, Certified Computer Forensics Examiner (CFCE) OpenText, EnCase Certified Examiner (EnCE) Exterro, Exterro Certified Examiner (ACE) Cellebrite Certified Physical Analyst (CCPA) GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner (GCFE), Analyst (GCFA) or Network Forensic Analyst (GNFA) There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-14 position. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you WILL lose consideration for this position.
Education
There is no education requirement for this position.
Other Information
If eligible, telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to complete pre-employment requirements within established timeframes, or failing to meet any pre-employment requirements, including failure to timely schedule and report to any of the scheduled appointments. During the application process you may have the option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. REASONABLE ACCOMODATION: For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at (202) 663-3474 or OAA@state.gov. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire CompetencyBased Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information) ARE YOU A CURRENT OR FORMER POLITICAL SCHEDULE A, SCHEDULE C, NON-CAREER SES OR PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEE EMPLOYEE? OPM must authorize employment offers for former or current Political Appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information. Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position Title: Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee); Agency; and, Beginning and ending dates of appointment.