Clarification from the agency

Current or former Federal employees, certain military spouses, and veterans eligible under VEOA only. Please see additional specific information on who may apply in the Qualifications section. A total of 11 vacancies will be filled

• Independently conducts investigations into criminal and non-criminal cases pursuant to Agency legislation and regulations, and general policies and procedures.
• Conducts comprehensive research and analysis of cases to determine the applicable laws and the implementing regulations which were violated, and the proof required to support such cases and methods of obtaining them.
• Plans, coordinates, and initiates contacts with Federal, State, and local officials; and other key officials related to matters under investigation.
• Plans and conducts interviews with suspects, witnesses, and informants in case development.
• Serves search warrants and subpoenas; searches crime scenes for evidence; and participates with other law enforcement agencies as required.
• Prepares interim and comprehensive final investigative reports for prosecutive and management officials.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Selective Service Registration: 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. See www.sss.gov
• Job offers are contingent on fingerprinting and background/security investigation results.
• Federal employees must have a successful performance rating.
• Selectees may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period.
• This position is designated as mobile work. Mobile work means work that is characterized by routine and regular travel to conduct work in customer or other worksites as opposed to a single authorized alternative worksite such as a home or office.
• Selectees may be required to sign a mobility agreement.
• Official Personnel Folders will not be reviewed.
• Requests for copies of application documents will not be accepted.
• All application forms submitted become the property of SSA Human Resources.
• All application materials must be received by the closing date.
• Complete the initial online assessment and USA Hire Assessment, if required
• Fingerprinting and background and/or security investigation may be required
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement

Qualifications

Resumes exceeding two pages in length will not be considered, please visit the new resume guidance for more information.

WHO MAY APPLY: Applications will only be accepted from applicants eligible for one of the following categories.

• Federal employees currently serving under career or career conditional appointments;
• Federal employees currently serving under the following types of appointments: Schedule A, Reg. 213.3102 (U) appointments for individuals with disabilities.
• Former Federal employees eligible for reinstatement (i.e., those who have career status or separated from a career-conditional appointment less than 3 years ago).
• Current or former Federal employees eligible under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP).
• Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) Eligibles (i.e., Preference-eligible veterans OR veterans who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after 3 years or more of continuous service).
• Federal employees serving under excepted service appointments with competitive service compatibility (e.g., Postal Service, Foreign Service, an agency with an interchange agreement, etc.) may be eligible to apply. Please visit Excepted Service Appointments with Competitive Service Compatibility for more information.
• Spouse of a member of the armed forces serving on active duty, a spouse of a 100 percent disabled service member injured while on active duty, or the un-remarried widow or widower of a service member who was killed while performing active duty.

Note: Excepted service employees serving under Schedule A appointments for Attorney positions or Pathways Programs appointments (Presidential Management Fellows, Recent Graduates, and Interns) are not eligible for consideration.

HOW TO QUALIFY: Eligible applicants must meet the following qualification requirements

Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-12 level, or equivalent, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled and has equipped applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience must include One of the following:
(1) Leading and managing a personal caseload containing multiple independent criminal investigations;
(2) Testifying during criminal judicial proceedings (for example, grand jury, evidentiary hearings, trials);
(3) Coordinating with prosecutors to present cases for prosecution, determine legal courses of action, or prepare for legal proceedings.

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. Applicants will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Applicants for promotion must have 52 weeks at GS-12.

Time in grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

NOTE: If you are a current Federal employee eligible under VEOA, you are subject to the time-in-grade requirement and must submit an SF-50 as required above.

Additionally, the Law Enforcement (1811) series has the following qualification requirements:

• Tentative selectee(s) must pass a pre-appointment physical examination. 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, 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 themselves or others is disqualifying.
• Tentative selectee(s) will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment unless currently an SSA employee occupying a position already in a random drug testing program. Appointment to the position is contingent upon a negative test result. After appointment the employee will be included in the agency's random drug test program.
• This position is subject to the Lautenberg Amendment/Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968.
• The selected employee will not be made a final offer of employment until after we receive notice of a successful background investigation, drug test, and medical physical.
• Selectee will be required to pass firearms qualification and may be required to carry a firearm.
• The selectee will be required to attend a course of instruction on the proper use of Oleoresin Capsicum spray (OCS), which is the oily resin of pepper. This instruction includes being exposed to OCS so that knowledge of its effects can be gained.
• This position is covered by the special retirement provision for Federal Law Enforcement Officers (FLEO). Selectee without previous FLEO service must be at least 21 years of age and not yet 37 years of age or older on the date of appointment.
• Selectee newly assigned to the Criminal Investigator position MUST successfully complete the 12-week Criminal Investigator Program training course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Glynco, Georgia.
• This position is designated as a mobile work position. Mobile work means work that is characterized by routine and regular travel to conduct work in customer or other worksites as opposed to a single authorized alternative worksite such as a home or office. It is different from telework and/or remote work. Examples of mobile work include site audits, site inspections, investigations, property management, and work performed while commuting, traveling between worksites, or on Temporary Duty (TDY).
• Selectee must sign a mobility agreement to accept relocation to other geographic locations if required by the agency.

How you will be evaluated

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

The evaluation you receive is based on your responses to the online assessments completed during the application process. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Knowledge of the laws, principles, and procedures used in apprehending a criminal suspect, including policies for pursuit and reasonable use of force.
• Knowledge of the guidelines, regulations, and procedures associated with managing an investigation; knowledge of how to develop, coordinate, execute, monitor, and evaluate an investigative process to ensure a successful outcome.
• Knowledge of Federal, State, local, and tribal criminal laws, including procedures, regulations, and guidelines governing investigations and prosecution.
• Knowledge of laws, policies, and techniques related to interviewing individuals, including advice of rights (e.g., Miranda, Kalkines, Garrity).
• Knowledge of methods for gathering information to make determinations, developing new sources of information, analyzing information, and drawing factual inferences; knowledge of laws, regulations, policies, and procedures for conducting criminal, civil, or administrative investigations.

Applicants will be assessed using the rating criteria listed in the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12920473
The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. Cheating on the online assessment may result in your removal from consideration

Resumes exceeding two pages will not be considered. To be considered, your resume must:

• Clearly demonstrate your qualifications for the position
• Include your contact information

We recommend using a clear, easy-to-read format and focusing on information most relevant to the job announcement.

RESUME: Include the following information: 1) personal information (full name, mailing address, work and home phone numbers); 2) education; 3) work experience (paid and unpaid, including clerkships/internships). Show job title, including series and grade if Federal employment, detailed duties and accomplishments, employer's name and address, supervisor's name and phone number, starting and ending dates (mm/dd/yy), hours per week, and salary; 4) other qualifications (skills, certifications/licenses, honors, awards, special accomplishments, and job-related training courses). Please note that providing the mm/dd/yy for all work experience is critical for evaluating your application. If actual dates are not known, provide your best-estimated timeframes.

SF-50
If you are a current or former Federal employee, you must submit a Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) that that reflects your grade/step, possession of time-in-grade (e.g., a Within-Grade Increase or Promotion/Reassignment dated more than one year ago), and career or career-conditional tenure in the competitive service. You may need to submit more than one SF-50 to prove possession of time-in-grade. Current SSA employees are not required to submit an SF-50. If you are a former Federal employee with reinstatement eligibility, you must also submit your separation SF-50 showing your separation was not for performance or conduct reasons.

PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL
If you are a current Federal employee, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal. You must also include an explanation if you have changed agencies and have not yet received a performance appraisal from your new agency. If you are a new Federal employee who has not yet received a performance rating, you must upload an explanation.
Current SSA employees, former Federal employees with reinstatement eligibility, and VEOA applicants are not required to submit performance appraisals.

VETERANS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ACT (VEOA)
The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) includes those eligible for veterans' preference OR have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after 3 or more years of continuous service, including veterans who were separated shortly before completing the required 3-year period. For more information visit the Vet Guide.If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your military discharge certificate (DD-214 member 4 copy preferred) or an official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty. To be acceptable, the document must contain dates and show Character of Service. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, you must also submit an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF 15) and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Preference will be granted based on the documents received.

If you are a current active duty military member who does not have a DD-214 and are claiming preference under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating that you will be discharged or released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days of the date on the certification. Certifications must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information: military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, the character of service, military rank, type of discharge, and date when terminal leave will begin. Certifications must be signed by or under the direction of military members' military personnel offices, unit commanders, or higher headquarters.

MILITARY SPOUSE - See USAJOBS Help Center | Military Spouses -- submit marriage certificate and proof that your spouse is still an active-duty member of the military.

INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP): ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority for competitive service vacancies. To receive selection priority, candidates must meet the requirements for the Well Qualified category as described in the vacancy announcement. Candidates must also provide:

• proof of eligibility with your application. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation Notice of Personnel Action, (SF-50); and
• proof of your most recent performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent.

For more information visit http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.

Next steps

Additional locations