Drug Testing Technician

Pretrial Services Agency•Washington, DC

About The Position

The Drug Testing Technician works in the Division of Defendant Engagement and System Support’s Drug Testing and Release Services Unit, which provides defendant engagement services including risk assessment, supervision, treatment, and compliance monitoring. The role monitors urine sample collection from individuals subject to court or post-sentence drug-testing orders and maintains sample chain-of-custody procedures. The technician also explains testing procedures, distributes collection materials, updates records and automated systems, and handles protected information according to confidentiality rules. This is a law enforcement position with an age requirement for initial appointment: applicants generally must be between 21 and 37 years old, subject to the stated exception for veterans’ preference eligibles. The selectee must complete mandatory six-week onsite training and may be required to complete a probationary period. Work may involve shifts or unusual hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen.
Applicants for initial appointment to this covered federal law enforcement position generally must be between 21 and 37 years old; veterans’ preference eligibles are excepted from the stated maximum-age rule.
Must be suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
Applicants are subject to a comprehensive criminal background investigation and must submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use before appointment.
Must meet one of the stated qualification paths: a four-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation; one year of specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the GS/GL-4 level; or a combination of qualifying education and specialized experience.
Specialized experience is customer service, clerical, or administrative support; maintaining, updating, and reviewing records; and using computer systems to enter, update, and retrieve information while following established procedures.
Education-and-experience combination applicants must have completed more than 60 semester hours of undergraduate education; education beyond 60 semester hours is counted at 30 semester hours (or equivalent) for six months of specialized experience.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
Federal salary payments must be made by direct deposit.
Applicants seeking promotion must have 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade and meet time-in-grade requirements by the announcement closing date.
The resume must clearly demonstrate qualifying specialized experience; education used to qualify must be supported by transcripts or other documentation.
Foreign education used to qualify must be evaluated as equivalent to an accredited U.S. education program, or receive full credit at an accredited U.S. college or university.

Responsibilities

Monitor urine sample submissions by defendants, offenders, or respondents subject to court and post-sentence drug-testing orders.
Ensure effective maintenance of chain-of-custody procedures for samples.
Take photographs, verify addresses, and update information in automated systems.
Explain drug-testing procedures and distribute collection materials to individuals.
Input information into the Pretrial Real-Time Information System Manager (PRISM).
Apply rules and policies concerning confidentiality and release of protected information.
Perform other duties as assigned.