Criminal Investigator (Special Agent) Job

Vacancy No. STIMP-12722420-25-NM Department National Park Service
Salary $73,939.00 to $115,793.00 Grade 11 to 12
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 4/10/2025 Close Date 4/25/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Harrison, ARYosemite National Park, CAYellowstone National Park, WY


Summary

As a Criminal Investigator (Special Agent), you will provide critical investigative and other law enforcement support to park and regional law enforcement programs. You will handle the most serious criminal investigations which represent a threat to National Park Service resources and facilities, employee and visitor safety, and national security.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Current career or career-conditional competitive service employees with the National Park Service, current or former time-limited employees eligible under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, and CTAP eligibles

Duties

  • Uses traditional and non-traditional investigative techniques to obtain evidence, e.g. electronic or physical surveillance and monitoring; controlled deliveries; documentary searches; and recruitment, development and directing of informants
  • Analyzes evidence and intelligence to determine relationships of individuals and organizations in criminal enterprises
  • Produces reports on information gathered during the course of investigations
  • Prepares investigative reports documenting all relevant facts of investigations to support prosecution
  • Develops and maintains positive working relationships with law enforcement professionals from other jurisdictions to collaborate on joint investigations or share best practices

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen or national.
  • Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
  • May be subject to a one-year probationary period.
  • All requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
  • Status candidates must meet-time-in-grade requirements.
  • You will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • This is an emergency/essential position. Selectee must work an average of 50 hour workweek which may include irregular hours, and be on call 24/7, including holidays and weekends.
  • You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
  • Selectee(s) must sign a Mobility Agreement.
  • A valid state driver's license is required.
  • Selectee(s) will be required to carry a firearm while performing duties and maintain firearm proficiency.
  • Selectee(s) must be free of any domestic violence convictions.
  • You must be able to testify in court without restriction.
  • Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties, pass a medical examination, and pass the Physical Efficiency Battery.

Qualifications

In order to be qualified for the GS-11, you must possess one of the following:
A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL/GS-9 level in the federal service investigating serious offenses(e.g. homicide, sexual assault, drug trafficking, cultural/natural resource damage, other felonies); serving as a member of a task force or joint operation; assisting in the development of investigation plans (i.e. timelines, resource needs); utilizing investigative techniques such as surveillance, interviews, and informants, to gather evidence/intelligence; and preparing reports to summarize case findings or outline next steps in ongoing investigations - OR -
B. A Ph.D. or equivalent degree or three years of progressive higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field related to law, law enforcement, or criminal justice; or possess an LLM - OR -
C. A combination of specialized experience, as described in A, and graduate level education, as described in B, that when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement. (Please note: Only graduate education in excess of the first two years - normally 36 semester hours - may be used in this calculation.)

In order to be qualified for the GS-12, you must possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GL/GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, planning and conducting criminal investigations involving serious offenses (e.g. homicide, sexual assault, drug trafficking, cultural/natural resource damage, other felonies); collaborating with federal, state, and/or local law enforcement agencies in multi-jurisdictional investigations; developing investigative plans (i.e. timelines, resources, risk assessment); utilizing investigative techniques such as electronic surveillance, undercover operations, and informant management, to gather evidence/intelligence; and preparing and executing affidavits for search and seizure warrants in accordance with legal standards/procedures.

In addition, an NPS Type I Commission is required for this position. You must currently hold, or have held within the past 3 years, a full Type I NPS law enforcement commission; or be qualified to receive a Type I Commission upon appointment based upon having completed approved NPS training as outlined by policy including Natural Resource Police Training (NRPT), Land Management Police Training Program (LMPT), US Park Police Integrated (USPPI), Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP), BIA Basic Police Officer Training Program (BIA-BPOTP), or Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP).

For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.

For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

Age Requirement: This is a primary position covered by enhanced retirement provisions which stipulate mandatory retirement at age 57 after 20 years of service. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, and must not have reached their 37th birthday upon appointment to this position. Exceptions allowed: 1) an applicant has prior Federal service in a primary covered position sufficient to complete 20 years of service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57; 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible; or) an applicant is eligible under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act

Physical Requirements: Prior to appointment, the people selected for these positions must be determined physically fit by an authorized physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties, pass a medical examination, and pass the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB). The PEB is a fitness test consisting of five different components: 1) agility run - measures the ability to get up from the ground and sprint while changing directions; 2) bench press - measures upper body strength for one repetition; 3) 1.5 mile run - measures cardio/respiratory fitness; 4) sit and reach - measures flexibility in the lower back, legs and shoulders; and 5) body composition - measures body fat. Prior to appointment, selectees will be tested in all five components, and must pass the agility run, bench press and 1.5 mile run in the 25th percentile.

Education

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

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.

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4) or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' hiring authorities visit the Feds Hire Vets website.

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service

Time in Grade: Any individual who is currently holding, or has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service). Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal civilian employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP): For information on how to apply as a CTAP eligible see http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85 or above on the rating criteria for this position.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, please contact Philadelphia Services Branch at philadelphia@opm.gov or 215-861-3074

This announcement may be used to fill one or more positions.

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.

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.

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made if you are within reach of selection and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. The numeric rating you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. The score is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for this position. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

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 successful completion of an additional assessments, consisting of a subject matter expert resume review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.

Candidates who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are highly qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Candidates who apply under Noncompetitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

  • Criminal Investigation
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Oral Communication
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Writing


Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process.

If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be received by 11:59 PM (ET) of the closing date of this announcement:

1. Your Resume, which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, dates specified in month and year format, and the resume must reflect either full-time or 40 hours per week. If a part-time work schedule is reflected, the hours must be annotated to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
2. A complete Assessment Questionnaire
3. Documentation to support that you currently hold or could hold by time of appointment a Type 1 NPS Law Enforcement Commission
4. Other supporting documents, if applicable

  • College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education, that includes your name, college/university information, major, type of degree, date degree confirmed, coursework, semester/quarter hours, grades, GPA, etc.
  • Due Weight for Performance Appraisals and Awards: All applicants must submit their most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record and signed by a supervisor or, if one is unavailable, a statement as to why it is not available (including if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level). Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
  • Current NPS employees: Federal employees must submit a copy of their latest SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" that reflects career or career-conditional tenure, such as the initial hire, promotion, or reassignment, showing position title, series, grade and tenure (please do not submit an Award SF-50 unless it provides the necessary information) and, if different, an SF-50 showing highest permanent grade ever held. Time in grade will be determined by reviewing your resume and required SF-50's.
    • If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess the one-year time-in-grade, as required by this announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade, such as a Within Grade Increase.
    • Federal employees must also submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed if hours worked per week are not included on your resume.
  • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Eligibles: Documentation for the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) eligibility, which includes ALL Appointment AND Termination SF-50s for EACH appointment as well as ALL performance evaluations, for each qualifying period of temporary employment claimed.
  • CTAP: Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; AND most recent performance evaluation; AND SF-50 documenting your separation or the position you will be separated from.
Visit our website for more information regarding appointment eligibility and requirements for documentation.

How to Apply

A complete application package must be received by 11:59 PM (ET) on 04/25/2025 to receive consideration.

  • To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
  • Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
  • To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • To return to saved application at a later date, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to EO 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

Agency contact information

Philadelphia Services Branch
Address
Visitor and Resource Protection
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240
US

Next steps

Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. Based upon your score, you may be referred to the hiring official. If your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly by that office for a possible interview. You will receive notice once this process is completed (generally 4-6 weeks).


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


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