Zimmerman Associates, Inc Hiring for Research Assistant I – OSII at Martinsburg, WV Full Time

BA-ZAI has an immediate need to fill Research Assistant I (RA1) positions to work OSII division of our ATF project located in Martinsburg, WV. The candidate selected for this position will be assigned an 8-hour shift during the core hours of 7:00 am to 4:30pm, M-F.

Note that the usual time-in-position eligibility requirement for internal applicants has been waived for this posting. SCA Hourly Rate: $20.71+ H&W allowance.

This posting will close at 11:59 PM Friday, 07/7/2023.

Position Overview:

ATF is a unique law enforcement agency in the United State Department of Justice that protects our communities from violent criminals, criminal organizations, the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, the illegal use and storage of explosives, acts of arson and bombings, acts of terrorism, and the illegal diversion of alcohol and tobacco products. We collaborate with communities, industries, law enforcement, and public safety agencies to safeguard the public we serve through information sharing, training, research, and use of technology.

The mission of the Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information (OSII) is to provide timely, accurate, and focused intelligence through the collection and analysis of information that enhances decision-making for all Bureau customers and personnel, in support of reducing violent crime, protecting the public, and preventing terrorism.

DENI Overview:

The Operational Intelligence Division (OID) supports the Bureau’s core mission by providing operational and intelligence support through pertinent processes and functions. The OID is comprised of the Denial Enforcement and NICS Intelligence (DENI) Branch, the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) and the Joint Support and Operations Center (JSOC).

The Denial Enforcement and NICS Intelligence (DENI) Branch is to research and analyze NICS denials received from the FBI and refer them to ATF field offices for further investigation, to serve as ATF’s liaison with the FBI on NICS matters, to respond to dealer inquiries regarding NICS issues, and to analyze data from NICS denials to identify illegal firearms trafficking and other criminal trends.

VCAB Overview:

The Criminal Intelligence Division supports the Bureau’s core mission, as effectively and efficiently as possible, by managing the intelligence needs process through collecting, analyzing, and disseminating intelligence support in a timely and professional manner.

Position Duties

Conformance Summary for Research Assistant (RA1) position:

Research Assistant 1 (RA1) process ATF and law enforcement requests (work items), such as requests for firearms traces, firearm application reviews, firearm purchase denials, industry applications to make, register, or transfer firearms, and special s. They master standard processes and are adept at tailoring unique strategies to review, evaluate and collect data in order to provided actionable intelligence. They are capable of researching and interpreting directives, orders, and laws that govern Federal and State regulations, including database searches for individual and entity compliance with Federal and State laws. RA1s may act as a Team Lead. They operate with minimal supervision and may review same, or lower-level staff assignments. RA1s may also assist with peer or lower-level staff training. This position requires a high level of expertise. This classification includes RA1s in Task Orders 1-NTCD, 2-FESD, 3-FATD, 4-OSII and 5-NFA Division.

OSII General Duties:

• Properly and tactfully deal with federal personnel, other law enforcement agencies, and the general public.
• Perform a variety of clerical duties to include answering incoming and placing outgoing calls, receiving, and sending fax transmittals or email correspondence, and maintaining the branch switchboard operations.
• Analyze various s and query databases to obtain additional information through research as needed.
• Update records with minimal errors in a timely manner (paying strict attention to detail and accuracy).
• Meet or exceed the established production and quality matrix goals for assigned work area.
• May be required to perform some Team Lead duties such as assisting with managing work assignments of same or lower-level staff, compiling and updating workload statistics for the team, identifying team performance issues, and providing re-fresher training and job aids to improve team performance, productivity, and quality.

DENI Specific Duties:

• Review, analyze, and assess supporting FBI / NICS records pertaining to firearm transaction denials and accurately creates criminal notes or codes accordingly.
• Understand when to generate investigations (referrals) from ANR records that meet priority for field forwarding to ensure criminal follow-up.
• Perform quality control on peer workloads for accuracy and completeness.

VCAB Specific Duties:

• Analyze trace data, review multiple sale s, execute SQL Queries, articulate findings in written summaries, execute various request from ATF field personnel and assist ATF Analysts where needed.
• Process daily FFL and Individual history requests.
• Completing monthly and yearly Suspect Person Activity s, by querying suspect individuals provided by analysts through various databases.
• Completing semi-annual FFL/FEL master queries each Field Division, compile results and email to the respective office.
• Perform quality control of ATF Analyst’s work on Trace Studies.

Requirements:

Internal applicant must submit an approved Eligibility Statement. (Meeting current Performance standards including Production and Accuracy goals, attendance, and behaviors)

To be considered, the applicant should have:

• Ability to work with minimal supervision, perform tasks in a timely and efficient manner while following policies and procedures.
• Experience in performing work with a strong sense of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Manage time to efficiently complete the actions within acceptable service and accuracy levels.
• Ability to employ fact finding and investigative techniques to gather and review information.
• Proficient and knowledgeable computer skills including accurate use of keyboard, intermediate skills with various computer programs and databases used in the work processes including proficiency with, but not limited to OpenFox, III, NCIC, LEEP, FTS, FLS, ANR, Accurint, SQL Plus, NFORCE, FIRES, and Microsoft Office Suite applications and accessing and utilizing web browsers to conduct advanced research.
• Identifying and ing potential problems or issues to appropriate levels of management and seeking resolution assistance.
• Knowledge of ATF’s mission and approved processes.
• Ability to apply expert judgment in selecting, applying, and adapting appropriate work-related material in all formats that follow a broad range of principles, concepts, and practices. May include the ability to recognize patterns to focus the search and make independent decisions about when to move from one search technique to another or from one records / dataset to another, interpret and select information to be prepped, imaged, or entered from the variety of sources.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to perform frequent and repetitive motions using fingers, hands, wrists, and arms.
• Ability to occasionally lift, up to 40 pounds.

Duties as assigned by Supervisor to meet contract requirements, including directing and training of same or lower-level staff

• Able to work as a team player.
• Strong sense of Customer Service.
• Ability to accurately record and production numbers.

Education/Specialized Experience

• College degree preferred, or high school diploma / GED plus 4 years of relevant experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience on the ATF contract. At least 1 year of experience as a General Clerk III or higher is preferred.
• Six months in current position is required; six months of data entry experience is preferred.
• Previous management and / or leadership experience is preferred.
• Knowledgeable with firearm and federal license regulations including, but not limited to: The Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA), Stolen Firearms Federal Regulations, The Brady Bill, and The National Firearms Act (NFA).
• Some telephonic customer service skills preferred including, but not limited to, ability to fax, scan, file and distribute incoming documents, excellent telephone etiquette to include answering in-coming calls and placing out-going calls as well as resolving the call to include, but not limited to, taking messages, transferring the caller to voice mail, or transferring the caller.
• Passing test score if typing test was required in previous position.
• Related experience and / or training in assignment area is preferred.

ZAI is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with Federal and State Equal Opportunity Laws, qualified applicants are considered for all positions applied for without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, veterans status or any other legally protected status.