Criminal Investigator

Clarification from the agency

Your application will be considered if you are a: Current career/career-conditional Federal employee in the competitive service; Reinstatement eligible; Special Appointing Authority eligible; VEOA eligible Veteran; ICTAP eligible; or OPM Interchange Agreement eligible.

As Criminal Investigator with the Office of Inspector General (OIG), Office of Investigations, you will be trained to serve as a Special Agent with full statutory law enforcement authority. OIG Special Agents conduct nationwide criminal, civil, and administrative investigations of fraud, waste, and abuse involving GSA programs, operations, and personnel. Key focus areas include major fraud, theft, and corruption; defective, substandard, or counterfeit products procured through GSA contracts; cybercrimes involving GSA information technology systems; and significant employee misconduct. The following duties are performed by OIG Special Agents:

• Plan, coordinate and conduct complex investigations into criminal and civil violations of law and administrative matters relating to GSA programs, operations and employees. Allegations investigated include bribery, kickbacks, extortion, public corruption, false claims, credit card fraud, theft, diversion of excess government property, counterfeit products, product substitution, false statements, and a variety of other financial and fraud related crimes.
• As members of the federal law enforcement community, special agents make arrests, execute search warrants, serve subpoenas, and carry concealed weapons. Special agents conduct professional interviews, undercover operations, surveillances, searches and seizures, computer forensic analyses, advanced audio and video monitoring, and a myriad of other law enforcement related actions.
• Present investigative results orally, testify in court proceedings, and maintain liaison with investigative and legal personnel in other Offices of Inspectors General, U.S. Attorneys, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Special agents work closely with federal, state, and local prosecutors to bring criminals to justice, to forfeit funds and property, and to ensure taxpayer dollars are returned to the U.S. Treasury.
• Prepare written reports of investigative activities and final reports of investigation pursuant to OIG guidelines, and provide GSA officials with investigative reports to communicate investigative findings regarding administrative matters.

Conditions of employment

• US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
• Meet all eligibility criteria within 30 days of the closing date
• Meet time-in-grade within 30 days of the closing date, if applicable
• Register with the Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959

If selected, you must meet the following conditions:

Qualifications

GS-9 QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
The GS-9 salary range starts at $71,299 per year in Chicago, IL. This position is also authorized Law Enforcement Availability Pay of an additional 25 percent of a criminal investigator's rate of basic pay, subject to the biweekly maximum earnings limitation for law enforcement officers in 5 U.S.C. 5547(c), for a total of $89,124.

To qualify at the GS-9 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level or higher in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes participating in various phases of investigative work assignments; studying a broad variety of material pertinent to cases such as emails, financial records, and contract documents; interviewing employees, officials in and out of Government, and others for the purpose of verifying facts and obtaining specific pieces of information; obtaining signed statements, affidavits and documentary evidence to be included in reports or case records; and preparing written reports of investigative activities.

OR, by Education: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree or a LL.B or J.D., or a combination of specialized experience and education that totals 100 of the experience requirement. To be creditable, graduate education must be in a course of study that directly reflects the job-related KSAs/competencies necessary to satisfy the minimum qualifications and perform the duties of the position.

GS-11 QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
The GS-11 salary range starts at $83,482 per year in Chicago, IL. This position is also authorized Law Enforcement Availability Pay of an additional 25 percent of a criminal investigator's rate of basic pay, subject to the biweekly maximum earnings limitation for law enforcement officers in 5 U.S.C. 5547(c), for a total of $104,353.

To qualify at the GS-11 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level or higher in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes working with higher level Criminal Investigators on completing various aspects of a criminal investigation involving criminal, civil, or administrative priorities; coordinating investigative activities with both internal and external factors; developing supportable data and materials; collecting and confirming information from a variety of sources; reviewing large amounts of data such as emails, financial records, and contract documents; and preparing investigative reports.

OR, by Education: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or have successfully completed 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M.; or, a combination of graduate level education and appropriate experience that together meet the qualification requirements of this position. To be creditable, graduate education must be in a course of study that directly reflects the job-related KSAs/competencies necessary to satisfy the minimum qualifications and perform the duties of the position.

If selected at any grade level, you must also meet the following conditions of employment:

• This position is covered by the law enforcement officer retirement provisions, and as such is covered by a mandatory age requirement. There is a maximum entry age of the day before your 37th birthday (except for veteran's preference eligibles) for entry into law enforcement office positions. This position is covered by the special retirement provisions for Federal Law Enforcement Officers [5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) or 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d)] and has a mandatory retirement age of 57. If you are over age 37, you must have been or currently be covered by the special retirement provisions and be able to complete at least 20 years of covered service by age 57.
• All OIG criminal investigators are required to qualify to use OIG owned firearms and to accept assignments where firearms are required. Quarterly certification is required. Per the Lautenberg Amendment, any person who has been convicted of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition.
• Selectee will be required to undergo a pre-employment examination and meet the physical requirements for this position. The duties require moderate to arduous physical exertion. Manual dexterity of fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips and knees is required. Arms, hands, legs and feet must be sufficiently functioning in order to perform the duties satisfactorily. Good vision and hearing are required. Selectee must possess emotional and mental stability. Any physical condition that would cause the selectee to be a hazard to him/her, or others is disqualifying.
• This position requires a pre-employment drug test to screen for illegal drug use (appointment to the position is contingent upon a negative drug test result), and random drug testing after appointment.
• This position is a critical-sensitive national security position. The person selected for this vacancy will be required to undergo a Tier 5 background investigation and the GSA security office must grant you a Top Secret national security clearance.
• Operate a Government-owned or leased motor vehicle. A valid State driver's license is required.
• Due to the nature of the work, Criminal Investigators are required to work, or be available to work, substantial amounts of unscheduled duty.
• Attend and graduate from the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP), unless previously completed.
• This position requires the employee to sign a mobility agreement as a condition of employment.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your resume will be reviewed to determine if you meet the basic qualifications and eligibility requirements outlined in this vacancy announcement. If you meet the basic qualifications and eligibility requirements, your application will advance to the Subject Matter Expert (SME) review phase of the evaluation process. A panel of SMEs will score the required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) listed below, based on a review of your resume and your responses to narrative questions related to your prior achievements or work activities that align with the KSAs. Failure to answer the narrative questions may affect your eligibility to be considered for this position.

• Knowledge of financial, accounting, contract, and/or procurement laws and regulations.
• Ability to use spreadsheets, collaboration platforms, databases, dashboards, and analytics tools, to support research, drafting, summarization, data organization, analysis, and reporting.
• Ability to conduct interviews, research/fact-finding, and determine essential facts relevant to an investigation with a high degree of integrity/honesty and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of investigative methods, techniques, and approaches.
• Ability to review large amounts of data such as contract documents, emails, and financial records to identify evidence.
• Knowledge of, and skill in carrying out, law enforcement techniques and procedures.
• Ability to remain resilient and make effective decisions under stressful situations.
• Skill in thorough, organized, and effective written communication.
• Effective teamwork and interpersonal skills.
• Skill in clear and effective verbal communication.

Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3). List any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume so that information will be taken into consideration.  If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

If you are eligible under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) or GSA OIG’s Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), you must score 85.0 or higher to receive priority consideration.

ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date. Review the following list to determine what you need to submit.

Resume: Your resume should not exceed 2 pages and must demonstrate the specialized experience related to the position for which you are applying. Your resume must contain the following information:

• Name, address, telephone number, email address;
• Job Title (if Federal Service, provide series and grade; if not in GS plan, provide GS equivalent grade);
• Relevant work experience—should include employer name, job title, start and end dates (month/year), the number of hours worked per week and descriptions that explain how you meet the required qualifications in the job announcement.
• Education, certifications or licensures—If the job announcement requires any education, certifications or licensures, make sure to include the required information and any required documents like transcripts.

Your resume should contain enough information to make a valid determination that you fully meet experience requirements for each grade level you are applying to. If you do not provide enough information for us to determine your qualifications, you may be rated ineligible. 

If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.

Note: If required to submit an SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action), an equivalent agency Notice of Personnel Action form is acceptable. Such document(s) must show all of the following: effective date, position, title, series, grade, and rate of basic pay, tenure group 1 (career) or 2 (career-conditional), position occupied group, and name of agency. If you are a GSA OIG employee, you are not required to submit an SF-50.

IF YOU ARE:

Active duty military Certification on a letterhead from your military branch that includes your rank, character of service (must be under honorable conditions) & military service dates including discharge/release date (must be no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted).

Federal employee or Reinstatement Eligible: Submit your latest SF-50.

Eligible under an Interchange Agreement: Submit your latest SF-50.

Former Peace Corp or VISTA volunteer: Submit your Description of Service

Current or former Land Management Agency Employee - Submit a and b:

     (a) one or more SF-50s, including your most recent one that shows you were on a competitive time-limited appointment(s) with a Land Management Agency and served on the appointment for a period(s) totaling more than 24 months without a break of 2 or more years.

     (b) Copy of your agency’s annual performance appraisal(s) or written reference(s) from a supervisor at the agency verifying satisfactory performance during your appointment(s).

If you are ICTAP/CTAP eligible - submit a, b, and c: (a) proof of eligibility including agency notice; (b) SF-50, and (c) most recent performance appraisal.

Current or Former Political Appointees: Submit SF-50.

Applying under another special appointment authority: Submit proof of your eligibility under the appropriate appointment authority. See See USAJOBS for more information.

If you have a disability: Submit proof of eligibility. For information on eligibility and required documentation, refer to USAJOBS’s People With Disabilities page.

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