Criminal Investigator

Department of Agriculture

Forest Service

Summary

These positions are located in region 1 and region 4 within the USDA Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations.

These positions serve as a Special Agent with responsibility for the investigation of all potential or suspected violations of federal environmental, natural, and cultural resource statutes as they relate to public lands,

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact SM.FS.lei_recruit@usda.gov.

This job is open to

Federal employees - Competitive service

Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Land and base management

Current or former employees of a base management agency.

Veterans

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference

Military spouses

Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.

Clarification from the agency

Current permanent federal employees with competitive status, Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act eligibles, Farm Service Agency permanent county employees, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP, VEOA eligibles, and Military Spouses.

Duties

Duties listed are at the full performance level.
Review affidavits, search warrants, seizure documentation, undercover operational materials, and investigative reports for legal sufficiency, factual accuracy, and adherence to policy.
Prepare written case strategies, surveillance plans, operational briefings, and interagency coordination documents that outline investigative objectives, resource needs, evidentiary priorities, and security considerations multi agency operations.
Deliver clear verbal briefings to supervisors, prosecutors, Joint Terrorism Task Forces, and multi agency investigative teams, conveying complex intelligence assessments, investigative findings operational risks, and high stakes criminal cases.
Conduct interviews, debriefings, and coordination meetings with witnesses, informants, cooperating defendants, and law enforcement partners, ensure credibility, cooperation, and accurate information in high risk investigative environments.
Demonstrate investigative challenges, identifying resource needs, resolving operational conflicts, initiating multi agency coordination, and investigative strategies in response to evolving leads, threats, or prosecutorial requirements.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov.
This is a Test Designated Position. You will be tested for illegal drugs prior to appointment and randomly thereafter. Appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results.
Must be at least 21 years of age.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
This position requires initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996.
Obtain and use a government-issued charge card for business- related travel.
There may be additional Conditions of Employment not listed here; however applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer is made.
Applicants will be required to work nights, weekends, and holidays and be willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
Medical requirement- This position is subject to successful completion of pre-employment medical examination.
Conditional Offer Suitability Assessment - This authorization of release of information is part of the Executive Order 14074.
Federal grooming standards
Selectee must complete Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) at Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), if not previously completed or an equivalent training program.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement see education section below, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

For GS 11 - Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-9. Specialized experience is defined as 3 or more of the following:

Assisting in conducting criminal investigations by gathering preliminary facts, reviewing available records, and identifying basic evidentiary relationships to support senior investigators in developing case strategies, resolving factual discrepancies, and reconstructing events relevant to violations of Federal or state law.
Performing surveillance and limited undercover assignments under close supervision, observing suspects' movements, documenting behavioral patterns, and reporting findings to senior investigators to support broader investigative operations involving multiple subjects or locations.
Supporting intelligence and counterintelligence-related activities by collecting information from law enforcement databases, assisting in the analysis of potential threats to critical infrastructure, and sharing vetted intelligence with supervisors or partner agencies in accordance with established protocols and security requirements.
Assisting in preparing investigative reports, affidavits, case summaries, and documentation for administrative or prosecutorial review by organizing evidence, verifying accuracy of supporting records, and presenting factual information clearly and concisely for consideration by senior agents, prosecutors, or agency officials.
Participating in joint operations and jurisdictional coordination activities by assisting in executing subpoenas or warrants, supporting interagency investigative tasks, attending briefings with Department of Justice (DOJ) or U.S. Attorney personnel, and providing testimony on straightforward investigative matters under the direction of senior law enforcement officers.
OR Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., in a field that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position such as Law Enforcement Land Management or Natural Resource Protection.
OR Combination of Education and Experience: An appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

For GS 12 - Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-11. Specialized experience is defined as 3 or more of the following:

Assisting in planning and conducting complex and sensitive criminal investigations by gathering and analyzing evidence, verifying conflicting records, following obscure leads, coordinating with senior investigators, and contributing to the development of investigative strategies consistent with established legal and procedural standards.
Participating in undercover operations and surveillance assignments by maintaining cover identities, documenting activities of multiple suspects across varied locations, relaying real-time observations to the investigative team, and providing accurate situational updates to support operational decision-making.
Supporting intelligence and counterintelligence activities by collecting, assessing, and sharing information related to threats against critical infrastructure; reviewing case-related intelligence from partner agencies; and ensuring compliance with classification, dissemination, and national security protocols.
Preparing investigative reports, affidavits, case summaries, and evidentiary documentation that accurately reflected investigative findings; supported requests for warrants; and contributed to prosecutorial case packages, grand jury preparations, and administrative enforcement actions.
Coordinating with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners by assisting with execution of subpoenas and warrants, participating in multi-agency case operations, conducting interviews, and providing testimony on assigned investigative matters under the direction of senior investigators or prosecutors.

For GS 13 - Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-12. Specialized experience is defined as 3 or more of the following:

Conducting complex, sensitive criminal and administrative investigations-including those involving multi-jurisdictional violations, classified intelligence, internal misconduct, and fraud-by analyzing conflicting evidence, evaluating obscure leads, coordinating investigative resources, and implementing investigative strategies in collaboration with supervisors and partner agencies.
Planning and executing undercover operations and multi-subject surveillance activities by developing cover stories, operating in high-risk environments, directing surveillance personnel, and coordinating investigative actions across multiple locations to collect evidence and identify additional criminal participants.
Participating in joint investigative operations with federal, state, and local agencies by assisting in defining investigative objectives, coordinating execution of search and arrest warrants, conducting simultaneous suspect interviews, and supporting large-scale enforcement actions involving multiple entities and judicial districts.
Preparing detailed investigative reports, affidavits, and case documentation for prosecutorial review by accurately presenting evidence, timelines, surveillance findings, intelligence assessments, and subject actions in support of grand jury presentations, administrative actions, and criminal prosecution.
Providing investigative support to prosecutors and management officials by offering technical advice on evidence development, assisting with preparation of witnesses and exhibits for trial, sharing investigative findings relevant to legal strategy, and ensuring investigative activities adhered to applicable laws, regulations, and agency policies.

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.

TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

There are no educational requirements for this position, education can be used to meet the qualifications for the GS-11 position. See the qualifications section for more information.

Basic Requirement:

Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB): Applicants are required to pass the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB) prior to entering law enforcement positions. The duties of this position require arduous physical exertion involving walking, running, lifting, standing, use of firearms, and exposure to inclement weather. The Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB) is a fitness test consisting of 1) bench press - measures the upper body strength for one repetition; 2) Illinois agility run - measures the ability to get up from the ground and sprint while changing directions; and 3) 1.5-mile run - measures cardio/respiratory fitness. Prior to appointment, applicants will be tested in the above components, the agility run, bench press and 1.5-mile run will be measured for a passing score in the 25th percentile (age and gender adjusted) of these components. These procedures will ensure that law enforcement officers are capable of performing strenuous physical training and law enforcement duties. Applicants shall be disqualified for appointment if they fail to meet any physical requirements.

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: The duties of positions in this series require 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 these positions 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 himself/herself, or others is disqualifying.

MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE LIMIT: The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian law enforcement [or firefighter, if applicable] experience or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in the loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).

Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked. Non-pay status such as leave without pay is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited. Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met.

Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period.

For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as certain military spouses, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website.

PROMOTION POTENTIAL: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied or guaranteed.

This position is not eligible for telework.

The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional Information is available on the OPM Website.

This is a bargaining unit position and is represented by NFFE.

Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS). Pay rates vary by location. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's Website for additional information on pay rates.

Grooming/Attire/Appearance Standards

Hair: Neat, clean, well-groomed; no extreme styles/colors.
Facial Hair: Trimmed; many require clean-shaven unless exempt.
Tattoos: Offensive/inappropriate banned; visible neck/face/hand tattoos must be covered.
Jewelry: Limited to watch, wedding ring, conservative earrings; facial piercings usually prohibited.
Hygiene: Maintain high standards; no offensive odor.
Uniform: Clean, pressed, in good repair.

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.

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.

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.

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the competencies listed below:

Attention to Detail
Oral Communication
Self Management
Writing

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

If you meet the qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified, you will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities must meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12982561

Required Documents

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

Resume that includes: Personal Information: name, address, contact information; Education; Work Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); other qualifications. Resume cannot exceed 2 pages.

If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, official transcripts will be required prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

Current Federal employees:

Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade held (or promotion potential) on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND
Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. A performance plan is not an acceptable substitute.

Current permanent FSA County employees must submit your most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing your highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) per above.

Veteran Hiring Authorities: VEOA: DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, that shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. Veteran's preference must be verified prior to appointment.

If claiming 10-point veteran's preference you must provide the DD214 or certification requirements (see above), plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference. The SF-15 should be included but is not required. Failure to submit these documents could result in the determination that there is insufficient documentation to support your claim for 10-point preference.

Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act: Copies of Notification of Personnel Action(s) (SF-50) showing the employee served in eligible appointment(s) for a period(s) of more than 24 mos w/o a break between appointments of two+ years. Include initial hire actions, extensions, conversions and separation Sf-50s for each period. Submit performance rating(s) showing acceptable performance for each period counted towards eligibility signed by supervisor(s). If documentation does not exist for one or more periods, submit a statement from supervisor(s) indicating acceptable performance. Applicants who do not have performance documentation for any period shall provide a reason why the documentation is not available and statement that performance for all periods was at an acceptable level.

Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), current performance appraisal with rating of at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.

If claiming eligibility under a special hiring authority or an interchange agreement with another merit system not listed above, see the requirements for that authority and submit the required supporting documentation. Go to USAJOBS Hiring Path for Special Authorities or Special Hiring Authority for more information.

How to Apply

Please view Tips for Applicants - a guide to the Forest Service application process.

Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Mountain Time Zone, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement to be entered into the system prior to its closing. Resumes must not exceed two pages.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact the Agency Contact to request this.

To begin, click "Apply" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents.

Please verify that documents you are uploading from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Uploaded documents must be less than 5MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, TXT or Word (DOC or DOCX). Do not upload Adobe Portfolio documents because they are not viewable. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration. Please ensure your resume does not exceed two pages. Applicants who submit a resume that exceeds two pages will be removed from consideration.

Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure, etc.

Agency contact information

HRM Contact Center

Phone: 1-877-372-7248 X2
Email: HRM_Contact_Center@usda.gov

Address: USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center
DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
Albuquerque, NM 87109
US

Next steps

Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in to your USAJOBS account to check your application status.

You may receive an email asking if you are still interested in the position and requesting information by a given deadline. Failure to timely respond to this email may result in non-selection.

You must choose to turn on email notifications in your USAJOBS profile if you want to receive important email notifications that may impact your applicant experience (e.g. If you start an application and do not submit it prior to the closing date, USAJOBS will send an email reminder that the closing date is approaching and your application is in an incomplete status).

Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Under the Fair Chance Act, agencies are not allowed to request information about an applicant's criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been made, except as allowed for access to classified information; assignment to national security duties or positions; acceptance or retention in the armed forces; or recruitment of a Federal law enforcement officer. An applicant may submit a complaint, or any other information related to an organization's alleged noncompliance with the Fair Chance Act. The complaint must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged noncompliance. To make a Fair Chance Act inquiry or complaint, send an email with the appropriate information to sm.fs.hrm_elr@usda.gov, subject line: Fair Chance Act.

Criminal Investigator Job in Location Negotiable After Selection