Criminal Investigator (Direct Hire) Job

Vacancy No. DE-12909141-26-LDC Department Small Business Administration
Salary $90,925.00 to $118,204.00 Grade 13 to 13
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 3/13/2026 Close Date 3/27/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Norwalk, CASacramento, CAWashington, DCMiami, FL
Tampa, FLMemphis, TNDallas, TXHouston, TX


Summary

This announcement will be used to fill vacancies through OPM-Authorized Government-Wide Direct Hire Authority. Category rating, veteran's preference, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants DO NOT APPLY to this vacancy. For more information on OPM's Authorization of Direct Hire Authority, please click here.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

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

Clarification from the agency

This position is being filled through the Direct-Hire Authority.

Duties

The incumbent of this position will serve as a Criminal Investigator and, as such, will:

  • Plan, conduct and maintain control over complex cases involving criminal or civil statue violations pertaining to SBA programs, as well as administrative code of conduct violations involving SBA employees. Work will involve analyzing and evaluating leads/allegations; developing evidence; executing search warrants and affidavits; using various investigative techniques such as surveillance, searches and electronic monitoring; and coordinating with other law enforcement departments and agencies.
  • Initiate and maintain continuing liaison with other federal OIGs, regulatory enforcement agencies and local law enforcement; present reports and testimonies that are clear and convincing; and conduct investigative interviews.
  • Prepare reports of investigation and other investigative reports. Reports will include analysis of evidence from a wide variety of sources and evaluation of interrelated activities uncovered during the investigation.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • You must successfully complete a background investigation.
  • You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
  • You must meet the medical requirements of the position.
  • You are subject to pre-appointment and random drug testing.
  • You must qualify to carry a firearm.
  • You must be a graduate of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's (FLETC) Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) or other federal equivalent, OR agree to attend and successfully complete CITP in Glynco, GA.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, your resume must provide sufficient experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are being considered. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities, as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to submit a thorough resume that directly relates to this position.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

GS-13: One year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service that is directly in, or related to, the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: plans and conducts multi-jurisdictional and multi-defendant complex white-collar and government program/financial fraud criminal investigations to determine violations of Federal laws and regulations; obtains and evaluates evidence and recommends actions; reconstructs and examines records; conducts interviews and interrogations; develops facts; makes arrests; conducts searches and seizures; assists attorneys during case preparation; and, prepares comprehensive oral and written briefings.

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.

MEDICAL REQUIREMENT:

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.

This position is covered under the special retirement provision for Law Enforcement Officer and Firefighter. Therefore, the maximum age for initial appointment to the 1811 series is the date immediately preceding an individual's 37th birthday. The age restriction does not apply if you served in a Federal civilian (not military) law enforcement officer (FLEO) position covered by special CSRS or FERS retirement provisions, including early retirement. If you have reached the mandatory retirement age of 57, you are not eligible to apply to this vacancy.

Firearms: This position requires the incumbent to carry a firearm while performing duties and maintain firearm proficiency and successfully pass periodic firearm qualifications. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition in accordance with 18 USC 922 (Lautenberg Amendment). Applicants for the Criminal Investigator position who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are not eligible for employment.

Lautenberg Amendment: This position authorizes the incumbent to carry a firearm. Any person convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (Title 18, USC Section 992(g)). A felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence is generally defined under the statute as any offense involving the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon committed by the victim's current or former domestic partner, parent, or guardian. The term convicted, as defined in the statute, excludes any person whose conviction has been expunged, set aside, or pardoned, or any person whose civil rights have been restored, so long as such restoration does not restrict the shipping, transport, possession or receipt of firearms or ammunition. Candidates convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence within the meaning of the referenced statutes are not eligible for the position.

TIME-IN-GRADE: If you are a current career or career-conditional federal employee applying for promotion under Merit Promotion you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks in positions at the next level lower than the position being filled.

All qualification requirements must be met by 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) on 03/27/2026.

Education

For this position you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone -- no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Additional information

SUITABILITY, CLEARANCE & REQUIREMENTS: A background investigation may be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

SELECTIVE SERVICE: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. For additional information visit www.sss.gov.

Telework is available. For information on Telework visit: http://www.telework.gov/

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: You are required to file a new entrant Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 450 Report).

Additional vacancies may be filled from this vacancy announcement if additional vacancies occur within 180 days of the date the certificates were issued.

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.

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.

Candidates who meet the basic eligibility requirements will have their resumes reviewed by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to determine whether they meet the established job qualification requirements for the position.

The SME review will assess the extent and qualify of each candidate's experience in the following competencies required to perform the duties of this position:

  • Criminal Investigation
  • Oral Communication
  • Writing
Career and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must:

1. meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria as described under "Additional Information" above; and
2. submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility claim which can be found under the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement.

Required Documents

Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date/time of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents. Uploading documents to USAJobs does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system. You must verify that the documents are in the system with your application prior to final submission.1. Your Resume - Resume length may not exceed 2 pages and 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);
  • If qualifying based on related unpaid (e.g. volunteer service) experience, you must provide hours worked per week and beginning/ending dates (mm/dd/yyyy to mm/dd/yyyy);
  • If other than full time you must provide hours worked per week.
  • PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your resume must contain sufficiently detailed information upon which to make a qualification determination.
  • Should you submit multiple resumes, only the latest uploaded resume will be reviewed.
  • Should your resume be longer than 2 pages you will be removed from consideration.
2. In addition to the online application (resume and responses to the occupational questionnaire), you are required to submit the following forms, if applicable. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure all documents are legible:
  • Federal employees must submit proof of your permanent career/career-conditional competitive status ("1" or "2" in Tenure, block 24 and "1" in Position Occupied, block 34). Submit SF-50 showing current grade and tenure and an SF-50 showing highest (permanent) grade ever held, if different. NOTE: An award or detail SF-50 will not be accepted as proof of status.
  • If you are using education as a substitution for experience (the announcement will state whether this is allowed), or if there is an educational requirement for this position, you must submit a copy of your transcripts (unofficial or official) that clearly describes your qualifying education. If selected, official transcripts will be required;
  • If you are claiming Veteran status, you must submit a copy of all required documents to support your claim (including a DD-214 showing character of service)--see VetGuide;
  • To receive consideration for a special appointment authority (30%, severely disabled, Peace Corps, VRA), you must submit all required documentation supporting your claim for Special Appointing Authorities;
  • Veterans who are still in the service may be granted tentative preference on the basis of information contained in their applications, but they must produce a DD-214 (showing the character of service) or other proof of service to receive consideration for veterans' preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit FedsHireVets.gov.
3. CTAP/ICTAP/RPL Applicants: 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 (if applicable), your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330, and your most recent performance appraisal.

How to Apply

Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions will affect your rating. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience your rating may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities.

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 03/27/2026 to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:

  • To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
  • Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
  • Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
  • After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take the additional online assessment through Talent Plus. This message will be delivered to you via email. You must complete the Talent Plus Assessment within 48 business hours of being sent the email notification.
  • If you are asked to take the Talent Plus Assessment, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the Talent Plus system.
  • Note, set aside at least 40 minutes to take the assessment; however, most applicants complete the assessment in less time. If you need to stop the assessment and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email.
To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login) . There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login . All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Agency contact information

OIG Human Resources

Next steps

Once your responses to the occupational questionnaire are received by our system, you will be sent an acknowledgement email stating that your submission was successful. If you meet the minimum qualifications of this position, you will be presented with instructions on how to access the Talent Plus Assessment system via email. The additional assessment must be completed within 48 business hours following email notification. After a review of your complete application is made, you will be notified of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required you will be contacted. During the evaluation and interview process you may be asked to provide written responses to questions or writing samples. You may track the status of the application process through USAJOBS and you will be notified of the outcome.

SUITABILITY, CLEARANCE & REQUIREMENTS: A background investigation may be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. SBA uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Additional locations

Tampa, FL
Memphis, TN
Dallas, TX
Houston, TX