Supervisory Biologist Job in Wichita, KS

Vacancy No. 25-OST-DHA-12805242-CLG Department Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
Salary $126,563.00 to $164,531.00 Grade 14 to 14
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/29/2025 Close Date 10/13/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Wichita, KS


Summary

ATF is a law enforcement agency in the U.S. Department of Justice that protects our communities from violent criminals/criminal organizations, illegal use/trafficking of firearms, illegal use/storage of explosives, acts of arson/bombings, acts of terrorism, and illegal diversion of alcohol/tobacco products. We partner with communities, industries, law enforcement, and public safety agencies to safeguard the public through information sharing, training, research, & technology. Visit www.atf.gov

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using OPM Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.204 (Subpart B)).

Duties

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans' preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority

This position is located under the Office of Science and Technology, Forensic Science Division, Laboratory Services Branch, Forensic Crime Gun Intelligence Lab in Wichita, Kansas.

The incumbent is responsible for planning, directing, and evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of a Section and for supervising a staff of scientific and technical professionals. Typical work assignments include:

  • 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 for DNA analysis in the ATF Laboratory system in accordance with accepted laboratory and national standards.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

The qualification requirements listed below must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

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.

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.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements

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

    OR

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


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 includes:

  • Providing leadership or leading a team; AND
  • Conducting complex examinations on a variety of evidence types to identify the presence of biological material for forensic DNA analysis; AND
  • Communicating orally and in writing to clearly and concisely convey the results and concepts of forensic DNA analysis.

Education

All academic degrees and course work must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria see www.ed.gov.

Additional information

Notice to Prospective Employees of Ethical Obligations from ATF's Human Resources Operations Division. Please click on the following link to read important information. DOJ Notice to Prospective Employees of Ethical Obligations

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.

EEO Statement: The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, status as a parent, genetic information, disability, age, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, or on the basis of personal favoritism. If you believe you have been subjected to discrimination, you must contact the ATF EEO office within 45 calendar days of when the alleged harm occurred at 202-648-8760 or eeointakemailbox@atf.gov. Please see DOJ Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement: ATF provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the job application and hiring process, and you meet the eligibility requirements listed above, please notify the human resources specialist listed on the vacancy announcement, or contact the ATF's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at (202) 648-8760 or send an email to reasonableaccommodations@atf.gov. The decision on granting a reasonable accommodation is handled on a case-by-case basis.

"Federal Regulations state no ATF employee, his/her spouse, or his/her minor child shall have, directly or indirectly, any financial interest, including compensated employment, stock, or proprietary interest in the alcohol, tobacco, firearms or explosives industries. You should be aware that you may be asked to relinquish any ownership of or interests in the alcohol, tobacco, firearms or explosives industries before a determination can be made whether access to ATF information, information technology systems, and/or facilities can be authorized."

Additional vacancies may be filled from this vacancy announcement.
A one year probationary period is required for new supervisors and managers.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

This position will be filled through the OPM Direct Hire Authority. Under this authority, Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants' procedures do not apply. Your application will be considered based on education, training, and quality of your experience. For more information on Direct-Hire Authority visit: OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet.

We will review your resume https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/ and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. Please be sure that your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position. All qualified applicants will be referred.

The assessment questionnaire is designed to measure your ability in the following competencies:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Leadership
  • Oral Communication
  • Forensics
  • Technical Credibility

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12805242

Required Documents

  • ALL APPLICANTS: You must submit a detailed resume containing the following pieces of information for each job entry listed in your employment history:
  1. Official position title;
  2. Employer name and contact information;
  3. Start and end dates (including month and year);
  4. Your Pay Plan/series/grade and step and a detailed list of duties & accomplishments
Please LIMIT YOUR RESUME TO NO MORE THAN TWO (2) PAGES. Resumes must be limited to two pages in length. Applicants with resumes longer than two pages will not be considered. You can only submit one resume; Only the most recent resume submitted under the "Resume" "Document Type" will be used to determine your qualifications and for rating purposes.

Showing relative permanent and volunteer work experience, education, and training. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must support your answers to the completed online assessment questions.
  • CTAP/ICTAP documentation, if applicable.
  • An unofficial college transcript (Note: If you are selected for this position, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day.)
  • It is your responsibility to ensure all documents are received on time and the materials are legible. If applying on-line poses a hardship to any applicant, please contact us at the telephone number listed on this announcement. Applicants MUST CONTACT US PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE to speak to someone who can provide assistance for on-line submission. Requests for extensions will not be granted. Paper applications submitted without prior approval from the agency point of contact may be handled as incomplete. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: If your contact information changes after the closing date of this vacancy announcement, update your profile information in MYUSAJOBS as well as contact the Human Resources Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement to ensure you can be contacted throughout the selection process.

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.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. You must submit a complete application package by 11:59 PM (ET) on 10/13/2025 to be considered. The application process is as follows:

  1. To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
  2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
  3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
  4. After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder.
  5. If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Click here for Computer System Requirements
  6. Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found in your USAJOBS account under the Track this application link for the corresponding application.
To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period return to your USAJOBS account. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit My Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement is closed.

To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account. Your applications will appear on the Welcome page. Navigate to the job application and click Track this application to view your application status. The link will take you to the hiring agency application system, which has the most up-to-date status of your application. There you can review any notifications sent to you related to this application, including the invitation to take the USA Hire assessment. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means click here.

Agency contact information

Camille Gunter
Address
Office of Science and Technology
99 New York Ave., N.E.
Washington, DC 20226
US

Next steps

Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.

Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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