Criminal Investigator (Special Agent) Job in Newark, NJ

Vacancy No. 25-FHFAIG-8 Department Office of Inspector General for the Federal Housing Finance Agency
Salary $123,534.00 to $237,888.00 Grade 12 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 1/17/2025 Close Date 1/31/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Newark, NJ


Summary

The Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG) promotes the economy, efficiency, and integrity of FHFA's programs and operations by conducting audits, investigations, evaluations, and reviews and recommending courses of action designed to support FHFA's mission of ensuring a safe and sound mortgage finance system that provides reliable liquidity and funding for housing finance and community investment.

Duties

The position is in the Office of Investigations. The ideal candidate for this position would possess knowledge and experience of federal securities laws, capital markets, and knowledge and experience reviewing and analyzing complex financial records. The following are the duties of this position at the EL-13. (Equivalent to the GS-13) However, the position that you are applying to is at a lower grade. You will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties and will receive training to help you grow in this position.

  • Spearhead large, complex, and sensitive criminal investigations under the jurisdiction of FHFA-OIG.
  • Question subjects and third-party witnesses (formally and informally) and secure evidence from other outside sources to determine the nature and extent of violations of Federal laws and regulations.
  • Apprehend and arrest persons who violate Federal laws, and conduct searches and seizures incident to an arrest or pursuant to a warrant.
  • Confer with and assist U.S. Attorneys in preparing information and evidence for trials.
  • Testify as a government witness before Grand Juries, and in courts in criminal, civil, and administrative cases.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

- A one year probationary period may be required.
- Must successfully complete a background investigation.
- Prior successful completion the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP), or equivalent federal academy.
- Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency
- If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
- Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
- Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
- Obtain and use a government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
- File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
- If you are retired from the Federal Government and are selected for this vacancy, your retirement annuity may be offset from your pay.
- Travel, as required by the position. However, many audits, inspections and evaluations are done locally, so there may be no travel required for periods of time.
- Pass a pre-employment physical examination
-You must carry a firearm and conduct full law enforcement activities. NOTE: Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition, Lautenberg Amendment, Title 18, U.S.C. Section 922(g)(9).
- You must have a valid driver's license and be able to operate a Government-owned or leased motor vehicle
- This position is subject to the random drug testing program.

Key Requirements:

  1. Please refer to "Conditions of Employment."
  2. Must be U.S. Citizen or U.S. National

Qualifications

The experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year and indicate number of hours worked per week on your résumé. You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Age Restriction: The date immediately preceding an individual's 37th birthday is the maximum entry age for original appointment to a law enforcement officer position. This requirement does not apply to a) Preference-eligible veterans; OR b) Individuals who are 37 years of age or older and have previously served in law enforcement officer positions that were covered by a special law enforcement retirement plan.

Physical Requirements: The selectee must pass a pre-appointment physical examination and meet the physical requirements for this position as required by this agency. The duties of this position 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 and hearing are required to perform the duties satisfactorily. Because the duties of this position are exacting, responsible, and sometimes performed under trying conditions, the selectee must possess emotional and mental stability. Any physical condition that would cause the selectee to be a hazard to himself/herself, or others is disqualifying.

Training Requirement: Incumbent must have successfully completed the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) or equivalent federal academy (e.g., USPIS, FBI, or DEA).

Specialized experience for the EL-13, You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the EL-12 / GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:
  • Experience conducting securities fraud investigations and other financial fraud investigations including mortgage, loan or bank fraud; AND
  • Experience working with prosecutors, testifying before Grand Juries, and writing and swearing to Search and Arrest warrants involving financial crimes; AND
  • Experience independently performing the full range of investigative functions on assigned cases which includes planning and conducting fact-finding to reporting the results of investigations; OR
  • Experience developing evidence for difficult cases from methods such as interrogations, surveillance, documentary examinations, informants, etc.; OR
  • Experience utilizing various investigative techniques to establish interrelationships of facts or evidence; OR
  • Experience leading a multi-agency task force.
Specialized experience for the EL-12, You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the EL-11 / GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:
  • Experience conducting criminal investigations regarding securities law violations; AND
  • Experience investigating financial frauds which could include mortgage related frauds, securities fraud, loan fraud, or bank fraud; AND
  • Experience independently performing investigative functions on assigned cases or portions of cases. Examples of this could be:
-Planning and conducting fact-finding and reporting the results of investigations; OR
-Assisting with undercover and surveillance work under close supervision; OR
-Conducting investigative interviews and analyzing investigative facts to arrive at sound conclusions.

In addition to the above requirements, you must meet the following time-in-grade requirement:
For the EL-13, you must have been at the EL/GS-12level for 52 weeks.
For the EL-12, you must have been at the EL/GS-11level for 52 weeks.

Education

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.

Ethics: FHFA-OIG employees are subject to government-wide ethical standards of conduct, financial disclosure requirements, and post-employment prohibitions. In addition, certain FHFA-OIG employees are prohibited from accepting compensation from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for a two-year period after terminating employment with FHFA-OIG. Furthermore, to avoid financial conflicts-of interest or the appearance of conflicts-of-interest, FHFA-OIG employees may need to divest or sell certain assets they, their spouse, or minor children own or control, including securities issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or the Federal Home Loan Banks. Employees who work on Federal Home Loan Bank issues may need to sell or divest financial interests with any of the Federal Home Loan Bank members, which may include stock in bank holding companies, insurance companies, and other financial services firms.

Additional information

- We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
- Relocation expenses may be paid.
- This is a non-bargaining unit position.
- Telework opportunities are offered per agency policy.
- We offer opportunities for flexible work schedules.
- Occasional travel may be required.
- Selectee will receive Law Enforcement Availability Pay at the rate of 25% of base pay unless pay exceeds the applicable pay cap

Our employees enjoy all the standard federal benefits, plus additional agency-specific benefits. Our benefits package includes:

-HEALTH INSURANCE: A variety of Federal Employee Health Benefit plans to choose from which can be paid from pre-tax income. FHFA-OIG pays 90% of the bi-weekly premium.

-DENTAL and VISION INSURANCE: 100% of the premium for employees and their family members (including domestic partners).

-401(k) PLAN: In addition to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), FHFA-OIG employees are eligible to participate in a separate agency-sponsored 401(k) plan. FHFA-OIG provides a 100% employer matching contribution of up to 5 percent of your salary that you contribute. The plan offers multiple investment options. Funds from qualified plans of previous employers can be rolled over to your 401(k) account.

-COMMUTING EXPENSES: FHFA-OIG provides monthly transportation and parking subsidies to employees who commute to work on public transportation. Employees who do not commute via public transportation may apply for free parking at the building.-GYM: Free use of an on-site gym and locker room with shower facilities when at the HQ building.

-GYM: Free use of an on-site gym and locker room with shower facilities when at the HQ building.

-REIMBURSEMENTS and STIPENDS: Fees forprofessional licenses/certifications and professional liability insurance may be reimbursed. Health and Wellness stipends are provided to eligible employees each year for activities related to promoting a healthy lifestyle and work-life balance. Travel stipends are provided to employees who travel over 50 nights per fiscal year.

Learn more about Federal benefits programs at: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Pay_and_Benefits

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.

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.

Your application includes your résumé, responses to the online questions, and required supporting documents. Please be sure that your résumé includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your résumé may result in a "not qualified" determination.

Rating: Your application will be evaluated in the following areas: Analytical, Communication, Leadership, and Technical

Your application will be rated and ranked among others, based on your responses to the online questions, regarding your experience, education, training, performance appraisals and awards relevant to the duties of this position. Your rating may be lowered if your responses to the online questions are not supported by the education and/or experience described in your application.

Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. You may be required to participate in a selection interview.

If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee (eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)) you must receive a score of 95 or better to be rated as "well qualified" to receive special selection priority.

Required Documents

A complete application includes 1. A résumé, 2. Vacancy question responses, and 3. Submission of any required documents. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).

Please ensure all required documents, including any required work samples, narratives, or other materials as stated in this announcement, are attached to your application package

All applicants are required to submit a résumé either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing. (Cover letters are optional.) To receive full credit for relevant experience, please list the month/date/year and number of hours worked for experience listed on your résumé. We suggest that you preview the online questions, as you may need to customize your résumé to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions. Please view résumé tips.

CURRENT AND FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES -- Documentation Relating to Your Federal Employment:- Submit a copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows your current (or most recent) grade and competitive service status. (The "position occupied" block on the SF-50 should show a "1" and your "tenure" block should show a "1" or "2".) Your SF-50 must show that you have held the required grade level for at least 52 weeks.
- If you are currently on a Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA), submit a copy of an SF-50 showing that. Also, you must submit a copy of your DD214 or other documentation showing dates of service and type of discharge and any other applicable documents such as SF-15, VA letters, etc.
- Indicate on your application the highest permanent grade you have held; if this grade is different from your current grade, submit a copy of an additional SF-50 showing this grade.


CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (CTAP) OR INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP) DOCUMENTATION: If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee, click CTAP/ICTAP for eligibility and a detailed list of required documents you must submit in order to be eligible.

How to Apply

FHFA-OIG has partnered with the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service to provide certain personnel services to its organization. Fiscal Service's responsibilities include advertising vacancies, accepting and handling applications, and extending job offers.

Please review the entire announcement before applying.

The following instructions outline our application process. You must complete this application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, please contact us by noon ET on the announcement's closing date.

The Bureau provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process.

  • To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
  • Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
  • You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application:
-Log into your USAJOBS account (USAJOBS Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen
-Under "application status," click "Track this application" and you will be taken to the agency website where you can check your application status. For more information regarding the job and applicant status, please refer to https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/

If you wish to make changes/updates to your application and the vacancy is still open, you can click on the job announcement and "Update Application" to be taken back to your application. No updates can be made once the announcement has closed.

Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

For additional information on how to apply, please visit the Partnership for Public Service's Go Government website.

To preview the assessment questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12667517

Agency contact information

Applicant Call Center
Address
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
Administrative Resource Center
Parkersburg, WV 26101
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. We will review your résumé and transcript(s) (if appropriate) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and may interview the best-qualified applicants. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct any required suitability and/or security background investigation.


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


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