Clarification from the agency

Status Candidates (this includes current or former Federal employees with career or career-conditional tenure in the competitive service; Former Overseas Employees, CTAP, ICTAP, VRA, VEOA, 30% or More Disabled Veterans, Schedule A, Military Spouses, Americorps, Peace Corps, Vista, Land Management, and Interchange Agreement Eligibles)

The primary purpose of this position is serve as a Criminal Investigator responsible for independently planning, directing, and conducting the most complex and sensitive criminal, civil, and administrative investigations involving fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct affecting RRB programs, beneficiaries, trust funds, and operations.
Duties performed:

• Plans and conducts complex, sensitive, and high-impact criminal investigations involving fraud across all RRB program areas, including retirement survivor annuities, disability, unemployment and sickness, representative payee matters, contract and procurement fraud, and Medicare benefits.
• Conducts and leads advanced investigative operations requiring expert use of undercover techniques, confidential informants, covert infiltration, mobile surveillance, and other sensitive methods.
• Represents OIG as a senior investigative authority on major multi-agency task forces addressing Medicare fraud, white collar crime, and other priority enforcement areas.
• Provides senior level investigative leadership supporting OI strategic efforts to focus on complex and high impact investigations.

Conditions of employment

• You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
• One-year probationary period may be required.
• This is a Testing Designated Position which requires the incumbent to undergo and pass initial and random drug testing.
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
• RRB uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• The incumbent must be able to pass a medical examination and maintain physical fitness as a condition of employment.
• The incumbent must have completed or be able to complete the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP), FBI/DEA Basic Agent Training, or equivalent Federal law enforcement training.
• The incumbent must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license and be able to operate a motor vehicle.
• The duties of this position require the incumbent to carry a firearm. As such, the incumbent must be qualified to carry a firearm and pass firearm qualifications according to OI policy. Positions carrying a firearm are covered by the 1996 Lautenberg Amendment of the Gun Control Act, Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 922 (g) (9) which bans access to firearms for life by people convicted of crimes of domestic violence. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition. Candidates who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are not qualified for this position. Candidates under consideration will be required to certify whether they have ever been convicted of such an offense. False or fraudulent information provided by a candidate is criminally punishable by fine or imprisonment (Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1001).
• The incumbent must comply with OI policy regarding Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP), under which the criminal investigator must work an average of two hours greater than their daily, eight-hour schedule.
• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.

Qualifications

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Merit Promotion and Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) Status applicants must provide an SF50 Notice of Personnel Action that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility. The SF50 must include the position, title, series, grade, step, tenure, type of service (Competitive or Excepted) and career status (career or career-conditional). No award SF50 will be accepted as proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility.

• One year at the GS-12 grade level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-13 grade level.

Minimum Qualifications:

Specialized Experience GS-13: Applicant must demonstrate one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-12 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties:

• Plan broad investigative efforts with emphasis on complex, long term investigations such as Medicare and/or disability fraud investigations within an assigned area;
• Develop new techniques and procedures to advance the effectiveness of the agency's investigative program;
• Obtain and analyze information from investigative reports, financial statements, computer printouts and records of business transactions;
• Obtain evidence in preparation of search warrants and conduct searches; and
• Provide training in advanced techniques to other investigators.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

NOTE: 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.

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 to 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, you must possess emotional and mental stability. All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to undergo medical suitability and meet medical requirements for the position prior to a final offer of employment. As a condition of employment, Criminal Investigators are subject to periodic medical suitability and must be able to meet the medical requirements for the position.

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 basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using an Assessment Questionnaire. The questions are related to the following fundamental competencies (or Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) needed to perform the duties of this job:

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

Based on your responses, you will receive a score from the Assessment Questionnaire. Those applicants who score the highest will be referred to the hiring manager and may be called for an interview. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you will be removed from consideration or your score will be lowered.

Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards as an indicator of quality of prior experience; no points will be assigned.

For Competitive Merit Promotion and Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) Applicants: The highest rated candidates will be referred to the hiring agency.

For Noncompetitive Appointment Eligibles: All qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring agency. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the RRB 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.

To preview the assessment questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12969789

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your resume showing a detailed description of your job-related qualifications that includes beginning and ending dates with the month and year and hours worked per week (if less than 40) for each paid and non-paid work experience job title listed. Limit your resume to two pages. Only resumes 2 pages in length will be accepted to determine eligibility and qualifications.

2. Other supporting documents (only submit if applicable to you):

• Are you a current or former federal employee? Submit a copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that demonstrates your eligibility for consideration, e.g., length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, with-in grade/range increases); your current promotion potential; proof of permanent appointment if applying based on an interchange agreement; etc.
• Are you a veteran? Submit Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 or other (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) or notice form. Those applying for 10-Point preference must fill out the SF-15 and provide an official document dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces, and/or any other associated documentation based on your 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.
• Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP)? If so, submit:
  • A copy of your RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate, notice of disability annuity termination, or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
  • A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action'', documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc.;
  • A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  • Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
• Are you eligible for a special noncompetitive hiring authority (e.g., Schedule A Disability, Peace Corps, Former Overseas Employees, etc.)? Submit documentation of proof that supports your eligibility under a special hiring authority.
• 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; and
  • Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
• Are you applying under special hiring authorities as a military spouse? Provide a copy of your:
  • Marriage certificate, and
  • A completed SF-15 with supporting documentation.
• You may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards.

Next steps