Clarification from the agency

This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority. (5 CFR 337.204 (Subpart B)). 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.

The incumbent serves as a Forensic Biologist in a Forensic Science Laboratory within the Office of Science and Technology (OST) responsible for providing forensic support of the Bureau's primary law enforcement missions and technical guidance to laboratory personnel. ATF Laboratory Services conducts scientific, technical, and physical analyses on evidentiary material and analyzes data connected with criminal investigations. Typical work assignments include:

• Performs routine forensic DNA examinations with limited technical guidance.
• Performs DNA extractions, quantifications, amplifications and short tandem repeat (STR) DNA typing techniques, along with data analysis, mixture interpretation and statistical calculations.
• Draws conclusions based on fully documented physical examination of the evidence and interpretation of the analytical results and prepares laboratory reports.
• Works with senior examiners to conduct research or evaluate new technology and scientific equipment for adoption or acquisition by Laboratory Services.
• Provides expert witness testimony on the basis of laboratory examinations.

Conditions of employment

Key Requirements:

1. Must be U.S. Citizen or National
2. May be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
3. Pass drug screening and subject to random drug test.
4. Suitable for Federal employment determined by background investigation.

MOBILITY PLAN: New employees hired pursuant to this vacancy announcement must sign a mobility agreement. The purpose of ATF's mobility policy is to enhance career development and progression, and achieve mission and business effectiveness. To accomplish these objectives, the mobility plan will facilitate the movement of employees through special short-term assignments or permanent reassignments throughout the Bureau. Applicants who decline to sign a mobility agreement, as required, will be removed from the hiring process. This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Qualifications

To qualify for the position of Forensic Biologist, at GS-0401-11, you must meet the basic qualification requirements listed below by the closing date of the announcement.

Basic Requirements

A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience -- Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

AND

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, candidates must also have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) 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:

• Examining a wide variety of evidence from criminal investigations for the presence of biological material; AND
• Analyzing, interpreting, and applying statistical calculations to the results of forensic DNA examinations to draw conclusions about the evidence; AND
• Preparing laboratory reports detailing the conclusions and comparisons of forensic DNA examinations performed; AND
• Formal training or experience providing court testimony as an expert witness based on laboratory examinations of biological evidence.

-OR-

Successful completion of a Ph.D. or an equivalent doctoral degree, or successful completion of at least 3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education toward either a Ph.D. or an equivalent doctoral degree. Degree must have included a major field of study or specific course requirements generally required to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. You must include your resume with hours worked per week annotated, as well as transcripts.

Experience as a qualified forensic DNA examiner in an accredited crime laboratory is preferred.

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

This is an open continuous announcement to fill a specialized or hard-to-fill position.

This is an open-continuous announcement with an initial cut-off date of 5/1/2026 and then the 15th and 1st of every month, as needed, until the closing date. Once an applicant list is pulled, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted by the HR Specialist. This information will be compared against your responses to the application questionnaire to determine your eligibility for Federal employment, and then whether you are qualified for this particular position. All credentials must be received at the time of application submission. If a determination is made that you have inflated your responses when compared to your background information, you may be deemed ineligible.

Structured Resume Review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. SMEs will review ONLY two pages of your resume, starting at your work experience. SMEs will not review any additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter). Applicants who pass the structured resume review will be added to the list of qualified candidates.

Per Direct-Hire Authority requirements, all qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring office for consideration. You will be notified if referred to a hiring official and if selected for an interview. The hiring office may select any qualified candidate without regard to special eligibility considerations. Veterans' preference is not applicable.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies:

• Forensics
• Research
• Written Communication
• Oral Communication

The position is open until filled, but no later than July 10, 2026. You may only apply to this vacancy once. No updates will be permitted. If you incur changes to your credentials or eligibilities, please continue to review USAJOBS for additional similar vacancies throughout the year.

It is your responsibility to carefully review the list of required documents below and submit the necessary documentation based on your eligibility.

Resume - All Applicants: You must submit a resume (a two page or less resume is required) containing the following pieces of information for each job entry listed in your employment history:

• Official position title,
• Employer name and contact information,
• Start and end dates (including month and year),
• Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time,
• A list of duties performed and accomplishments.

College Transcripts - All Applicants: You must submit a transcript, which may be unofficial, as long as it contains a full listing of courses, credit earned, grade and grade-point-average, subject area, degree(s) earned, and dates of award. Note: If you are selected for this position, official transcripts will be required prior to your first day.

1. Your transcript must come from a nationally accredited educational institution recognized by the Department of Education.
2. If submitting a foreign transcript, you must have the transcript reviewed by an approved foreign education review organization recognized by the Department of Education.
3. Please do not submit electronic transcripts with documentation security protection, these may prevent our application system from accepting and processing the document.

CTAP/ICTAP eligibility documentation - If you are a displaced Federal employee claiming eligibility under CTAP or ICTAP, you must submit:

1. A copy of the agency notice (i.e., letter of intent to separate, separation notice, or agency RIF letter),
2. Your most recent performance appraisal, and
3. Most recent SF-50 showing current/former position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location.

Prior to selection, the candidate may be required to provide an original copy of any supporting/ validating documentation as well as other documentation to verify eligibility. All required materials must be uploaded using the supporting documentation instructions described in the announcement.

Failure to provide the required documentation by the closing date of this announcement will result in elimination of further consideration for this position.

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