Criminal Investigator Job

Vacancy No. FLETC-DD/OPR-26-12809085 Department Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers
Salary $105,383.00 to $137,000.00 Grade 13 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/8/2025 Close Date 10/20/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Glynco, GAArtesia, NM


Summary

"The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC)'s mission is to train and support the training of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers and international partners that are responsible for enforcing laws, treaties, and regulations within the United States and abroad."
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Recruitment or Relocation incentive may be authorized.

Duties

Serving as a Criminal Investigator GS-1811-13 makes you a valuable member of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) team and mission. This position is located under the Deputy Director's Office, within the Office of Professional Responsibility. This position may be filled in Artesia, NM or Glynco, GA. This position serves as a Criminal Investigator responsible for the planning and operation of criminal and administrative investigations and supporting counterintelligence activities and internal security programs of FLETC. Typical assignments include:

  • Supporting the division, senior staff and partner organization personnel on matters pertaining to criminal and administrative investigations, counterintelligence matters, security, and internal affairs investigations impacting those agencies and personnel on FLETC property.
  • Serving on various security committees and advising officials on information relating to physical security, anti-terrorism, counterterrorism, criminal investigations and internal affairs investigations.
  • Liaising with other law enforcement and security agencies, Department of Homeland Security offices, Office of Inspector Generals (IG) as well as coordinating simultaneous investigative efforts of several law enforcement agencies (state, local and/or Federal) in several different areas of the county.
  • Advising U.S. Attorneys and States Attorneys in the preparation of cases for presentation to grand juries, and/or making appearances as a witness before grand juries, in state and Federal trial courts or administrative hearings.
  • Planning and conducting complete and complex investigations which involve a full range of investigative areas: felonies, misdemeanors, violation of directives, federal regulations or agency policies.
  • Interviewing complainants and witnesses, interrogating and advising suspects of their rights (Miranda, Garrity, Kalkines), maintaining surveillance of suspected crime locations or perpetrators, performing undercover work, searching crime scenes for physical or documentary evidence and preserving physical evidence, making arrests, presenting facts to the U.S. Attorney, Grand Jury and other law enforcement agencies for arrest warrants; recovering and maintaining stolen property and other evidence, and completing investigative reports and participating in raids, searches, surveillances or other investigatory activities.
  • Planning and conducting criminal investigations, internal affairs investigations, counterintelligence matters, as well as assisting with the application of programs and policies of physical security for the overall protection of all the FLETC training facilities and sites, personnel and others on the Center premises located at Glynco, GA; Artesia, NM; Charleston, SC; Cheltenham, MD; and the Washington, D.C., Office. Providing advance planning and operations support for executive protection details, enhanced security operations, and special events.
  • Developing training materials and conducting training courses designed to provide a fundamental knowledge of and to stimulate interest in the security investigative programs.



View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • You must successfully pass a background investigation to access, safeguard, and store classified national security information on a regular basis; must obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI (4N - Special Sensitive, High Risk) security clearance.
  • Required to undergo initial and random drug testing for illegal drug use. Employment is contingent upon favorable results.
  • Current and former federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements.
  • You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
  • Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
  • This position is eligible for situational-only telework based on agency policy.
  • Occasional travel may be required.
  • Overtime may be required.
  • Required to complete an OGE 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, within 30 days of starting your federal employment and annually thereafter as long as you occupy a position that requires financial disclosure reporting.
  • This position is subject to Lautenberg Amendment. Persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence are prohibited from occupying this position.
  • This is a 40 U.S.C. 1315 designated law enforcement officer position for duty in connection with the protection of property owned or occupied by the Federal Government and persons on the property.
  • Must be able to meet the medical requirements for the 1811, Criminal Investigation Series.
  • Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license to conduct official government business.
  • Must pass an initial pistol firearms proficiency and qualification course of fire. Must achieve an 80% score, which equates to 240 points out of a possible of 300 points. Recertification each quarter, with a required minimum score of 240 points.

Qualifications

All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Note: Secondary Administrative Law Enforcement Officer retirement coverage is not being offered for this position.

Employees in positions classified as GS-1811 earn annual premium pay at a fixed rate equal to 25 percent of their rate of pay.

This position has a Selective Placement Factor (SPF). If you do not demonstrate possession of the SPF, you will be rated ineligible. In order to be considered for this position you must have completed the Criminal Investigator Training Program or another approved program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), or a substantially similar program as approved by the Secretary or the Secretary's designee to being authorized to exercise the powers set forth in 40 U.S.C. 1315 (b)(2). You must provide a copy of your certificate of completion.

Specialized Experience: In addition to the SPF, you must possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal government, performing duties such as: 1.) planning and operating criminal investigations; 2.) planning and conducting administrative investigations; 3.) conducting an organization's counterintelligence activities; and 4.) providing investigative assistance to law enforcement requests.

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

Time-in-grade: Current General Schedule (GS) federal employees, and those that have served in GS positions within the last 52 weeks, must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12, or a combination of the GS-12 and an equivalent band in the federal service by the closing of this announcement.

Note: Current or former Federal employees MUST submit a copy of their SF-50 Form which shows competitive service appointment ("position occupied" block 34 on the SF-50 should show a "1"), tenure group (block 24 should show a 1 or 2), grade, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 Form which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, With-in Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s dated a year apart within the same grade/job). If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof. Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent appointment. IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CONSIDERATION AS A STATUS CANDIDATE.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Physical Demands: This position requires moderate to arduous physical exertion involving walking and standing, use of firearms, and exposure to inclement weather. Manual dexterity with comparatively free motion of finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, and knee joints is required. Arms, hands, legs, and feet must be sufficiently intact and functioning in order that applicants may perform the duties satisfactorily. Sufficiently good vision in each eye, with or without correction, is required to perform the duties satisfactorily. Near vision, corrective lenses permitted, must be sufficient to read printed material the size of typewritten characters. Hearing Loss, as measured by an audiometer, must not exceed 35 decibels at 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz levels. Since the duties of this position are exacting and responsible, and involve activities under trying conditions, applicants must possess emotional and mental stability. Any physical condition that would cause the applicant to be a hazard to him/her, or others is disqualifying.

Work Environment: The position is exposed to physical operations, equipment, potentially hazardous materials, threats, physical force and other high-level risks associated with criminal investigations, security and law enforcement activities. The overall environment is portrayed as large, i.e. 1,500+ acre training and industrial sites with law environment training facilities, equipment and grounds and the field training sites. The office environment is pleasant and comfortable. The position may be exposed to hazardous materials and high-level risks in providing security and the maintenance of law and order.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP/ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be placed in the well-qualified category for this position, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Education

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

Additional information

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and FLETC policy, FLETC is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at FLETC are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.

Re-employed annuitants' annual salaries will be reduced by the amount of their retirement annuity and by further cost of living increases. FERS retirees receiving a FERS annuity supplement must also be aware that, like social security benefits, their FERS annuity supplement is subject to an earnings test and may be reduced if the salary earned is more than the social security exempt amount of earnings. Additional information is available on OPM's website or by contacting OPM.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration of Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, FLETC requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation for a Top-Secret/SCI clearance as a condition of placement in this position. This review may include financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies during the next 90 days. This could result in a few or many vacancies being filled from this announcement.

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to fletc-jobinfo@fletc.dhs.gov.

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.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If met, we will use multiple assessments to determine the degree to which your experience, education, and training demonstrate the following competencies needed to perform this job:

The first assessment will be a subject matter expert (SME) review of the selective placement factor documentation you provide. Applicants who meet the basic qualifications requirements will then be evaluated by an SME to assess an applicant's possession of the selective placement factor listed in the vacancy announcement. Applicants passing the structured resume review will move on to the next phase of the assessment process.

The second assessment will consist of skilled-based questions designed to evaluate the degree to which you possess the skills needed to perform the duties of the positions being filled.

If you are the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. To preview the job questionnaire and application, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12809085

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be removed from consideration or your score may be lowered.

Due weight will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3).

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veteran must be 1) be a preference eligible; or 2) be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement. (Note: Veteran's preference does not apply under Merit Promotion procedures. View VEOA information on Feds Hire Vets.)

Required Documents

  1. Your resume NOTE: Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages. For what to include in the resume, click on the link: USAJOBS Help Center
  2. Your responses to the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12809085
  3. Certificate of successful completion of the Criminal Investigator Training Program or another approved program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), or a substantially similar program as approved by the Secretary or the Secretary's designee to being authorized to exercise the powers set forth in 40 U.S.C. 1315 (b)(2).
  4. Are you a current or former federal employee? Submit your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that demonstrates your eligibility for consideration, e.g., length of time you have been in your current grade; your highest grade held; your current promotion potential and proof of permanent appointment if applying based on an interchange agreement. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, within-grade increases and accessions.
  5. Are you a veteran? You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility. The member 4 copy of your DD214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," is preferable. If claiming 10 point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form (SF-15), "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference." If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date on the certification. This must indicate your dates of service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions. View more veterans' information.
  6. Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP/ICTAP)? Submit the following:
    • A copy of your agency notice,
    • A copy of your most recent performance rating, and
    • A copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
  7. Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? 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,
    • Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
  8. Are you applying under special hiring authorities as a military spouse? Provide a copy of your:
    • Marriage certificate, and
    • Your spouse's PCS orders or a completed SF-15 with supporting documentation.
  9. Are you applying under Schedule A hiring authority for persons with severe disabilities? Provide evidence of your intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability obtained from a licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory to practice medicine); a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (i.e., state or private); or any Federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefit. Information on documentation can be found here.
  10. If you are referred, you may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards.

How to Apply

To begin your online application, click "Apply Online" to create a USAJOBS account and follow the prompts or log in to your existing account. Your application packet must include a completed assessment questionnaire, a resume, and any applicable and or required supporting documentation. Please see the "Required Documents" section for additional information. All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English.

Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. The address below is for inquiries only. You may apply more than once, but the most recent application is the only one that will be used. You must submit your resume, your online questionnaire, and any supporting documents by 11:59 PM eastern standard time on the day the announcement closes.

Only resumes up to a total of two pages will be accepted. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.

To preview the questionnaire please click the link below: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12809085.

It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application.

To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Applicants must submit all required documentation to properly qualify for this position.

Agency contact information

Raquel Perez

Next steps

Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best-qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information." We expect to make a job offer with 60 days after the deadline for applications. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. View more information on applying for federal employment.

Note: If you receive a final job offer to onboard, please complete the onboarding forms and submit them electronically in an expeditious manner. Your start date may be delayed if the action above is not completed.

DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more aboutE-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Personnel Management guidance and U.S. Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

Multiple selections may be made from this announcement.

Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.


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


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